The 2026 Nevada gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Nevada. Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo is seeking a second term. He is being challenged by Democratic attorney general Aaron Ford.

Primary elections took place on June 9, 2026.[1] Lombardo won the Republican nomination with 91.0% of the vote. Ford won the Democratic nomination with 63.8% over Washoe commission chair Alexis Hill.

Background

Nevada is considered to be a purple to slightly blue state at the federal and state levels, with neither party having control of all three branches of government. Apart from the governor, Nevada's lieutenant governor and state controller are Republicans. Nevada's attorney general, treasurer, and state secretary of state are Democrats.[citation needed] Donald Trump won the state in 2024, becoming the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state since 2004.[2]

The Nevada Legislature is controlled by members of the Democratic Party, with a majority in both the state assembly and senate. The lieutenant governor, a Republican, serves as the president of the state senate but only votes in the case of a tie. At the federal level, both United States Senators and three out of four members of the United States House of Representatives from Nevada are Democrats.[3][4]

With the exception of 2018, Republicans have won every gubernatorial election in the state since 1998.[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Joe Lombardo
Executive branch officials
Labor unions
  • Clark County Education Association[11]
Organizations

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Irina
Hansen		 Joe
Lombardo		 Matthew
Winterhawk		 Jose
Zalaya		 Undecided
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 306 (V) ± 5.6% 4% 60% 7% 4% 24%

Results

Results by county:
  Lombardo
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
Republican primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Lombardo (incumbent) 153,757 91.0
None of These Candidates 3,882 2.3
Republican Irina Hansen 3,589 2.1
Republican Matthew Winterhawk 2,829 1.7
Republican Donald J. Beaudry Jr. 2,214 1.3
Republican M. Kameron Hawkins 1,085 0.6
Republican Jose M. Zalaya 955 0.6
Republican Barak Zilberberg 627 0.4
Total votes 168,938 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Aaron Ford
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Labor unions
Organizations
Alexis Hill
State legislators
Organizations

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Aaron
Ford		 Alexis
Hill		 Other Undecided
Change Research (D)[33][A] December 11–18, 2025 555 (LV) ± 4.3% 48% 13% 1%[b] 39%

Results

Results by county:
  Ford
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60-70%
  Tie
  •   30–40%
Democratic primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Aaron Ford 105,150 63.8
Democratic Alexis Hill 37,886 23.0
None of These Candidates 6,874 4.2
Democratic James Cooper 6,020 3.7
Democratic Sunshine Arterburn 4,513 2.7
Democratic Emile Bouari 2,585 1.6
Democratic Miqehl Bayfield 1,869 1.1
Total votes 164,897 100.0

Independent candidates

Candidates

Declared

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[36] Tilt R August 28, 2025
Race to the WH[37] Tilt R June 19, 2026
RealClearPolitics[38] Tossup June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] Lean R September 4, 2025
The Cook Political Report[40] Tossup September 11, 2025

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Joe
Lombardo (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other/Undecided[c] Margin
Race to the WH[41] through May 11, 2026 June 10, 2026 43.9% 40.3% 15.8% Lombardo +3.6%
RealClearPolitics[42] November 16, 2025 – March 13, 2026 March 27, 2026 40.0% 39.5% 20.5% Lombardo +0.5%
Average 42.0% 39.9% 18.1% Lombardo +2.1%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Joe
Lombardo (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[43] May 5–11, 2026 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 45% 42% 5%[d] 8%
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 845 (RV) ± 3.4% 39% 38% 6%[e] 17%
Hart Research (D)[44][B] February 11–17, 2026 800 (LV) – 46% 43% – 11%
Emerson College[45] November 16–18, 2025 800 (RV) ± 3.4% 41% 41% – 18%
Noble Predictive Insights[46] October 7–13, 2025 766 (RV) ± 3.5% 40% 37% – 23%
Vote TXT[47][C] May 15–19, 2023 412 (RV) ± 4.7% 51% 30% 7%[f] 12%
Hypothetical polling

Irina Hansen vs. Aaron Ford

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Irina
Hansen (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other Undecided
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 845 (RV) ± 3.4% 32% 37% 8%[g] 23%

Matthew Winterhawk vs. Aaron Ford

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Matthew
Winterhawk (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other Undecided
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 845 (RV) ± 3.4% 31% 37% 8%[g] 24%

Jose Zalaya vs. Aaron Ford

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Jose
Zalaya (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other Undecided
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 845 (RV) ± 3.4% 30% 36% 9%[h] 25%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ "Would not vote" with 1%
  3. ↑ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  4. ↑ "None of these candidates" with 5%.
  5. ↑ "A third-party candidate" with 6%.
  6. ↑ "Some other candidate" with 7%
  7. 1 2 "A third-party candidate" with 8%.
  8. ↑ "A third-party candidate" with 9%.
Partisan clients
  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Hill's campaign
  2. ↑ Poll commissioned by The Majority Institute, a Democrat-aligned firm
  3. ↑ Poll commissioned by Nevada Newsmakers

