Fresh off New Hampshire victory, Trump heads to Las Vegas on Saturday

Following victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump will return Saturday to Nevada to encourage Republicans to vote for him in the Feb. 8 caucus.

Nevada is the third state on the Republican presidential nominating calendar.

Trump is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. at Big League Dreams sports park in what's described as a “Commit to Caucus Rally.” Although the event is free and open to the public, tickets are required and available at donaldjtrump.com/events.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected Saturday in East Las Vegas for an event with U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nevada. Details are not yet available.

Saturday is also the start of early voting in Nevada’s Presidential Preference Primary, where registered Democrats will have the opportunity to vote for President Joe Biden and registered Republicans can vote for former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, among other candidates.

Presidential Preference Primary election day is Feb. 6.

Nevada voter guide: What you need to know about the 2024 elections in the Silver State

Nevada has Presidential Preference Primary and GOP caucus

Confusing to many, Nevada has a Presidential Preference Primary run by the state, with the options of early voting, mail-in ballots and voting machines. It's the state's first PPP since the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed it mostly along party lines in 2021, signed by former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.

Democrats will use the primary to vote for the candidate they want for president on the November ballot; the winner will be used to inform Nevada's delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer.

Although Republicans can vote in the primary for Nikki Haley or other minor candidates who filed to participate, they will not be able to vote for Trump.

The Nevada Republican Party preferred to stick with its caucus system. The two candidates remaining in that contest are Trump and Texas businessman Ryan Binkley.

The caucus, will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8. It will determine who Nevada’s delegates to the Republican National Convention will put forward to be on November’s ballot.

The Republican and Democratic parties are allowed to use whatever method they want to inform their delegates for their national conventions. The Nevada Republican Party decided that only candidates who participated in its caucus would be eligible for delegates.

Trump held a “Commit to Caucus Rally” in Reno last month where he called the primary "meaningless" and said "the caucus is the only way to vote for President Trump. It's safe, secure and transparent but it is also the only one that counts."

Ask the RGJ: Can Nevada Republicans vote in both the presidential primary and caucus?

More: Why isn't Donald Trump on sample ballot for Nevada's presidential preference primary?

Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.