Attorney General Aaron Ford held an early lead over incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo in the Nevada governor’s race Tuesday night, according to preliminary results released at 11:45 p.m. Ford led with 52.21 percent to Lombardo’s 47.69 percent.
The high-profile contest drew heavy spending and national endorsements. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Lombardo’s re-election bid, calling him a “strong and very popular governor” in a post on X urging supporters to vote. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Ford, describing him as a fighter for Nevadans, and former Vice President Kamala Harris also backed the attorney general.
Campaigns traded attacks for months. Democrats sought to tie Lombardo to Trump’s economic policies, while Republicans scrutinized Ford’s tenure as attorney general. A key point of contention involved the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners; a pro-Lombardo PAC criticized Ford for voting for sentence relief for inmates convicted in killings, though a Review-Journal investigation found Lombardo had also voted in favor of people convicted in similar crimes, albeit less often.
A traditional debate between the candidates did not materialize. Lombardo’s office released a list of second-term policy priorities on Election Day, signaling confidence. Polls had projected the race as a toss-up.
Some voters in Clark County reported waiting two to three hours to cast ballots. Officials attributed delays to high turnout and changes to the voting process, warning lines could grow longer.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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