Nevada Democrats have ousted a slate of Democratic socialists who took over the state party two years ago, ending a troubled reign marked by divisions and infighting.
Judith Whitmer was ousted from her post as president in a vote on Saturday, with a new slate led by the Nevada assemblywoman. Daniele Munroe Moreno take control of the party.
Munroe-Moreno, who is the first black woman elected to lead Nevada Democrats, was endorsed by a host of elected officials as well as the so-called Reid Machine, the powerful organization first assembled by the late Nevada senator. Harry Reid.
The results come after a tumultuous tenure under Whitmer, who repeatedly clashed with key party figures. Establishment Democrats charged that he had at times undermined his own party, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who was in a tight re-election race last cycle.
Whitmer also lost the support of some of his progressive allies, including in the camp of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and with local Democratic socialists.
Whitmer recently told NBC News that he was the victim of a «smear campaign» and had worked to attract voters in negative races and rural counties.
In 2022, Nevada Democrats largely held state seats against what should have been good conditions for Republicans. Cortez-Masto’s victory by fewer than 8,000 votes ended up becoming the deciding Senate seat, allowing Democrats to retain power.
The exception was the governorship, making incumbent Steve Sisolak the only sitting governor to lose his seat in 2022.
The Silver State is expected to play a pivotal role again in 2024 as a presidential battleground. For Democrats, Nevada moved up the primary calendar order and is expected to hold its presidential race after South Carolina.
“We have a lot of work to do to earn this highly competitive battleground status and we are ready to start today,” Munroe-Moreno said in a statement. “I look forward to uniting our Democratic family because I know what we are capable of when we come together as one team.”
Whitmer did not immediately comment.