Democrat Aaron Ford defeated Gov. Joe Lombardo (R-NV) in Nevada’s gubernatorial election Tuesday, flipping the governor’s mansion after four years of GOP control and delivering Democrats a significant victory in the battleground state.
The race was called for Ford at 4:46 a.m. Eastern time by the Associated Press. He garnered 51.5% against Lombardo’s 44.3%, with 85% of the vote counted.
The contest was among the most closely watched gubernatorial elections as Nevada has long been viewed as a swing state. Trump won the state over Kamala Harris in 2024 by roughly three points, while he lost to former President Joe Biden by roughly the same margin.
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Lombardo, a former Clark County sheriff, narrowly won his first term after defeating then-Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, in 2022. He centered his reelection campaign on his record overseeing the state’s economy, public safety, and education system.
Ford, a two-term attorney general and former state Senate majority leader, focused his campaign on affordability, housing costs, and criticism of the Republican governor’s leadership.
Both candidates faced controversies throughout the campaign, including a dispute over a May traffic stop in which Lombardo was pulled over for allegedly running a red light in Las Vegas. Police body-camera footage showed the governor identifying himself before the officer let him go without a citation. Ford accused Lombardo of abusing his authority, while other Nevada Democrats questioned whether he received preferential treatment.
Ford faced scrutiny of his own after his campaign aired an advertisement featuring a member of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, despite the union having endorsed Lombardo. The organization accused Ford’s campaign of misleading voters about its support, becoming part of a broader dispute between the candidates over law enforcement endorsements.
Another issue that emerged in the final weeks was the development of artificial intelligence data centers on federal land. The projects drew opposition over concerns about water consumption, electricity costs, and environmental protections.
Lombardo expressed support for the projects backed by local communities, while Ford questioned whether the developments would benefit residents and proposed pausing tax breaks for centers.
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The two candidates failed to agree on a traditional gubernatorial debate before voters cast their ballots. Lombardo declined to participate in an October candidate forum hosted by KUNR Public Radio, leaving Ford to appear alone. The campaigns traded invitations to other debates but were unable to reach an agreement.
Polling remained competitive ahead of Election Day. The race was rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, and a RealClearPolitics average of two polls showed the two candidates in a dead heat.