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Trump turns Nevada red in presidential race for first time in two decades". ABC3340. November 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Election Results, 2022". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Election Results, 2024". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Mueller, Tabitha; Golonka, Sean; Solis, Jacob (November 11, 2022). "Lombardo defeats Sisolak; Democrats win attorney general, secretary of state races". The Nevada Independent. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ Aldrete, Isabella; Adams, Kiara; Neugeboren, Eric (September 15, 2025). "Joe Lombardo launches re-election bid for Nevada governor". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Election 2026: Tracking Nevada candidate announcements". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Irina Hansen announces candidacy for Nevada governor in 2026 race". KSNV. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Election 2026: Tracking Nevada candidate announcements". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  10. ↑ Robison, Mark (November 6, 2025). "President Trump endorses Lombardo in Nevada governor's race". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Major Clark County teachers union endorses Republican Joe Lombardo for Nevada governor". Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Endorsements". Turning Point Action. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "NVGOV: Lombardo Keeps Pace with Ford as Undecideds Hold the Balance". Noble Predictive Insights. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "2026 Unofficial Statewide Primary Election Results". Nevada Secretary of State. June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ Seeman, Matthew (July 28, 2025). "Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford formally launches campaign for governor". KSNV. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill officially enters Nevada Governor's race". KTVN. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Neugeboren, Eric; Aldrete, Isabella (August 11, 2025). "Top two Democrats in Nevada Assembly won't run for re-election, may seek other offices". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ Margiott, Kenzie (October 20, 2025). "Assembly majority leader Sandra Jauregui launches campaign for Nevada lieutenant governor". mynews4.com. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  19. ↑ Chouinard, Kyle (July 24, 2025). "Sen. Cortez Masto endorses Attorney General Ford for Nevada governor". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  20. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (July 28, 2025). "Rosen endorses Ford for Governor". KOLO-TV. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Hill, Jessica (July 28, 2025). "Attorney General Aaron Ford launches bid for Nevada governor". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  22. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (July 29, 2025). "Morning Digest: Trumpworld wanted him to run for Senate. Now they're furious at him". Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Chouinard, Kyle (September 15, 2025). "Nevada Dems coalescing around Ford for governor". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ Gentry, Dana (July 28, 2025). "Ford promises 'you matter' state government if elected to top spot". Nevada Current. Retrieved November 22, 2025. Doñate, who has endorsed Ford, said he considered the wisdom of making a commitment at this early stage of the race, but says he likely would have heard from other interested candidates.
  25. ↑ "NSEA Endorses Aaron Ford for Governor". NSEA. October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  26. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (November 14, 2025). "Washoe Education Association endorses Ford for Governor". KOLO. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  27. ↑ "End Citizens United Endorses Aaron Ford for Governor of Nevada". endcitizensunited.org. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Nevada Conservation League Announces Endorsement of Aaron Ford in 2026 Election Cycle – Nevada Conservation League". www.nevadaconservationleague.org. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses Aaron Ford for Governor and Nicole Cannizzaro for Attorney General". Reproductive Freedom for All. August 29, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  30. ↑ "New JDCA Endorsees". Jewish Democratic Council of America. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  31. ↑ Mueller, Tabitha (April 19, 2026). "Can Alexis Hill do the impossible? On the trail with the underdog Democrat for Nevada governor". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  32. ↑ "2026 Endorsements for a Better Nevada". PLAN Action. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  33. ↑ Racker, Mini (December 22, 2025). "Poll: Alexis Hill trailing in Nevada gov race, but campaign attractive to primary voters". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 4 Margiott, Ben (March 16, 2026). "Who is running for Nevada governor, 2nd Congressional district, Reno Mayor? See full list". KRXI2.
  35. ↑ Girnus, April (March 16, 2026). "Candidate filing ends with a congressional throng, a smattering of perennials, and a couple Fords". Nevada Current. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  38. ↑ "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  39. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  41. ↑ "2026 Governor Polling". Race to the White House. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  42. ↑ "2026 Nevada Governor - Lombardo vs. Ford". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  43. ↑ Rubashkin, Jacob [@JacobRubashkin] (June 10, 2026). "NEW – First in @InsideElections: polling from newly minted Democratic nominee Aaron Ford in NEVADA's governor race shows a close contest against incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo. Lombardo (R) 45, Ford (D) 42, None of these 5. May 5-11, 700 LVs, MoE ±3.7%" (Tweet). Retrieved June 10, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  44. ↑ Berg, Matt (March 25, 2026). "What A Day: Mar-a-Uh-Oh!". Crooked Media. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Nevada 2026 Poll: Dead Heat for Governor, U.S. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto Underwater". Emerson College. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  46. ↑ Sebelius, Steve (October 21, 2025). "New poll shows Lombardo has slight lead in 2026 governor matchup". KTNV. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Nevada Newsmakers Survey Spring 2023". Nevada Newsmakers. May 22, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
Official campaign websites
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Nevada_gubernatorial_election