Aaron Ford wins Nevada governor race

Aaron Ford, the state’s attorney general, won the Nevada governor’s race on Tuesday. He defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo to become the state’s first Black governor. Ford has served as the top prosecutor in Nevada since 2019.

The campaign centered on the cost of living and the influence of the current administration. Ford ran as a challenger to the incumbent, who served in law enforcement for over 25 years and led the Clark County Sheriff’s Office starting in 2014. Lombardo was born in Japan to a U.S. military family and served in the Army and the Nevada National Guard before entering politics.

Ford’s platform focused on affordability. He promised to address student loan debt and limit the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers. He proposed pausing new tax abatements for these centers and opposing projects on federal land. He also criticized Lombardo for vetoing bills that aimed to restrict corporate home purchases and provide free school meals.

Lombardo’s campaign portrayed Ford as a threat to the state’s business climate. The governor argued that Ford would apply a California-style policy of high taxes and heavy regulation. Democrats countered by linking Lombardo to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. They noted that Las Vegas tourism suffered, with Canadian visitors dropping by 17% in 2025 amid a trade dispute with Canada.

Both candidates faced scrutiny regarding their law enforcement records. Ford’s team pointed to an incident where Lombardo avoided a traffic ticket by telling an officer he was the governor. Lombardo’s campaign questioned Ford’s decision to sponsor a clemency application for a man who killed a pregnant woman in 2017. Ford also secured millions in settlements from opioid manufacturers and sued a student loan servicer and the platform Roblox during his tenure as attorney general.

National Democrats supported Ford’s bid. California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in the state. Ford described his background to voters, noting he grew up in poverty and went to school hungry. He worked as a math teacher before earning his law degree. At a watch party on Tuesday, Ford said the campaign happened because of faith, family, and hard work.

The electorate in Nevada includes nearly 40% nonpartisan voters. Democratic support is strong in Las Vegas, while rural areas lean Republican. The state has six electoral college votes and appears on both parties’ early nominating calendars. Trump won Nevada in 2024 with 50.6% of the vote.