Nevada campaigns ramp up messaging ahead of early voting

Early voting in Nevada begins Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30, prompting campaigns on both sides to ramp up messaging in a state with a history of closely contested elections. Several key races are on the ballot, including the contest for governor between Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.

Nevada Democrats brought in high-profile surrogates Wednesday, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock. "The energy in this room and all across this state as I'm moving around is electric. People are fired up, and that's for good reason," Warnock told 8 News Now. Terri Bothwick, with Clark County Democratic Veterans, said, "The economy is not working. The economy in Nevada, the economy across the county. We're getting killed by gas prices, prices overall, and I know it needs to change." Ford attended both Democratic events.

Republicans are also organizing turnout efforts. Turning Point USA opened a Nevada headquarters in March and is distributing "Freedom Tickets," a voter guide with recommendations up and down the ballot. "The work that we have here in Nevada is part of what we're calling the red wall strategy," Tyler Bowyer said. Erika Kirk said, "I remember Charlie saying- gosh, we need to increase the conservative footprint in Nevada."

The Lombardo campaign responded with a statement highlighting economic gains: "Under Governor Lombardo's leadership, Nevada created more than 100,000 jobs, generated over $6 billion in historic economic investment, leveraged more than $1 billion in investment for new attainable housing, retired the rainy day fund to a record high, and led the nation in job growth for 11 consecutive months - and we are just getting started." The statement criticized Ford for "an $18 billion tax-and-spend agenda" and said he "has spent more than 420 days outside of Nevada collecting a taxpayer-funded salary." Ford countered: "We are living in the midst of a Trump-Lombardo economy that has hurt everyone. But we have the opportunity to change this."

The Clark County Democratic Party also has its own 2026 ballot guide. The ballot will also include congressional seats, judicial races and more.

Sources: 8 News Now