Adam Laxalt, endorsed by Trump and Cruz wins Nevada Republican U.S. Senate primary

Former Nevada attorney general Adam Laxalt has prevailed in the state’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

The Associated Press projected Laxalt as the winner shortly after midnight, and is now speculating the candidate's victory sets up “a fierce race for Senate control.”

Laxalt, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz defeated retired U.S. Army Capt. Sam Brown and several other Republican challengers, but maintained a steady lead throughout the race.

The former top state prosecutor will now challenge the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina to serve in the U.S. Senate. She has been targeted by Republicans as a vulnerable seat as more and more Hispanic voters turn to the GOP.

Laxalt’s victory was predicted by many political analysts including Blake Hounshell, editor of The New York Time’s On Politics newsletter. Hounshell projected that strong Republicans would win the GOP primaries on Tuesday since Democrats were weighed down by President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings.

He cited the state’s economic struggles as the key reason for a Democratic loss, noting that Nevada’s unemployment rate hit 28.5% in April 2020 as pandemic lockdowns smothered its tourism industry.

Laxalt was endorsed by former President Trump who held a Las Vegas based rally for him last week with former U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker.

Laxalt also went door to door knocking with Ric Grenell who served as the acting director of national intelligence during the Trump administration.