Aaron Ford and Joe Lombardo Win Nevada Gubernatorial Primaries

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford won the Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo won the Republican primary. Ford, who is from Clark County, defeated several primary opponents, with his most formidable challenge coming from progressive Alexis Hill.

University of Nevada-Las Vegas political science professor Rebecca Gill stated that Ford entered the race with name recognition and a structural advantage as the highest-ranking Democrat elected statewide. Lombardo defeated multiple primary opponents on Tuesday.

Democrats in Nevada have identified Lombardo as a target, and the Democratic Governors' Association has identified Nevada as one of its top targets.

The Cook Political Report has rated the Nevada gubernatorial race as a toss-up. As attorney general, Ford signed onto more than 40 lawsuits in 2025 against the Trump administration. Lombardo told Politico earlier this year that he is "concerned" about reelection.

"Not only because of my re-elect but because of Nevada, right? What's the proverbial line — all politics are local? It's no longer that way. What's happening worldwide, nationally, either we embrace it or we don't," Lombardo said.

Gill said Lombardo will have an "uphill battle" in November. Canadians account for half of Las Vegas' foreign tourism, which dropped by 17% in 2025. Tourism accounts for 30% of the region's jobs. 5% overall, the largest visitor drop outside of the pandemic since 1970, when the city started tracking data.

Nevada had voted for Democrats in most presidential elections since 2008, and the state has two Democratic senators. Nevadans voted Lombardo into office as governor in 2022. President Trump won Nevada by three points in 2024.