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2026 Nevada gubernatorial election

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2026 Nevada gubernatorial election
← 2022
November 3, 2026
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Nominee Joe Lombardo Aaron Ford
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Joe Lombardo
Republican


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

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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

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Candidates

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Nominee

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Eliminated in primary

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Endorsements

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

Polling

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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

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Results by county:
  Lombardo
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
Republican primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Lombardo (incumbent) 172,150 90.8
None of These Candidates 4,367 2.3
Republican Irina Hansen 4,114 2.2
Republican Matthew Winterhawk 3,452 1.8
Republican Donald J. Beaudry Jr. 2,482 1.3
Republican M. Kameron Hawkins 1,230 0.7
Republican Jose M. Zalaya 1,095 0.6
Republican Barak Zilberberg 744 0.4
Total votes 189,638 100.0

Results by county

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County[15] Joe Lombardo None of These Candidates Various candidates[b] Margin[c] Total
# % # % # % # %
Carson City 5,886 91.31% 178 2.76% 382 5.93% 5,708 88.55% 6,446
Churchill 3,035 90.44% 73 2.18% 248 7.39% 2,962 88.26% 3,356
Clark 88,894 91.45% 1,794 1.85% 6,516 6.71% 87,100 89.60% 97,204
Douglas 10,550 92.85% 278 2.45% 535 4.71% 10,272 90.40% 11,363
Elko 3,437 87.59% 106 2.70% 381 9.71% 3,331 84.89% 3,924
Esmeralda 189 80.43% 28 11.91% 18 7.66% 161 68.52% 235
Eureka 368 81.78% 25 5.56% 57 12.67% 343 76.22% 450
Humboldt 1,740 86.35% 66 3.28% 209 10.38% 1,674 83.07% 2,015
Lander 823 77.79% 102 9.64% 133 12.57% 721 68.15% 1,058
Lincoln 856 88.89% 36 3.74% 71 7.37% 820 85.15% 963
Lyon 7,860 90.58% 194 2.24% 623 7.20% 7,666 88.34% 8,677
Mineral 450 81.23% 26 4.69% 78 14.08% 424 76.54% 554
Nye 6,362 85.04% 186 2.49% 933 12.45% 6,176 82.55% 7,481
Pershing 651 81.99% 48 6.05% 95 11.97% 603 75.94% 794
Storey 789 89.35% 29 3.28% 65 7.36% 760 86.07% 883
Washoe 39,160 91.34% 1,143 2.67% 2,568 5.99% 38,017 88.67% 42,871
White Pine 1,100 80.88% 55 4.04% 205 15.07% 1,045 76.84% 1,360
Total 172,150 90.78% 4,367 2.30% 13,117 6.92% 167,783 88.48% 189,634

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee

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Eliminated in primary

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Declined

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Endorsements

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

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Aaron
Ford		 Alexis
Hill		 Other Undecided
Change Research (D)[35][A] December 11–18, 2025 555 (LV) ± 4.3% 48% 13% 1%[d] 39%

Results

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Results by county:
  Ford
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60-70%
  Tie
  •   30–40%
Democratic primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Aaron Ford 118,831 63.3
Democratic Alexis Hill 44,849 23.9
None of These Candidates 7,502 4.0
Democratic James Cooper 6,657 3.5
Democratic Sunshine Arterburn 5,012 2.7
Democratic Emile Bouari 2,795 1.5
Democratic Miqehl Bayfield 2,172 1.2
Total votes 187,818 100.0

Results by county

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County[36] Aaron Ford Alexis Hill None of These Candidates Various candidates[e] Margin Total
# % # % # % # % # %
Carson City 2,661 62.10% 1,122 26.18% 184 4.29% 318 7.41% 1,539 35.92% 4,285
Churchill 434 52.29% 239 28.80% 66 7.95% 91 10.95% 195 23.49% 830
Clark 87,450 66.15% 26,974 20.41% 5,147 3.89% 12,621 9.54% 60,476 45.74% 132,192
Douglas 2,357 64.43% 873 23.87% 166 4.54% 262 7.15% 1,484 40.56% 3,658
Elko 478 48.68% 304 30.96% 60 6.11% 140 14.26% 174 17.72% 982
Esmeralda 6 33.33% 5 27.78% 6 33.33% 1 5.56% 0 0.00% 18
Eureka 10 40.00% 2 8.00% 3 12.00% 10 40.00% 7 28.00% 25
Humboldt 209 49.06% 145 34.04% 33 7.75% 39 9.15% 64 15.02% 426
Lander 59 46.83% 32 25.40% 22 17.46% 13 10.32% 27 21.43% 126
Lincoln 55 49.55% 9 8.11% 29 26.13% 18 16.22% 26 23.42% 111
Lyon 1,412 56.89% 647 26.07% 160 6.45% 263 10.60% 765 30.82% 2,482
Mineral 135 54.22% 46 18.47% 40 16.06% 28 11.24% 89 35.75% 249
Nye 1,548 62.65% 473 19.14% 184 7.45% 266 10.77% 1,075 43.51% 2,471
Pershing 85 51.83% 48 29.27% 16 9.76% 15 9.15% 37 22.56% 164
Storey 163 54.88% 78 26.26% 15 5.05% 41 13.81% 85 28.62% 297
Washoe 21,655 55.17% 13,802 35.16% 1,333 3.40% 2,461 6.27% 7,853 20.01% 39,251
White Pine 114 45.42% 50 19.92% 38 15.14% 49 19.52% 64 25.50% 251
Total 118,831 63.27% 44,849 23.88% 7,502 3.99% 16,636 8.86% 73,982 39.39% 187,818

