Nevada Dems urge national party leaders to elevate ‘working-class’ states

The Nevada Democratic Party is urging national party leaders to shift their focus towards “diverse, working-class states” in their efforts to rebuild after this year’s election. In a press release issued on Thursday, the state-level party in Nevada called for the elevation of working-class states to the forefront of the presidential primary calendar for 2028. This move is aimed at winning back working-class voters and expanding the coalition of voters of color.

Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno emphasized the need for prioritizing the most working-class and diverse battleground state in the nation as the first presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The selection of the Democratic Party’s primary calendar is a key responsibility of the Democratic National Committee, with Nevada historically being a caucus state. However, in 2008, the state’s Democratic Party transitioned to state-run primaries, resulting in increased voter turnout.

While Nevada has traditionally been among the first states to hold presidential primaries or caucuses in recent elections, it has been preceded by states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Following this year’s election, various Democratic lawmakers, labor leaders, students, and political pundits have conducted their own analyses, with many suggesting a need to refocus on winning back working-class voters.

In response to claims from progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders that Democrats have lost the working class, former Democratic National Committee Chair Jamie Harrison dismissed the idea as “straight-up BS.” Additionally, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York cautioned against pandering to the far left, emphasizing the disconnect between their views and those of the working class.

Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Brent Booker also highlighted the Democratic Party’s failure to fully embrace working-class people for decades. He stressed the need to deconstruct and reconstruct the party to better represent and serve working people.

As the Democratic Party navigates its post-election strategy, the call to prioritize working-class states like Nevada in the presidential primary calendar underscores a broader effort to engage and appeal to a diverse and inclusive voter base. By heeding this call, national party leaders can work towards rebuilding a more robust and representative coalition for future elections.