Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego will headline a Democratic Party event in Nevada on Feb. 1 to celebrate the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a person familiar with the matter told Axios.
Why it matters: Nevada is traditionally one of the first states to vote in the Democratic presidential primary and state party officials are vying to have the state the first state in 2028.
- It's the latest sign that Gallego and Pritzker are setting themselves up for possible runs for the White House.
Driving the news: Nevada's Democratic Party will host the inaugural "Fighting the Good Fight" event in Las Vegas and plans to make it an annual event to honor Reid and the political machine he built in the state before his death in 2021.
- The event is likely to become a magnet for potential presidential candidates, as Nevada probably will be among the first states to vote in the 2028 presidential primary.
Between the lines: Pritzker has been building up his political operation in Nevada for years.
- The Illinois governor donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to back a successful 2024 ballot measure in the state as part of an effort to protect abortion rights.
- In February of 2024 he spoke at a rally for Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom.
Gallego has been making inroads in the state more recently, particularly with Nevada's large Latino population.
- He met with leaders of the state's influential culinary union last September.
- Gallego's team also told Axios that the senator will kick off Black History Month in February by attending community events with Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) in Las Vegas.
What's next: The Democratic National Committee will meet in Puerto Rico later this month to begin considering state parties' proposals for their spots on the 2028 primary calendar. The final calendar will be determined over the next several months.
