Ford Ousts Lombardo to Lead Nevada
The state's first Black governor defeated the incumbent Republican after a campaign focused on housing costs and AI regulation.
By Luca Harrison ·
Aaron Ford, the state’s Democratic attorney general, defeated incumbent Republican Joe Lombardo on Tuesday to become Nevada’s first Black governor. The victory shifts control of the western battleground state to the Democrats, a key strategic gain for the party as it looks toward the 2028 presidential cycle. Ford has served as Nevada’s top prosecutor since 2019 and previously worked as a math teacher before earning his law degree.
At a watch party in Las Vegas, Ford attributed the win to local voters and family support. “This campaign didn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It happened because of faith, because of family, because of hard work, and because the people of Nevada decided that our best days are still ahead of us.” National Democratic figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigned for Ford during the final weeks of the race.
Affordability dominated the election. Ford promised to pause new tax abatements for artificial intelligence data centers and opposed projects on federal land. He criticized Lombardo for vetoing bills that would have restricted corporate homeownership and provided free school meals. Lombardo, a former sheriff, portrayed Ford as a threat to the state’s business climate, arguing that the attorney general would adopt the high-tax policies associated with California.
Democrats tied Lombardo to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which they argued hurt Las Vegas tourism. Canadian visitors to Nevada dropped by 17% in 2025 amid an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries. Ford also pointed to the state’s housing shortage and high gas prices as evidence of the administration’s economic struggles.
Law enforcement backgrounds shaped the debate. Lombardo’s campaign highlighted a clemency application Ford sponsored for a man who killed a pregnant woman in 2017. Ford’s campaign countered by noting that Lombardo avoided a traffic ticket in Las Vegas by telling the officer, “I’m Joe Lombardo.” A significant boost for the governor came from the Democratic district attorney for Clark County, who endorsed Lombardo over his fellow Democrat.
Lombardo served in law enforcement for 25 years before becoming sheriff of Clark County in 2014. He gained national attention in 2017 for leading the investigation into the Las Vegas mass shooting. Ford, a former state senator, secured millions in settlements from opioid manufacturers and sued a student loan servicer and the gaming platform Roblox while in office.
Nevada’s electorate is difficult to predict. Nonpartisan voters make up nearly 40% of the total. While Las Vegas leans Democratic, rural areas are heavily Republican. Both parties have placed Nevada on their early nominating calendars despite the state holding only six electoral college votes.
