Silver State Times

Adam Laxalt, the Republican candidate running for U.S. Senate in Nevada, criticized his opponent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto for her policies on policing and crime. He claims 95% of Nevada’s police groups have endorsed his campaign and expressed his support for police. FBI and police reports have seen an increase in crime in 2022.

“@CortezMasto is dangerous for police and dangerous for Nevada," Laxalt tweeted. "She chooses to stand with radical leftists over law enforcement which is why over 95% of Nevada’s police have switched their endorsements to our campaign. I will always support our brave men and women in blue.”

A Fox News report from May of this year states many police groups who have previously supported Cortez Masto have switched their endorsement to Laxalt. He received an endorsement from the Public Safety Alliance of Nevada (PSAN), which represents over 10,000 law enforcement officers in more than 100 state and local groups, according to Fox News. The Nevada Fraternal Order of Police, the Las Vegas Peace Officers Association and Peace Officers Association of the Clark County School District switched their endorsement to Laxalt. 

“Few things are more important to me than fighting rising crime in Nevada and across the country,” Laxalt told Fox Digital. “Support from the brave men and women of Nevada's law enforcement is humbling. The organizations represented by the PSAN endorsed my opponent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, in 2016, but they've seen nothing but empty promises from her and today they've joined our efforts."

Instead of helping law enforcement, "Cortez Masto has been focused on pushing the agenda of anti-police radicals in her party that undermines cops at every turn,” Laxalt said.

He does not support defunding the police.

“I am focused on helping law enforcement to keep Nevada safe and I will always have their backs," he said. "Voters should know that as your next senator, I will oppose defunding the police and ensure our officers have the tools they need to do their jobs, just as I did when I was Nevada's attorney general."

John Abel, director of the PSAN, told Fox Digital, “As attorney general, Adam organized the first statewide law enforcement summit, took action to combat the spread of illegal drugs and was tough on crime. Our organization is proud to support his campaign for the United States Senate, where we know he will continue working with cops to make Nevada’s communities safe."

Josh Marcus-Blake, a spokesperson for Cortez Masto, told Fox News Cortez Masto is "honored" to have been endorsed by groups representing 19 law enforcement agencies across Nevada.

“She earned their support by working closely with them as attorney general and securing historic funding for local police departments as senator," Marcus-Blake said.

According to the Nevada Globe, Cortez Masto chaired the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners and served as state attorney general from 2007 through 2014 and voted “more than 75 times to minimize the sentences of violent criminals," according to a Senate Republicans ad.

Cortez Masto's campaign told the Nevada Independent this claim was "demonstrably false," instead claiming Cortez Masto "voted to commute the sentences of violent criminals 35 times, roughly 11% of the 321 votes she cast," the Nevada Globe reports. "Numerous police groups" have switched their endorsement from Cortez Masto to her opponent, Laxalt, according to the Globe.

The Nevada Globe cites a recent Gallup poll that found voters are becoming more concerned with rising crime. Since 2016, 53% are worried a “great deal about crime.” Another 27% report they worry a “fair amount,” which the Nevada Globe finds crime and violence as a top issue for voters, behind inflation and the economy. The Nevada Globe reports the Gallup poll found Republicans' worry on crime has gone up 8% since President Joe Biden took office.