Las Vegas celebrity Dan Bilzerian has been making significant contributions to Nevada politics through a legal loophole that allows him to give the maximum amount multiple times to the same candidate using corporate entities. This practice is not uncommon in Nevada and has raised concerns among experts.
Known as the “King of Instagram,” Bilzerian and his businesses have donated large sums to candidates such as Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill and District Attorney Steve Wolfson. The legal framework in Nevada permits individuals to donate the maximum amount in their own name and through an unlimited number of corporate entities to the same candidate, creating a loophole that allows wealthy donors to exert significant influence.
Despite criticisms of this system, Nevada Democrats and Republicans benefit from the current campaign finance laws and are unlikely to change them. Experts believe that even if reforms were implemented, donors would find other ways to funnel money into politics.
Under Nevada law, individuals can donate up to $5,000 to a candidate for both their primary and general election campaigns in non-federal races. This framework has been in place for decades, allowing legitimate businesses owned by a single person to make political donations without restrictions on the number of entities controlled by the individual.
While some may question the ethics of using corporate entities to make political contributions, experts argue that these donations are perfectly legal and have been a longstanding practice in Nevada. Donors like Bilzerian have supported various candidates and political action committees, contributing to the complex web of campaign finance in the state.
In the past gubernatorial race, Las Vegas donors, including major corporations like MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming Corp., funneled significant sums of money to candidates through multiple entities. This corporate spending underscores the influence that businesses can wield in Nevada politics through campaign contributions.
Despite calls for reform to limit donations through corporate entities, experts warn that such changes may simply lead to more money flowing into outside groups that can support candidates without donation limits. The intricate system of campaign finance in Nevada continues to raise questions about the influence of money in politics and the need for transparency and accountability.
For more information on this issue, contact Eli Segall at esegall@reviewjournal.com. Segall is a reporter on the Review-Journal’s investigative team, focusing on reporting that holds leaders, businesses, and agencies accountable and exposes wrongdoing.
