Ultra-wealthy businessman and prominent Democratic donor Stephen Cloobeck had previously been mentioned as a potential 2018 Senate candidate in Nevada, but we can now cross him off the list, since he just endorsed Republican Sen. Dean Heller, who is one of the very few vulnerable GOP incumbents up for re-election next year. Cloobeck even had the gall to say “I believe in Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood, civil rights, and other core principles of the Democratic Party” in his endorsement statement right before going on to praise Heller’s “businesslike approach to politics and legislation,” even though Heller has been a key enabler of a party steadfastly opposed to those very core principles in the Senate.
Cloobeck has been reportedly more seriously considering running for the open governor’s office next year and will supposedly self-fund at least $5 million, but the self-described moderate’s endorsement of Heller could be a huge negative for many Democrats in the primary if he runs. However, if Team Blue wants to field an alternate nominee, someone else will have to step up. No major candidates have joined the primary yet, but Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak is considering it, while several other Democrats have been named as possibilities.