(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., received an endorsement from a police coalition when she ran for office in 2016, but the group withheld its endorsement for her 2022 reelection, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Last November, Cortez Masto praised members of Battle Born Progress, an anti-police organization that supports the defund the police movement, for being “incredible advocates for our state.”
The Public Safety Alliance of Nevada on May 4 endorsed the current frontrunner in the Republican Senate primary, former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt. In the most recent Emerson College poll, Laxalt led his nearest challenger by 23%.
PSAN Director John Abel lauded Laxalt’s record as attorney general, adding that he “stood by cops when it mattered, and we are proud to stand by him now.”
“As Attorney General, Adam organized the first statewide Law Enforcement summit, took action to combat the spread of illegal drugs, and was tough on crime,” Abel said.
“Our organization is proud to support his campaign for the United States Senate, where we know he will continue working with cops to make Nevada’s communities safe.”
As Americans grow more concerned about crime, PSAN’s endorsement could shift the race—which numerous groups have called a “toss-up”—in Laxalt’s favor. Head-to-head polls show a competitive race.
Besides inflation, crime has become the top-priority issue among Americans, with more than half of Americans telling Gallup that they worry about it a “great deal.”
PSAN represents more than 10,000 police officers in several groups, including the Nevada Fraternal Order of Police, the Las Vegas Peace Officers Association, and Peace Officers Association of the Clark County School District.
Laxalt promised to keep advocating for police officers if he is elected to the Senate.
“I am focused on helping law enforcement to keep Nevada safe and I will always have their backs,” he said on Fox News.
“Voters should know that as our next Senator I will oppose defunding the police and ensure our officers have the tools they need to do their jobs, just as I did when I was Nevada’s attorney general.”
