Potential 2028 presidential candidates keep visiting Nevada as a Trump-funded group cuts ad money in the 3rd District

What happened

The Nevada Independent reported that 13 potential presidential candidates have made 21 trips to Nevada since the outlet started its 2028 candidate visit tracker in April. The visits come ahead of the 2026 midterms, and the outlet said more hopefuls will arrive soon.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, both Democrats, will visit Nevada during early voting, according to the newsletter. Voters can review the key early voting dates for the 2026 midterms.

Who is paying attention to Nevada

The most frequent visitors

The tracker shows which possible candidates have come to Nevada most often. The Nevada Independent listed Rep. Ro Khanna of California, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona among the most frequent visitors. All are Democrats.

Four hopefuls at one event

The outlet said Beshear, Khanna, Kelly and Emanuel will appear at its IndyFest event next Thursday. They will be interviewed by a Nevada Independent reporter alongside the outlet's CEO, Jon Ralston.

Money shifts in the 3rd Congressional District

Trump-funded group pulls back

Safety and Affordability PAC, which is financially backed by President Donald Trump's MAGA Inc., had planned to spend $3 million on TV ads supporting Republican Marty O'Donnell, a video game composer challenging Rep. Susie Lee. On Tuesday, the group canceled $1 million in ad reservations, The Nevada Independent reported. It is unclear what will happen to ads reserved after that.

The move followed The Cook Political Report shifting the seat toward Democrats. Politico reported that MAGA Inc. plans to trim its map, including "cutting off spending to a group of less attainable House races."

The race is still considered the GOP's best chance to flip a Nevada congressional seat, according to the newsletter. O'Donnell and the National Republican Congressional Committee have together spent more than $2 million this fall, and NRCC communications director Will Kiley told Politico the district is a top seat to watch for an upset.

Democratic fundraising numbers

Lee raised $1.2 million in the third quarter, bringing her cycle total to $5.6 million, the most she has raised at this point before an election. Her campaign said her median donation was $10 and that she had more than 1,800 donations in total.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former Assembly majority leader, raised $533,000. The Nevada Independent said that is the largest three-month total for a Democratic nominee in that district since the 2011 special election that first sent Rep. Mark Amodei to Congress.

Other developments in Nevada races

Governor's race endorsements

Former President Barack Obama urged Nevadans on Wednesday to vote for Attorney General Aaron Ford in the governor's race. More on that is in our brief on Obama's endorsement of Ford. The newsletter also noted that Dana White endorsed Lombardo.

Churches oppose Question 6

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Nevada Catholic Conference are speaking out against Ballot Question 6. The measure would protect the right to an abortion until fetal viability in the state Constitution, and it passed with 64 percent of voters in favor in 2024.

Controller race and state reports

State officials this week approved a $2.1 million contract with a financial reporting firm to speed up Nevada's annual financial reports, an issue central to the controller race. Controller Andy Matthews said the contract will help the state make progress toward getting its reporting back on time.

What to watch next

• Visits by Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer, which The Nevada Independent said will happen during early voting.
• IndyFest next Thursday, where Beshear, Khanna, Kelly and Emanuel are scheduled to be interviewed.
• Whether Safety and Affordability PAC keeps or cancels its remaining ad reservations in the 3rd Congressional District.
• Ballot Question 6, which church groups are actively opposing ahead of Election Day.