Trump-aligned super PAC announces $1.5 million investment backing Tarkanian
A super PAC aligned with President Donald Trump announced plans to spend $1.5 million supporting Republican Danny Tarkanian in the race for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District just one day before the president travels to Las Vegas to campaign for the businessman and other Republican candidates.
The open, swingy congressional seat is the 13th race that the super PAC, America First Action, and its affiliated nonprofit are investing in across the country, including 10 other House races and two Senate races. The $1.5 million investment announced Wednesday will go toward buying television and digital ads, according to the super PAC’s spokeswoman Erin Montgomery.
“As President Trump heads to Las Vegas on Thursday for what is sure to be an exciting rally in support of GOP candidates in Nevada, we’re pleased to be able to announce our support for Danny Tarkanian in NV-03, one of the top pickup opportunities for Republicans in the country,” Montgomery said in an email.
Trump will hold a Make America Great Again rally at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thursday night, where Tarkanian is expected to appear on stage with the president and deliver remarks. The president will then host a joint fundraiser on Friday for Tarkanian and his onetime opponent U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, where the cost of attendance is between $15,000 and $50,000 per couple.
In March, Trump nudged Tarkanian out of a primary against Heller and into the race for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, which the Republican businessman ran for and lost in 2016.
“It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it’s [sic] unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed!” Trump said in a tweet.
Earlier this spring, Tarkanian argued that the tweet constituted “more than an endorsement” from the president after his primary opponents tried to dismiss Trump’s support for the businessman. At the time, Tarkanian’s spokesman said that the campaign had received confirmation from Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, that the tweet was an endorsement, though The Nevada Independent was unable to directly reach Parscale to confirm.
On Saturday, Trump officially confirmed his endorsement of Tarkanian in the race for the 3rd District, calling him a “great friend who supports the Trump agenda" in a tweet.
“He is Strong on Crime, the Border and our under siege 2nd Amendment. Danny Loves our Military and our Vets. He has my total and complete Endorsement!” Trump said in the tweet.