Nevada Legislature: Senate reviving proposal to dump caucus system

Nevada senators are reviving a bill that would dump Nevada’s caucus system and replace it with a primary to choose presidential nominees.

SB421 is backed by Republicans and would switch the caucus to a primary scheduled on the last Tuesday in February. Senators voted Monday to amend the bill and allow Democrats to choose to keep their caucus.

The measure which would preserve Nevada’s influential position as one of the earliest states to nominate a presidential candidate. But it would change the selection process from a gathering of only the most motivated party activists to a regular election among all voters.

Caucus opponents say the process gives an edge to otherwise marginal candidates whose supporters can take over the gatherings. The system is believed to favor U.S. Sen. Rand Paul.