Off the Charts Spending + Lackluster Fundraising = Expensive #NVGov Republican Primary

The crowded field heads into a competitive primary with high burn rates, less cash on hand combined than Governor Sisolak

Based on their underwhelming fundraising reports, the GOP candidates for governor are facing a brutal uphill battle with five months to go in a crowded and increasingly nasty primary. With 10 candidates fighting for the nomination and more than $2 million already spent on the air waves alone, the field will have to raise significantly more to keep up the pace while spending every nickel and dime they have. And if their high burn rates are any indication–they already are. Nearly every candidate and candidate-aligned PACs spent more than half of what they raised.

After taking both sides on key issues and being relentlessly called out by his opponents, Joe Lombardo’s backers drained their Better Nevada PAC of $2 million, spending more than any gubernatorial candidate or committee as it attempts to defend Lombardo’s disastrous record and pay for name ID since he refuses to face Nevadans at debates.

Whoever makes it to the general election will be looking under couch cushions for change while facing an incumbent governor who has five months to continue adding to his more than $8 million stockpile.

“There’s five months to go until the Republican primary and the field is burning money as quickly as they raise it, spending millions on TV ads already,” said Nevada Democratic Victory spokesperson Mallory Payne. “After the field spends everything they have trying to prove they’re the most conservative candidate in the race, it’ll be nearly impossible for anyone to come out of the primary well-positioned for the general election. While the GOP is duking it out, Governor Sisolak will continue growing his war chest.”

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