South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE (D) is expanding his presidential campaign’s staff in the early caucus state of Nevada as he seeks to break out of the primary field’s middle tier.

The Buttigieg campaign said in a statement it will have 10 offices open across the Silver State by the middle of October to help add to its 35-member staff there. It announced the hires of Travis Brock, the Nevada Democratic Party’s former executive director, as the campaign’s national director overseeing its caucus efforts, including in crucial early nominating states, and Juan Carlos Perez as national Latinx engagement director, among others.

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“From the gun violence epidemic to the climate crisis, we’ve seen firsthand in Nevada what the political stalemate in Washington has left behind,” Paul Selberg, the Buttigieg campaign’s Nevada state director, said in a statement. “As a mayor and a veteran, Pete understands the urgency of the moment we are in, and offers bold solutions to the issues that have plagued our state.

“With our strong and talented team, we will continue to spread Pete’s vision from Las Vegas to Elko to win the era and build a better future for our country.”

The announcement comes just before Buttigieg travels to Nevada on Saturday for campaign events in Reno.

Nevada will hold the third nominating contest of the 2020 primaries, behind the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. The state will be a crucial test for each campaign’s support among Hispanics, who make up roughly 30 percent of the state’s population.

“Frankly, Nevadans and voters across the nation are just starting to tune into this race,” Selberg told The Associated Press.

Though Buttigieg shot to national prominence early in the 2020 cycle with a string of viral moments and outpaced every other 2020 contender in fundraising for 2019’s second quarter, he has seen his poll numbers plateau in recent months, consistently falling behind former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE and Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.).

A USA Today–Suffolk University Political Research Center poll released Tuesday found Buttigieg at just over 3 percent in Nevada.