Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego are heading to Nevada on February 1st for a Democratic Party event honoring the late Senator Harry Reid.
But make no mistake – this isn’t just about paying respects. These two liberal politicians are testing the waters for their 2028 presidential ambitions, and Nevada is ground zero in their battle plan.
Why This Matters to Nevada
The event, called “Fighting the Good Fight,” will be held in Las Vegas. Democratic organizers plan to make it an annual gathering, positioning Nevada as a key early primary state for 2028. Nevada Democrats are aggressively lobbying the Democratic National Committee to make the Silver State the very first primary state in the nation – ahead of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
If they succeed, Nevada will become the launching pad for the next generation of Democratic presidential candidates. That means our state will be flooded with liberal politicians pushing progressive policies that don’t match Nevada’s values. It means millions of dollars spent trying to convince Nevadans to embrace bigger government, higher taxes, and policies that hurt working families.
Nevada’s political influence is growing, but that influence could be used to promote an agenda that runs counter to the principles that built this state.
Meet JB Pritzker: The Tax-and-Spend Billionaire
Let’s talk about who these guys really are. JB Pritzker runs Illinois, a state that’s become a cautionary tale for conservative governance. Since taking office in 2019, Pritzker has increased Illinois state spending by more than $15 billion. That’s a 37% jump in just six years.
The numbers are staggering. Illinois now takes $1,434 more in taxes from each resident than when Pritzker took office. The state has the highest combined state and local tax burden in the entire nation, averaging 16.5% of a family’s income. Think about that. Nearly one out of every six dollars an Illinois family earns goes to state and local taxes.
Despite these massive tax increases, Illinois still faces a projected $5 billion budget deficit by 2031. The state has the worst credit rating in America, tied only with a handful of other struggling states. And what do Illinois residents get for all those taxes? Failing schools, fleeing businesses, and a shrinking population.
Since 2020, Illinois has lost at least 10 major corporate headquarters, including Caterpillar, Boeing, Tyson, and Citadel. These companies are taking thousands of jobs to states with lower taxes and less government interference. Meanwhile, Pritzker keeps pushing for even more government control, including a failed attempt to change the state constitution to allow progressive income taxes that would hit middle-class families even harder.
This is the model Pritzker wants to bring to the White House. More spending, higher taxes, bigger government, and fewer opportunities for regular working Americans.
Meet Ruben Gallego: The Progressive Who Plays Moderate
Then there’s Ruben Gallego, Arizona’s newest senator, who won his seat by pretending to be something he’s not. During his time in Congress, Gallego voted with President Biden 100% of the time. He co-sponsored Medicare for All, supported eliminating the Senate filibuster, and called himself “a true progressive voice in Congress” in fundraising emails as recently as 2022.
But when it came time to run for Senate in a purple state, Gallego suddenly dropped his progressive label. He let his membership in the Congressional Progressive Caucus lapse and started talking tough on border security – after years of calling Trump’s border wall “stupid” and accusing the former president of “scapegoating immigrants.”
Gallego also has a temper problem. He’s directed profanity-laced social media attacks at Russian President Vladimir Putin, Arizona Republican Party leaders, and various media personalities. That kind of emotional instability isn’t what we need representing America on the world stage.
He’s a skilled politician who knows how to read the room. When he needed progressives, he was their champion. When he needed moderates, he reinvented himself overnight.
The question is: Which Gallego would show up in the White House?
The Democratic Primary Calendar Battle
Nevada Democrats are making their pitch to host the first primary because the state is diverse (read: Latino), has a strong union presence( read: Culinary Union), and is a competitive battleground. They argue that candidates who can win in Nevada can win nationally.
But here’s what that really means: Democrats want to use Nevada as a testing ground for progressive policies. They want to see which candidates can sell higher taxes, bigger government, and more regulation to a diverse electorate. If they can win here with that message, they think they can win anywhere.
Twelve states have applied to be early primary states for 2028, including New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan, and Georgia. The Democratic National Committee will make its final decision over the coming months. If Nevada gets the top spot, expect a parade of liberal politicians descending on the Silver State over the next few years.
The Bigger Picture
The February 1st event honoring Harry Reid isn’t just about remembering a political leader. It’s about Democrats building the infrastructure for their next presidential campaign, and they’re starting right here in Nevada.
Harry Reid mastered building political machines. He turned Nevada from a reliably Republican state into a Democratic stronghold through organization, union support, and targeted messaging. Now his successors are trying to use that same playbook to launch the next Democratic president.
Pritzker and Gallego represent the future of the Democratic Party – wealthy progressives and rebranded radicals who know how to package liberal policies in moderate wrapping paper. They’re counting on Nevada voters to buy what they’re selling.
The 2028 presidential campaign is already underway, and it’s starting in our backyard. Nevada conservatives need to make sure we’re not just spectators in this fight. We need to be ready to defend the principles of limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility that made Nevada great.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
