Ocasio-Cortez was one of eight potential Democratic presidential candidates to visit Nevada in the two weeks before the midterms. The shadow primary has already started, and it reveals who is likely to run, who is best positioned and the stump speeches and strategies each could use to win in the second nominating state for Democrats.
An obvious sign of their interest is their effort to impress Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge. Every Democrat who comes to town wants to talk to him.
"In Nevada, you got to walk the walk," he said. "If you can win in Nevada, you can win in this country, and we're talking about big tent Democrats."
...
This month, Harris made a pilgrimage to Culinary Union headquarters. There, she previewed how she might embrace gender in a Democratic primary.
"You are so important to working people," she told members. "Because of your work, there are two women senators in the state of Nevada. Because of your work, you have the first state Legislature in the country that is majority women."
Lizette Loya, a union member who works at Caesar's Palace, told The Indy that she would vote for Harris if she ran again.
"I was very excited when they told me that she was coming," Loya said.