While much of the vote in the Nevada caucus remains to be counted, most major networks have already called it for Bernie Sanders, likely due to the large lead he has over the other candidates. A major reason for this lead is that Latinx voters overwhelmingly supported him. According to NBC News’s entrance poll, 53% of Latinx caucusgoers backed Sanders, far exceeding Biden’s 16% support (no other candidate was in double digits).
Ever since 2016, a major criticism of Sanders has been that he only or mostly appeals to white voters. To whatever extent this was true four years ago, today suggests that, in 2020, Sanders is more than capable of winning the support of people of color. Indeed, while he lost the Black vote to Biden, it was only by 6 points (34 to 28%). Nevada is only one state, but if these trends hold, Sanders will gain the most diverse support of any candidate this cycle—which would benefit him greatly in delegate-rich California and Texas and, most likely, lead him to the nomination.