Lombardo And Ford Clinch Nevada Governor Nominees As Key House Fields Take Shape
In Nevada's June 9 primary, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford won their party nominations for governor, setting up a toss-up November rematch.[1]
The contest is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report and is a top target for the Democratic Governors Association, a dynamic outlets have framed as a referendum on President Trump's policies.[1] Ford campaigned on easing housing costs and expanding access, a theme voters cited alongside concerns about high gas prices and federal funding cuts.[2] His campaign faces scrutiny over more than $410,000 in reported travel costs since 2019 and an investigation by the Nevada Commission on Ethics into possible improper gifts or use of office.[2] Lombardo routed six Republican challengers to clinch the GOP nomination.[3] He has warned he is "concerned" about reelection and that "all politics are local" is no longer true as national forces reshape the race.[1]
On November 8, 2022, then-Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak and took office as Nevada's governor. Aaron Ford, Nevada's attorney general, launched his campaign with statewide name recognition and drew endorsements from the state's Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris.[4] As of May 2026, Nevada had about 2 million active registered voters with Republicans holding a narrow 5,744-voter edge over Democrats, a partisan balance that helps explain the race's tight outlook.
Early postprimary accounts mainly noted Ford's nomination and the emerging November showdown.[5] Later reporting shifted to highlight his travel expenses and the ethics probe.[2] Other outlets have emphasized national politics as a central factor shaping the race's stakes.[1]
Key congressional primaries also reshaped Nevada's fall battleground: Republican Marty O'Donnell won the 3rd District primary to face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, and Democrats nominated Teresa Benitez-Thompson for the open 2nd District.[4] Down-ballot results included Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro winning the attorney general primary and Republican Adriana Guzmán Fralick taking the GOP attorney general nod with former President Trump's endorsement.[4]
The mainstream summary emphasizes the toss-up nature of the gubernatorial race but does not delve into the specific voter demographics that could influence the outcome. As of May 2026, Nevada has approximately 2 million active registered voters, with Republicans holding a narrow edge over Democrats by just 5,744 votes, while a significant portion, 786,136, are registered as nonpartisan, highlighting a growing independent electorate that could sway the election in unpredictable ways.[6]
Additionally, while the mainstream account notes Ford's campaign themes of easing housing costs and concerns over high gas prices, it overlooks the broader context of political realignment in Nevada. The state is increasingly seen as a bellwether for the durability of the Trump coalition, especially given its diverse voter base that includes working-class Latino voters and a rising number of independents, which could complicate the narratives around party loyalty and influence the November showdown.[7]
Show source details & analysis (5 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
As of May 2026, Nevada had approximately 2 million active registered voters, with Republicans holding a narrow 5,744-voter edge over Democrats (574,522 to 568,778) and 786,136 registered as nonpartisan.
Nevada's GOP voter registration edge — Nevada Appeal
The five most recent Nevada gubernatorial elections had an average winning margin of 13.6 percentage points, but the 2022 race was decided by just 1.5 points (48.8% to 47.3%).
Nevada gubernatorial election, 2026 — Ballotpedia
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, CBS News projected that Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford won the Democratic gubernatorial primary, defeating Alexis Hill and other opponents.
- Incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is set to face Ford in the November general election, with outlets projecting the matchup after Nevada’s primaries.
- The Cook Political Report currently rates the 2026 Nevada governor's race a toss‑up, and the Democratic Governors Association has identified it as a top target; CBS framed the November contest as a de facto referendum on President Trump's policies amid reported 2025 tourism declines linked to immigration and tariff issues.
- Ford entered the race with statewide name recognition and a structural advantage as Nevada's highest‑ranking elected Democrat, and he had backing from the state's Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Ford’s campaign emphasized housing affordability as a central issue, pledging to lower costs and expand access to housing — a theme voters also cited along with high gas prices and federal funding cuts.
- Ford has faced scrutiny over more than $410,000 in reported travel costs since taking office in 2019 and spending over 100 days outside Nevada, and he is under investigation by the Nevada Commission on Ethics over whether he solicited improper gifts or used his office for personal benefit.
- Key House primaries reshaped Nevada’s fall fields: Republican Marty O'Donnell won the 3rd Congressional District primary to face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, and Democrats nominated Teresa Benitez‑Thompson for the open 2nd District.
- Down‑ballot results include Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro winning the Democratic primary for attorney general while Republican Adriana Guzmán Fralick won the GOP attorney general primary with former President Trump's endorsement, and multiple GOP secretary‑of‑state candidates support a voter ID initiative returning to the November ballot.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article confirms on June 9, 2026 that Marty O'Donnell won the Republican primary in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District to face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in November.
- It reports that Democrats nominated Teresa Benitez-Thompson, Aaron Ford's chief of staff and former Assembly majority floor leader, for the open 2nd Congressional District seat.
- It specifies that Aaron Ford defeated Alexis Hill in the Democratic gubernatorial primary and notes Ford had backing from the Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
- The piece details that Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro won the Democratic primary for attorney general, defeating Treasurer Zach Conine, while Adriana Guzmán Fralick won the Republican attorney general primary with former President Trump's endorsement.
- It notes multiple GOP secretary of state candidates with varying stances on 2020 election fraud claims, and that all support a voter ID initiative that will be on Nevada's November 2026 ballot for a second time after passing in 2024.
- The article adds on-the-ground voter comments from Las Vegas residents explaining why they backed Lombardo or Ford and highlights economic issues such as housing affordability, high gas prices, and federal cuts as central themes.
- NPR’s rundown confirms that in Nevada’s June 9, 2026 primary, Democrats nominated two-time state Attorney General Aaron Ford to face incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.
- The segment frames the Nevada governor’s race as one of several key matchups set by primaries in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina but does not add new vote totals or ratings beyond existing coverage.
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, CBS News projected that Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford won his party's gubernatorial primary, defeating progressive challenger Alexis Hill and other opponents.
- The article notes Ford entered the race with statewide name recognition and a structural advantage as Nevada's highest-ranking elected Democrat, according to UNLV political scientist Rebecca Gill.
- CBS reports the Cook Political Report currently rates the 2026 Nevada governor's race a toss-up and identifies it as a top target for the Democratic Governors Association.
- The piece frames the November contest as a de facto referendum on President Trump's policies, citing Nevada’s 2025 tourism declines linked to immigration and tariff policies and Trump's 2024 three-point win in the state.
- Lombardo is quoted from an earlier Politico interview saying he is 'concerned' about reelection and that 'all politics are local' is no longer true given national and global forces.
- Fox News reports that in the June 9, 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Aaron Ford defeated Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill and four other Democrats (Sunshine Arterburn, Miqehl Bayfield, Emile Bouari and James Cooper).
- The article emphasizes that housing affordability was a key issue in Ford's campaign, with a pledge to lower costs and expand access to housing.
- Fox notes Ford has incurred more than $410,000 in travel costs since taking office in 2019 and has reportedly spent more than 100 days outside Nevada, drawing criticism but defended by his office as lawful and work-related.
- The piece adds that Ford is under investigation by the Nevada Commission on Ethics over whether he solicited improper gifts or used his office for personal benefit, based on documents cited by local outlets.