The nomination of Republican brothel owner Dennis Hof to the Nevada Legislature has prompted several GOP leaders to withhold their support from him and raised the possibility that Hof will be excluded from the Republican legislative caucus in February.

As a result, one local official has withdrawn her support from Republican nominee for governor Adam Laxalt to give it to Ryan Bundy, of the Bunkerville ranching family, who is running as an independent.

At a joint meeting with Bundy in Pahrump, Nye County Commissioner Donna Cox said she switched sides because “Laxalt came out and said he would not value the vote of the people.”

Describing Hof’s win as “the vote of the people” is a bit of a reach. He received 42.82 percent of the 6,821 votes cast—a plurality, not a majority—to incumbent James Oscarson’s 36.49 percent and 20.69 percent for candidate Joseph Bradley. Nevada law does not allow for runoffs when no candidate has a majority. Hof must now face Democrat Lesia Romanov in the heavily GOP district.

Paradoxically, Laxalt—by sparking this action—has lifted Bundy’s candidacy for a few moments above the radar, giving him some publicity with voters who didn’t even know he was running.