Updated at 7 p.m.: Revised to include information from O'Rourke's later appearances

LAS VEGAS -- Beto O'Rourke’s budding presidential campaign arrived in Nevada this weekend, an early caucus state that will test his ability to appeal to minority voters in the nation's first primary contest with a diverse, young electorate.

"I'm here to listen to and learn from them," O'Rourke said when asked about his prospects in Nevada. "I take no one for granted in the same way I write no one off. If this is going to work ... everyone is going to have to be able to come out and step up."

On Saturday, O'Rourke campaigned at a Las Vegas "house party" hosted by a native Houstonian. And Sunday he campaigned at a Las Vegas taco joint, a minority-owned coffee shop and a private home.

At each stop he discussed with prospective voters issues related to climate change, immigration reform, health care, education, workers' rights and restoring America's democracy.

"I want to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to not just speak about that, but deliver on it once we're in power," O'Rourke told reporters after his first event.

On Sunday O'Rourke took aim at President Donald Trump, who had claimed complete and total exoneration after the summary of the findings of a special counsel investigation were released. O'Rourke called Trump "one of the most racist and uncivil presidents we have ever had."

"The way to meet that challenge is not to succumb to the pettiness, to the smallness, to the intolerance," he said at a coffeehouse in Las Vegas. "The way to meet that is to insure that we elevate every single American, regardless of whether you're a Republican, or a Democrat. ... We are Americans. We are human beings."

O'Rourke's remarks about Trump came as he asked voters not to "bring down or demonize" anyone, and as Trump supporters outside of his event made disparaging remarks about immigrants and Mexican-Americans.

Less than two weeks into his campaign, O'Rourke may have to play catch-up in Nevada and other states that are perhaps his biggest challenge in the Democratic presidential primary.

His campaign is playing to enthusiastic crowds, but white Democrats love him the most, as in his Senate race against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

The former El Paso congressman fought hard to improve his standing with black and Hispanic voters, part of his drive to show up in every county and reach as many types of voters as possible.

But in that race, O’Rourke led a united Democratic front that analysts say has made Texas a battleground state.

Concentrating on communities of color

He'll have to double down on those efforts in the primary, in which he's competing with Democrats who have deeper ties to communities of color, including former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio.

"The expectations are pretty high," said Lynnette Hull, president of the Young Democrats of Nevada. "The hype has increased over time and he's going to have to tell the people of Nevada what he's all about."

Hull, 20, added that Nevadans wanted to know how the candidate would improve health care, the environment and other progressive issues.

Ed Cantillo, who has lived in Las Vegas for more than 50 years, said he's undecided but likes what he sees of O'Rourke.

"He's his own man and he doesn't have a machine behind him," Cantillo said.

Artie Blanco, the Houston native now living in Las Vegas, said O'Rourke was new blood.

"I think he's an extension of Barack Obama and I want to hear more," she said.

Blanco was one of numerous former Texans O'Rourke encountered in Nevada. At a Mexican restaurant Sunday he joked: "Is there anyone here from Las Vegas."

There was, of course. And he received enthusiastic applause at his various stops.

Since 2008, Nevada has held its caucus just after Iowa's and the New Hampshire primary, making it an important stop for presidential contenders.

The Democratic electorate is diverse, with a third of caucusgoers being so-called LatinX voters, and others representing the heavily Hispanic culinary unions and other labor groups. The state also has an emerging Pacific Islander community.

Several presidential candidates have been to Nevada, most recently Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Castro, who made his third trip this month since announcing his campaign.

Castro was also there in 2018 helping various Democrats get elected.

Hull, the young Democrat, said Castro is a good candidate.

"He has a compelling story," she said. "I hope he gets far into the campaign."

Expected by Democrats

The weekend marked O'Rourke's first visit to Nevada, but Democrats were expecting him.

"He's very well known here because of his Senate race," said Donna West, chairwoman of the Clark County Democratic Party. "There was a strong 'Draft Beto' contingent in the state as early as last fall."

West said Nevada is up for grabs.

"Everybody is all over the board on who they like, and it often changes," she said.

Emily Zamora said O'Rourke's fluent Spanish would help him reel in Hispanic voters. He often speaks Spanish on the campaign trail.

"It's going to be the first time a lot of people hear about the issues they care about with authenticity and in their language," she said.

O'Rourke hopes Nevada settles on his campaign.

At his town hall-like meetings he talked about the need for criminal justice reform, the development of a comprehensive immigration system that keeps families together and the need for good-paying jobs for all Americans. He also stressed the need to control gun violence with universal background checks and taking weapons of war out of the hands of the public.

"There has been no meaningful change in this country, in our history, brought about by those in elected office," O'Rourke said. "It is always forced by those who take action, who make sure that they form the public pressure that develops the political will to make the change happen."

O'Rourke says he feels at home in Las Vegas.

"This feels very much like my hometown," he said. "The desert, the mountains, the dry, beautiful spring air ... it feels good, it feels right, I feel at home."

"We're going to run this campaign one living room at a time, one chair at a time that we stand on, listening to everyone," he said.