It was determined that Kathy McDonald violated the CCRP bylaws in October of 2022 when she co-hosted a fundraiser for the now-elected Congresswoman, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Leah Anaya
For Clark County Today

At the Clark County Republican Central Committee (CCRCC) meeting held Thursday (Feb. 9), precinct committee officers (PCOs) voted to censure Republican PCO and former vice chair of the Clark County Republican Party (CCRP) Kathy McDonald. The vote stemmed from McDonald allegedly violating the CCRP bylaws in October of 2022 when she co-hosted a fundraiser for the now-elected Third Congressional District Congresswoman, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

The CCRP had already voted to endorse Republican candidate Joe Kent following the defeat of incumbent Jamie Herrera-Beutler before the fundraiser. The bylaws of the CCRCC state, “No active PCO or Officer may perform any of the following: Make a formal, public endorsement in a third-party publication for a candidate of a competing party when there exists an endorsed Republican candidate.” They also say that no PCO or officer may “Run, staff, or fundraise a political campaign or PAC for a competing political party.”

During the CCRCC meeting, PCO Mark Moore introduced the resolution to censure McDonald, citing the county party’s bylaws and evidence that McDonald was in violation. The attending PCO’s voted unanimously to pass it.

The censure means that McDonald will not be able to vote on county party matters and will not be allowed to hold the floor to speak at meetings. She was not present for Thursday’s meeting and in fact had not been present at a CCRCC meeting since Kent and Perez were announced as the two candidates to advance to the general election after the August 2022 primary. She had also stepped down as vice chair during that time.

Speaking to Clark County Today, McDonald said that she didn’t know much about the resolution of censure so couldn’t comment on it “effectively.” She said she read through it after it was sent to her but wasn’t contacted about it prior to it being presented at the meeting. “They’re breaking the law,” she said. “The bylaws say I should have had the resolution two weeks before it’s voted on, but that didn’t happen. But these guys don’t care about the law; they don’t care that they’re breaking the law. That doesn’t matter to them. I don’t care. It’s a witch hunt.”

When asked if she planned to attend CCRCC meetings, McDonald said, “I have no idea if I’m allowed to come to meetings. But a resolution carries no teeth. They asked for my resignation. I have no intention of stepping down. I was elected by the people of the 104th precinct. They can’t kick me out. This is laughable.”

McDonald was put in the precinct 104 PCO position in the 49th Legislative District following that same August election. Her race was uncontested, which means she faced no opposition for the seat.

In a press release about the censure, CCRP Chairman Matthew Bumala said, “Party discipline is a rare and serious event and the CCRCC does not entertain these matters lightly. It is the highest priority that Republican voters can trust party leadership to represent their interests and conduct business with transparency. Therefore, when a party officer acts in violation of CCRCC bylaws in such an egregious manner, the body will execute its duty to enforce the code of conduct.”