2026 Nevada Governor Election
Compare candidates’ positions, polling, and sourced race updates.
Nevada's 2026 gubernatorial election will choose the state's next governor, with incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo seeking re-election against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford and nonpartisan candidate Danielle Ford. Lombardo and Ford won their respective June 9, 2026 primaries. The race is important because Nevada is a closely divided swing state where statewide contests are often decided by narrow margins. Lombardo and Ford offer a clear partisan contrast, with Republicans aiming to hold the governorship and Democrats trying to flip it back, while Ford runs as a nonpartisan third option. Recent polling has been mixed, with some surveys showing a tight race and GOP-commissioned polls showing Lombardo with a sizable lead.
Candidates
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Joe Lombardo
Joe Lombardo is the incumbent governor of Nevada and a Republican seeking re-election in 2026. Before becoming governor, he served as Clark County sheriff from 2015 to 2023. He won the Republican gubernatorial primary on June 9, 2026.
Aaron Ford is Nevada's attorney general and a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026. He has also served in the Nevada Senate and has centered his campaign on affordability, housing, health care, and consumer protection. He won the Democratic gubernatorial primary on June 9, 2026.
Danielle Ford is a nonpartisan candidate for governor of Nevada in 2026. She is a current member of the Nevada State Board of Education (District 3, since 2025) and previously served on the Clark County School District Board of Trustees from 2019 to 2023. A Las Vegas marketing strategist, she is running on a platform of 'practical systems repair' for the public systems Nevada families rely on.
Race Forecast
Toss-up
Joe Lombardo: 52% modeled win probability with a +1.5 pts estimated margin
Polling
About this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 8/6/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.