While the GOP candidates for Governor continue duking it out for the Republican nomination, Dean Heller’s rumored September campaign launch is looming over an already crowded primary. After lobbying for the support of the party establishment, Heller is putting in the work to get the backing of party leaders.

Joey Gilbert, on the other hand, is growing his loyal fanbase with 13,000 Twitter followers and hundreds of attendees at his rallies across the state. He released a Facebook ad last week, signaling that he’s willing to spend to get ahead and won’t go down without a fight.

With Heller’s upcoming announcement and Gilbert gaining traction, Joe Lombardo can’t seem to gin up any real momentum. While he will tell anyone who will listen that he’s a lifelong Republican despite running for the nonpartisan office of Sheriff, he’s been snubbed from GOP campaign events like the Basque Fry and the Republican Governors Association conference and isn’t having any luck with grassroots support, either.

“Joe Lombardo is drowning and Dean Heller and Joey Gilbert can see the blood in the water,” said Nevada Democratic Victory spokesperson Mallory Payne. “Without the GOP establishment behind him or any semblance of organic support among the Republican base, Lombardo’s primary battle is set to get even tougher with another candidate in the race.”

###