Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford has successfully ousted Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in Nevada, a significant pickup for Democrats in the critical battleground state, The Associated Press projects.
Ford’s defeat of Lombardo comes in one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in the country.
Ford’s victory makes him Nevada’s first Black governor and gives Democrats control of the governor’s office for the first time since Lombardo defeated Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022.
Ford, who has served as Nevada’s attorney general since 2019, campaigned on affordability, housing, education, healthcare and protecting access to abortion. He argued that Nevada families were struggling with high housing costs, energy bills and other rising expenses under Lombardo and the Republican administration.
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The result could also give Nevada Democrats unified control of state government depending on Tuesday night’s election results, with the party already holding majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature. Ford will enter office with a legislative majority aligned with his agenda, although significant disagreements could remain over taxes, education spending, public safety and the state’s business climate.
Ford repeatedly criticized Lombardo for aligning himself with President Donald Trump and national Republicans. He argued that Nevada needed a governor who would challenge the administration on federal funding, immigration and voting rights while focusing on the state’s cost-of-living crisis.
The Republican incumbent defended his record on public safety, education, economic development and government spending. Lombardo argued that his administration had increased education funding, expanded workforce development and worked to diversify Nevada’s economy beyond tourism and gaming.
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Lombardo also accused Ford of proposing costly new government programs without explaining how they would be financed. His campaign pointed to a campaign analysis estimating that fully implementing Ford’s platform could cost billions of dollars over four years.
Ford rejected that analysis, arguing that Lombardo’s administration had included spending mechanisms and assumptions that were not part of his actual proposals. Ford said his agenda could be accomplished through a combination of existing state resources, federal funding and policy changes.
Housing affordability was one of the defining issues of the campaign. Nevada has faced a shortage of affordable homes, particularly in the Las Vegas and Reno areas, while rising rents and mortgage rates have placed pressure on working- and middle-class residents.
The candidates also clashed over energy costs, public education, crime, abortion, immigration and the state’s reliance on tourism and gaming.
Nevada’s growing energy demands, including those connected to data centers and other large industrial projects, became another major campaign issue. Lombardo promoted efforts to attract businesses and investment, while Ford argued that economic development should not result in higher costs for residents or additional pressure on the state’s infrastructure.
Ford will now face pressure to deliver on his campaign promises while governing a state with significant budget, housing, education and infrastructure challenges.
As attorney general, Ford frequently challenged Trump administration policies in court. His election is likely to make Nevada a more prominent Democratic counterweight to the federal government as the state moves toward the 2028 presidential election.