2026 Nevada Governor Election
The primaries are over. Nevada's November ballot lists three names: incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo, Democratic nominee Aaron Ford, and nonpartisan Danielle Ford. Compare their records, funding, and governing trade-offs.
Post-Primary Reset
Aaron Ford won the Democratic primary with 118,825 votes, while Joe Lombardo won the Republican primary with 172,058 votes. ABC News projects Ford will face Lombardo in the November 3, 2026 general election.[3]The Nevada Independent, 2026 Primary Election Results[4]ABC News, June 10, 2026
Democratic Nominee
Attorney general and former Senate majority leader, running on consumer protection, data center reform, public schools, and organized labor backing.
Q2 2026 filings show nearly $2.6M raised (record for a non-incumbent), backed by a seven-figure TV blitz attacking the "Lombardo-Trump economy."[7]The Nevada Independent, Q2 2026 campaign finance report[8]The Nevada Independent, Ford TV ad campaign
Would Lombardo's lower-regulation approach or Ford's anti-price-fixing enforcement do more for renters, utility customers, and families?
How should voters weigh Lombardo's sheriff record against Ford's role in AB 236 criminal justice reform?
Should Nevada prioritize school choice and accountability, or public-school investment and federal education protections?
Which candidate is more likely to govern transparently when donors, agencies, courts, and the Legislature push back?
A July 2026 Democratic poll found Lombardo and Ford tied 44%–44%, while August GOP internal polls showed Lombardo ahead by 7 to 12 points, and March NPI polling had it 39%–38% with 17% undecided.[9]The Nevada Independent, July 2026 Dem Poll[10]The Nevada Independent, August 2026 GOP Polls The race remains rated a pure toss-up as candidates clash over utility rates, data center cooling, housing vetoes, voter ID, and right-to-work laws.[11]The Nevada Independent, August 2026 Issues Overview
The general election is a direct choice between two statewide records: Lombardo's governorship and Ford's attorney general tenure.
Governor · Former Clark County Sheriff
Running on public safety, restrained government, school choice, and a low-tax economic model. Voters should weigh that against his veto record, donor network, and affordability trade-offs.
Read Lombardo ProfileDemocratic Nominee
Attorney General · Former Senate Majority Leader
Running on consumer protection, public schools, civil rights, and legal pushback against federal rollbacks. Voters should weigh that against AB 236 attacks, trial-lawyer ties, and general-election pivots.
Read Ford ProfileMember, Nevada State Board of Education · Former CCSD Trustee · Running on a six-pillar "systems repair" platform.
Fourteen policy domains that matter most to Nevada. Click any issue to see where each candidate stands—and where they contradict themselves.
Eviction protections, rent control, corporate landlords
💼Unemployment, corporate subsidies, diversification
🚔AB 236, policing, Resort Corridor Court
📚School funding, charter schools, teacher pay
🏗️Culinary Union, Building Trades, worker protections
🏥Opioid crisis, rural access, gender-affirming care
💰No income tax, margin tax debate, corporate breaks
🌎Sanctuary policies, federal cooperation, workforce
🔫Background checks, age limits, polling place rules
🌊NV Energy monopoly, Colorado River, lithium mining
🔍Dark money, open records, ethics violations
⚕️Abortion protections, shield laws, access
📡Flock cameras, police surveillance, grid load, water cooling
⚖️All issues, side by side
The race now turns from nomination fights to persuasion, turnout, and a direct comparison of two statewide records.
Source: Noble Predictive Insights NVPOP, March 10-13, 2026. 6% third party; 17% undecided; margin of error +/- 3.37%.[21]Noble Predictive Insights, March 2026 NVPOP
Swing county. Lombardo must improve his suburban margins; Ford must hold Democratic gains without losing moderates.
Henderson, Summerlin. Educated moderates who will decide the election.
Rural Nevada. Lombardo needs 70%+ margins to offset Clark turnout.
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.