Nevada Democrats hold steady in support of Biden as presidential nominee

By Haajrah Gilani (contact)

Published Saturday, July 6, 2024 | 2 a.m.

Updated Monday, July 8, 2024 | 4:35 p.m.

As conversations continue across the country about President Joe Biden’s age and capabilities, Democrats in the Nevada congressional delegation remain focused on keeping Republican Donald Trump out of office. 

Public concern about Biden’s age and capabilities has continued since he announced his run for presidency in 2019. Now, more party members — including incumbent office-holders and major donors — have expressed worries after his debate with the former president last week. 

In the aftermath of the debate, Biden attributed his performance to a bad episode, not indicative of any serious condition. The president told a crowd at Friday’s campaign event in Wisconsin that he had no intentions to halt his campaign and that he was staying in the race.

Nevada's congressional Democrats are not joining the calls for Biden to drop out. Some emphasized the importance of keeping Biden in office with reproductive rights at stake. 

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Roe v. Wade precedent in 2022, Las Vegas clinics have seen a 40% increase in abortion care patients. Many of those seeking care are from nearby Republican-led states that have since enacted heavily restrictive legislation on abortion, like Texas, Utah and Arizona.

While Sen. Jacky Rosen is focused on her own reelection, she believes the path forward is apparent.

“There is a clear choice for voters this November between an administration focused on lowering costs, growing the middle class, and restoring reproductive freedom and Trump’s MAGA agenda that would ban abortion and devastate hardworking Nevada families,” said the Rosen campaign in a statement.

Nevada’s other U.S. senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, shared her colleague’s sentiments on the importance of retaining a Biden administration. 

“From reproductive freedom to the future of our democracy, Nevadans understand the stakes of this election,” said Cortez Masto spokeswoman Lauren Wodarski in a statement.

Rep. Dina Titus acknowledged in a statement that Biden’s performance in last week’s debate “was not his best” and that he could have come across stronger. But she went on to explain why his presidency would still be important for her constituents. 

“Here in Nevada, we are focused on protecting women’s reproductive freedoms and the Biden administration’s work to help us cope with the pandemic and the resulting high unemployment,” the statement said. 

Rep. Steven Horsford was similarly supportive of the president.

"[Nevada voters] know President Biden and Vice President Harris are fighting for them," wrote Horsford in a statement. "Like me, they don't want to see Donald Trump back in the White House and are ready to work and VOTE to ensure that doesn't happen."

In a statement, Rep. Susie Lee said that she still had serious concerns about Biden after his debate performance and that "he needs to prove to the American public that he can do the job for four more years." She joined her fellow Democrats in agreeing that, when it comes to Trump and Biden, the current president is the better choice. 

"Trump is a 34-time convicted felon who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, and is a threat to our democracy, national security, and Nevadans’ fundamental rights. If that is the choice, it’s a clear one for me," she wrote in a statement.  

 The day after the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris attended a campaign event in Las Vegas and defended Biden’s potential for a second term.

“For all the punditry last night, our president made clear there is a contrast between someone who lies and someone who leads,” Harris said at the event.

Harris will return to Las Vegas on Tuesday to speak at a campaign event targeting Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters.