The Democratic National Committee has committed to transferring a six-figure chunk of money to the local state party, a Democrat familiar with the arrangement told POLITICO. | AP Photo DNC pumps money into Nevada legislative fight

Desperate to get their party focused on local legislative elections, national Democrats are starting to pour money into the battleground state of Nevada to protect state senators there.

The Democratic National Committee has committed to transferring a six-figure chunk of money to the local state party, a Democrat familiar with the arrangement told POLITICO, as part of an effort to fight GOP-run recall efforts that could flip control of the state Senate to Republicans. The funds will come on top of the monthly $10,000 installments that the DNC has already promised to send state party committees.


After Democrats won both arms of Nevada's legislature in 2016, Republicans there have started the rarely-used recall process in three Democratic districts — part of an effort to “be back in control of the state Senate by Christmas,” according to the Republican leader in the chamber.

If that effort is successful, Democrats would be unlikely to win back the state Senate until after 2020. National Democratic leaders believe Republicans are test-driving this tactic in Nevada to gauge its potential power in other important states.

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A new Democratic group called Our Votes, Our Voice is urging voters to decline to sign the recall petitions. Democrats are painting the effort as a waste of government funds via in-person, digital, and mail efforts.

Republicans are eager to gain ground back in the state, which Democratic presidential candidates have won in three straight elections. GOP Sen. Dean Heller faces a difficult re-election challenge there next year, while Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval is retiring.

Both parties also see coming state legislative races as particularly important because they will play a role in the post-2020 round of redistricting.