Trump-backed Adam Laxalt wins Nevada Senate GOP primary

Driving the news: Laxalt held off Brown, whose challenge gained more momentum during the final weeks ahead of the primary.

The big picture: Laxalt has close ties to prominent Republicans, including Trump, having worked on his 2020 re-election campaign, per AP. Laxalt helped push false claims about election fraud in Nevada after the 2020 election and he led legal challenges to overturn election results.

• Brown said he believed that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
• Trump hosted a "tele-rally" for Laxalt last week.
• "[June 14] happens to be my birthday," Trump said during the call. "So if you would give me a nice birthday present — and that's Adam, give me Adam as a birthday present."
• Laxalt also earned support from potential 2024 presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was Laxalt's roommate in the Navy, per AP.

What to watch: November's election is likely to be a close race, as Nevada, which President Biden won by two points in 2020, is considered a toss-up by election forecasters.

• "She's the most vulnerable senator in America," Laxalt said of Cortez Masto at a campaign event this weekend, CNN reports.
• "It's our time to flip Nevada and save our country."

Go deeper... Midterm special: Key House, Senate and governor races to watch