The 'Adelson primary' returns as Republicans gather in Las Vegas
Republican politicians in Las Vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition event also met with donor Miriam Adelson.
LAS VEGAS — Republican politicians filed in and out of Las Vegas this week to give public speeches at an annual event held by the influential Republican Jewish Coalition.
But behind the scenes, there was something else happening: the Adelson primary.
For years, an informal process dubbed "the Adelson primary" took place that brought politicians to meet with billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, founder of the Las Vegas Sands casino and one of the party’s largest financiers. In 2012, the winner was Newt Gingrich, who got more than $5 million from the family before losing his bid for president; in 2016, the award went to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who ultimately lost the Republican nomination for president to Trump that year.
The process quieted in 2021 after Sheldon Adelson died, but his wife, Miriam, seems set to take over the title of GOP kingmaker. She is no stranger to politics, but this week as RJC met at the Venetian in Las Vegas, her presence over the 2024 election cycle became even more pronounced.
“The importance of the Adelsons never diminished. [Miriam] Adelson has had a bit of a different approach since [Sheldon] Adelson’s passing, but the mission remains the same,” said a longtime Republican operative familiar with the family’s thinking. “She is always going to preserve his legacy and do what’s best to protect the United States and our greatest ally, Israel.”
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