By backing Adam Laxalt, campaign co-chairs tarnish their reputations

Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Adam Laxalt’s Senate campaign recently unveiled a list of more than 30 Nevadans who had agreed to serve as campaign co-chairs, and some of the names were jarring to see. These were several former Nevada Republican leaders who built a reputation for responsible, constructive public service, yet now are supporting a candidate bearing the worst traits of a modern GOP that is subverting democracy, pitting Americans against each other and veering toward violence.

With the news that these individuals had signed up to promote Laxalt, let’s revisit some of what we know about the candidate they’re backing.

This is a former Nevada attorney general who took an oath to uphold the U.S. and Nevada constitutions yet believes it’s acceptable to cry out about widespread voter fraud without a shred of credible evidence.

He appears to find it politically convenient to subscribe to the Big Lie and work to invalidate the vote of Nevadans. He’s also working to limit voting access for Nevadans going forward.

Laxalt, who has yet to condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection or the growing presence of violent extremist groups in the Republican Party, suggests it’s acceptable to give aid and comfort to thugs who threaten loyal civil servants and perhaps introduce political violence to our system.

As a Trump-era extremist Republican, he follows the dogma that any vile action is acceptable in the name of politics and winning power.

Laxalt is a mosaic of the ugliest, basest political traits, a classic portrait of what you don’t want your children to aspire to. In a time brimming with bad examples of so-called leadership, he’s among the worst.

And despite all of this, several respected Nevadans opted to sign up as co-chairs for his campaign, signaling that they are just fine with his thuggery, dishonesty and cowardice. (See below for the full list.)

When people sign up as campaign co-chairs, no one expects them to agree with every position of the candidates. But Laxalt holds some positions that aren’t political in nature; instead they are corruptions of fundamental American values.

For example, his actions suggest that he believes Donald Trump was robbed of the presidency. This is a fundamental matter of democracy — do we believe in the validity of our voting system and the millions of volunteers and officials who make it run, or don’t we? Do we believe in the Big Lie and all of its repercussions, including the insurrection, or do we as a country condemn those who would take us down this road to anarchy? Again, we feel obliged to point out that this former attorney general spouts claims unmoored from the slightest evidence – that’s not what responsible lawyers do nor what responsible leaders do.

To those who have signed onto Laxalt’s campaign, we ask, do you share in this particularly un-American position?

We are certain there are people in Nevada who care not one bit for the future of our democracy and are more focused on their personal circumstances to the detriment of their community and their country. But we never expected to see some of the names on this list of co-chairs join that miserable minority.

Dema Guinn, the widow of one of Nevada’s great leaders and patriots, Gov. Kenny Guinn — does she believe that Joe Biden is not the duly elected president of the United States?

Mike Saltman, a longtime Las Vegas businessman and supporter of UNLV — does he subscribe to Laxalt’s un-American positions regarding our democracy?

Bruce Woodbury, a stalwart leader in Southern Nevada for years — has he abandoned his normally common sense approaches to government and accepted the radicalized rhetoric of Laxalt and those of his ilk?

Joe Brown, a man who devoted his adult life to Republican politics and has represented an era when members of both parties acted in the best interests of American democracy — has he abandoned all he once stood for to support a win-no-matter-what candidate?

There is a longer list of Nevadans who cause us to question their commitment to democracy, but these are just a few.

To all of the Laxalt’s campaign co-chairs, we close by offering this: If you’d care to respond to our questions, or if you believe the characterizations we’ve presented here are incorrect, we would be glad to interview you on the record. If you think we’re wrong about you, or about Laxalt, contact us at 702-259-2333.

Editor's note: The original version of this editorial incorrectly stated that Laxalt worked as a lobbyist for a Washington, D.C., law firm after losing the 2018 governor’s race. Laxalt served as an attorney for the firm, Cooper & Kirk. The firm has a history of lobbying, but records indicate it has done no formal lobby work in the years Laxalt has been part of it.

Laxalt campaign co-chairs:

Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony

Ketan Bhirud, Las Vegas

Former Republican National Committeeman Joe Brown, Las Vegas

Former Nevada State Treasurer Patty Cafferata, Reno

Cindy Carano, Reno

Denise Cashman, Las Vegas

Former Elko County Commissioner Demar Dahl, Elko

Carol and George Del Carlo, Incline Village

Joe DeSimone, Henderson

Former Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley, Tonopah

Former Douglas County Commissioner Mike Fischer, Gardnerville

Former Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick, Reno

Marianne and John Gibson, Las Vegas

Eureka County Commissioner J.J. Goicoechea, Eureka

Former Nevada first lady Dema Guinn, Reno

Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Las Vegas

Alan List, Lovelock

Former Nevada Gov. Bob List, Las Vegas

Jacquelyne Love, Incline Village

Jesus Marquez, Las Vegas

Bret Meich, Reno

John Phillips, Reno

Rick Reviglio, Reno

Donna Ruth, Las Vegas

Mike Saltman, Las Vegas

Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman

Jack St. Martin, Reno

Jack Stanko, Reno

Tiffany Tiberti, Las Vegas

Anthony Toti, Mesquite

Dan Tuntland, Las Vegas

Former state Sen. Maurice Washington, Sparks

Former Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, Boulder City.