2026 Nevada Governor Election

Know Your Candidates

Nonpartisan, sourced analysis of the five candidates running for Nevada Governor. Understand their records, their funding, and their contradictions.

Meet the Candidates Compare on Issues

5

Candidates

11

Issue Areas

162

Lombardo Vetoes[1]The Nevada Independent, 2025 Veto Tracker

$1.1B

Ford Opioid Settlements[2]Eglet Law, Walgreens Settlement Announcement

The Candidates

Three Republicans vying for the GOP nomination. Two Democrats competing in their primary. Each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions voters should understand.

Republican Primary

Compare GOP →
👨‍✈️
Republican

Joe Lombardo

Governor (Incumbent)

Former Sheriff turned "Veto Governor." 162 vetoes across two sessions.[1]The Nevada Independent, 2025 Veto Tracker Deep ties to hotel magnate Robert Bigelow ($25M+ donations).[3]AP News, "Hotel mogul, UFO believer spending in Nevada governor's race"

26 years LVMPD, Sheriff 2015-2022[17]LVMPD records, official biography
$380M A's stadium, $330M Tesla deal[18]Nevada Legislature, SB1 (A's Stadium) and Nevada GOED records
"Badge Gate" ethics violation settled[19]Nevada Independent, Ethics Commission investigation
Key Contradiction: Claims "free market" but approved $710M+ in corporate subsidies[20]Combined Tesla, A's stadium, and other subsidy packages
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💼
Republican

Irina Hansen

Salon Owner / Real Estate Agent

Romanian immigrant, small business owner. "Judicial Crisis" reformer.[22]Hansen campaign website 2024 Las Vegas mayoral candidate (1.2%, 849 votes).[23]Ballotpedia 2024 results

Anti-mandate, anti-regulation platform
Zero institutional endorsements
No prior elected office
Key Contradiction: "Successful businesswoman" vs. court records showing alimony claims[24]FindLaw court opinion
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🎤
Republican

Matthew Winterhawk

SmartSlaps Founder / Author

"Live N Learn" hip-hop artist and nonprofit founder.[25]Ballotpedia profile Proposes NLSARA (land sovereignty) and state D.O.G.E.[26]W4Nevada campaign

Author: "True Freedom" (58 pages)[27]Bookshop.org
Community college (A.A.) education
No prior elected office
Key Contradiction: "Christian values" but releases explicit hip-hop during campaign[28]Apple Music "Industry Hoes"
Full Profile

Democratic Primary

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⚖️
Democrat

Aaron Ford

Attorney General

"From food stamps to five degrees."[4]Aaron Ford personal background, multiple sources $1.1B in opioid settlements.[5]Eglet Law, Walgreens Settlement Announcement Deep ties to trial lawyers through Citizens for Justice PAC.[6]OpenSecrets, Citizens for Justice PAC filings

Former Senate Majority Leader[7]Nevada Legislature records
AB 236 criminal justice reform architect[8]Nevada Legislature, AB 236 (2019)
$185K IRS liens (2010-2014, resolved)[9]Washington Free Beacon, IRS lien investigation
Key Contradiction: "Champion of little guy" but donor firms get $165M+ in state legal fees[10]Nevada Controller, outside counsel payments
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📋
Democrat

Alexis Hill

Washoe County Commission Chair

Technocratic progressive from Reno. Proposes margin tax.[11]Hill campaign platform, margin tax proposal Election certifier who fought Beadles' far-right movement.[12]Nevada Independent, "2024 Election Certification Showdown"

City planner background, MPA from UNR[13]Alexis Hill official biography
"No subsidies for billionaires" platform[14]Hill campaign announcements
Voted FOR homeless camping ban[15]Washoe County Commission voting records
Key Contradiction: "Anti-corporate" but takes developer money, votes for their projects[16]Washoe County Commission records, campaign finance reports
Full Profile

The Issues

Eleven policy domains that matter most to Nevada. Click any issue to see where each candidate stands—and where they contradict themselves.

🏠

Housing & Rent

Eviction protections, rent control, corporate landlords

💼

Economy & Jobs

Unemployment, corporate subsidies, diversification

🚔

Crime & Safety

AB 236, policing, Resort Corridor Court

📚

Education

School funding, charter schools, teacher pay

🏥

Healthcare

Opioid crisis, rural access, gender-affirming care

💰

Taxes & Revenue

No income tax, margin tax debate, corporate breaks

🌎

Immigration

Sanctuary policies, federal cooperation, workforce

🔫

Gun Policy

Background checks, age limits, polling place rules

🌊

Water & Environment

Colorado River, Lake Mead, lithium mining

🔍

Transparency & Ethics

Dark money, open records, ethics violations

⚕️

Reproductive Rights

Abortion protections, shield laws, access

⚖️

Full Comparison

All issues, side by side

The Race

Current polling shows a dead heat. Here's what the numbers tell us about the path forward.

General Election Polling

Lombardo (R) 41%
Ford (D) 41%

Source: Emerson College Poll, November 2024. 18-23% undecided.[21]Emerson College, "Nevada 2024: Presidential and Senate Races Tight"

Key Battlegrounds

Washoe County (Reno)

Swing county. Lombardo must flip it; Ford must hold it. Hill's home turf.

Clark County Suburbs

Henderson, Summerlin. Educated moderates who will decide the election.

The "Cow Counties"

Rural Nevada. Lombardo needs 70%+ margins to offset Clark turnout.

GOP Primary

Lombardo faces two challengers: salon owner Irina Hansen and hip-hop artist Matthew Winterhawk. Neither is polling significantly, but they could force Lombardo to defend his right flank.

Compare GOP Candidates →

Democratic Primary

Ford must beat Alexis Hill to face Lombardo in November. Hill's margin tax proposal could pull Ford left—or split the Democratic vote.

Compare Ford vs Hill →

Make an Informed Decision

Democracy works best when voters understand who they're voting for—including the contradictions. Explore the full profiles, compare on the issues, and follow the money.

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