Ford Leads Lombardo in Nevada Governor Race
Early returns show Democrat Aaron Ford ahead of Republican Joe Lombardo as the two candidates battle for the state's top office.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Aaron Ford took an early lead over Joe Lombardo in the Nevada governor's race, with initial results released at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday showing Ford at 52.21 percent and Lombardo at 47.69 percent.
Why it matters
The race is a test of whether a national Democratic wave can carry Ford to a result that mirrors the 2022 contest, when Lombardo defeated a one-term incumbent. The campaigns' fundraising and attacks on each other's records have shaped the contest's final stretch for Nevada voters.
Initial results showed Ford at 52.21 percent and Lombardo at 47.69 percent, a margin of about 4.5 points. These figures are preliminary, and later counts could change the standings.
The players
Aaron Ford
Ford is the Democratic candidate for Nevada governor who set out to ride a national Democratic wave and duplicate the 2022 Nevada governor's race result.
Joe Lombardo
Lombardo is the Republican incumbent governor of Nevada seeking re-election, who won the 2022 race by defeating a one-term incumbent.
Kamala Harris
Harris is the former U.S. vice president who endorsed Ford and campaigned with him in Las Vegas.
The details
The Lombardo and Ford campaigns traded attacks boosted by millions of dollars in fundraising, and a planned debate between the two did not materialize. Lombardo's campaign focused on Ford's record on the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners, while pro-Lombardo Better Nevada PAC ads criticized Ford for voting for sentence relief for inmates convicted in killings.
Timeline
2022: Lombardo defeated a one-term incumbent in the Nevada governor's race.
A year ago: Trump threw support behind Lombardo's re-election bid.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election Day, when Ford took an early lead in preliminary results.
11:45 p.m. Tuesday: Initial results were released showing Ford ahead.
Political Context
Ford's bid is an attempt to duplicate the 2022 Nevada result in reverse, when Lombardo unseated a one-term incumbent. The 2026 contest will show whether a national Democratic wave can overcome the incumbency advantage Lombardo now holds.
Nevada voters are deciding who will hold the governor's office for the next term, and the outcome will shape the state's policy direction. Final certified results will determine the official winner once all ballots are counted.
The takeaway
Early returns are preliminary and can shift as remaining ballots are counted, so readers should wait for certified results before drawing firm conclusions about the outcome.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Elections coverage of Nevada's governor's race.
Live Poll
Do you think Nevada is heading in the right direction under its current leadership?
