Nevada voters choose Aaron Ford as new governor

Aaron Ford, the Nevada attorney general, defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo to take the state's top executive job. The victory makes Ford the first Black governor in Nevada history. He replaces Lombardo, who held the office since 2021 after serving as sheriff of Clark County.

Nevada holds six electoral college votes and serves as an early primary state for both parties. The race drew national attention as Democrats sought to expand their control of state governments in battleground areas. Trump won the state in 2024 with 50.6% of the vote. The electorate includes a large nonpartisan bloc that represents nearly 40% of voters, which complicates predictions in statewide races.

Ford centered his campaign on affordability and the cost of living. He promised to pause new tax abatements for artificial intelligence data centers and oppose projects on federal land. He also pledged to tackle student loan debt. Ford criticized Lombardo for vetoing bills that would have restricted corporate home purchases and provided free school meals. He argued those vetoes made life more expensive for residents dealing with high gas prices and a housing shortage of tens of thousands of units.

Lombardo framed the race as a choice between business-friendly leadership and a Democratic model similar to California. He accused Ford of bringing a high-tax, high-regulation approach to the state. The incumbent, a former sheriff who served in law enforcement for over 25 years, portrayed Ford as soft on crime. Lombardo also argued that Ford's policy goals would be too costly for the state budget.

National Democrats backed Ford, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned in the state. Both figures are expected to be involved in the 2028 presidential cycle. Democrats also tied Lombardo to President Donald Trump's tariffs, noting that Las Vegas tourism suffered a 17% drop in Canadian visitors in 2025 due to the trade dispute.

The candidates faced scrutiny regarding their law enforcement backgrounds. Ford's campaign noted that Lombardo told a police officer his name while avoiding a traffic ticket in Las Vegas. In response, the governor's campaign highlighted that Ford sponsored a clemency application for a man who killed a pregnant woman in 2017. A break in the party line occurred when the Democratic district attorney for Clark County endorsed Lombardo over his fellow Democrat.

Ford spoke at a watch party on Tuesday about his background and the campaign's duration. He described growing up in poverty, attending school hungry, and working as a math teacher before law school. He recalled his father bringing home stale candy bars from his job at a grocery store for family dinners. Ford said the win resulted from faith, family, and hard work.

Since becoming attorney general in 2019, Ford secured millions in settlements from opioid manufacturers. He also successfully sued a student loan servicer and the gaming platform Roblox. His legal record forms the basis of his plan to continue using the office to address consumer and corporate issues. The new governor will take office with a mandate to address housing, energy costs, and the impact of new technology on the state's landscape.