Independent candidates

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Candidates

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Declared

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General election

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[39] Tossup September 11, 2025
Fox News[40] Tossup July 23, 2026
Inside Elections[41] Tilt R August 28, 2025
Race to the WH[42] Lean R August 6, 2026
RealClearPolitics[43] Tossup June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[44] Lean R August 12, 2026
Silver Bulletin[45] Tossup August 25, 2026

Post-primary endorsements

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Aaron Ford (D)
Statewide officials

Polling

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Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Joe
Lombardo (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other/Undecided[f] Margin
Race to the WH[49] through July 29, 2026 August 5, 2026 49.0% 43.2% 7.8% Lombardo +5.8%
RealClearPolitics[50] November 16, 2025 – March 13, 2026 March 27, 2026 40.0% 39.5% 20.5% Lombardo +0.5%
Average 44.5% 41.4% 14.1% Lombardo +3.1%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Joe
Lombardo (R)		 Aaron
Ford (D)		 Other Undecided
Tarrance Group (R)[51][B] July 25–29, 2026 — (LV) ± 4.3% 50% 43% — 7%
Public Policy Polling (D)[52][C] July 15–16, 2026 558 (LV) ± 4.2% 44% 44% – 12%
Wedgewood Polls (D)[53] July 9–12, 2026 700 (LV) ± 4.7% 50% 47% 0% 3%
Grassroots Targeting (R)[51][B] July 8–6, 2026 — (LV) — 52% 40% — 8%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[51][D] June 27–29, 2026 — (LV) ± 4.0% 51% 42% — 7%
Global Strategy Group (D)[54] May 5–11, 2026 700 (LV) ± 3.7% 45% 42% 5%[g] 8%
Noble Predictive Insights[13] March 10–13, 2026 845 (RV) ± 3.4% 39% 38% 6%[h] 17%
Hart Research (D)[55][E] February 11–17, 2026 800 (LV) – 46% 43% – 11%
Emerson College[56] November 16–18, 2025 800 (RV) ± 3.4% 41% 41% – 18%
Noble Predictive Insights[57] October 7–13, 2025 766 (RV) ± 3.5% 40% 37% – 23%
Vote TXT[58][F] May 15–19, 2023 412 (RV) ± 4.7% 51% 30% 7%[i] 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%[j] 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%[j] 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%[k] 25%

See also

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Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Combined totals of multiple different candidates.
  3. ↑ Margin given is Lombardo total minus "None of These Candidates" total.
  4. ↑ "Would not vote" with 1%
  5. ↑ Combined totals of multiple different candidates.
  6. ↑ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  7. ↑ "None of these candidates" with 5%.
  8. ↑ "A third-party candidate" with 6%.
  9. ↑ "Some other candidate" with 7%
  10. 1 2 "A third-party candidate" with 8%.
  11. ↑ "A third-party candidate" with 9%.
Partisan clients
  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Hill's campaign
  2. 1 2 Poll sponsored by Better Nevada PAC and the Republican Governors Association, both of which support Lombardo
  3. ↑ Poll sponsored by the Democratic Governors Association
  4. ↑ Poll sponsored by the Republican Governors Association, which supports Lombardo
  5. ↑ Poll commissioned by The Majority Institute, a Democrat-aligned firm
  6. ↑ Poll commissioned by Nevada Newsmakers

References

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  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. ↑ www.nvsos.gov https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2026StateWidePrimary/ElectionIndex.aspx. Retrieved August 22, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ Seeman, Matthew (July 28, 2025). "Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford formally launches campaign for governor". KSNV. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill officially enters Nevada Governor's race". KTVN. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  18. 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.
  19. ↑ Margiott, Kenzie (October 20, 2025). "Assembly majority leader Sandra Jauregui launches campaign for Nevada lieutenant governor". mynews4.com. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  20. ↑ Chouinard, Kyle (July 24, 2025). "Sen. Cortez Masto endorses Attorney General Ford for Nevada governor". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  21. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (July 28, 2025). "Rosen endorses Ford for Governor". KOLO-TV. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  22. 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.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Chouinard, Kyle (September 15, 2025). "Nevada Dems coalescing around Ford for governor". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ "NSEA Endorses Aaron Ford for Governor". NSEA. October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  27. ↑ Sheridan, Kevin (November 14, 2025). "Washoe Education Association endorses Ford for Governor". KOLO. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  28. ↑ "End Citizens United Endorses Aaron Ford for Governor of Nevada". endcitizensunited.org. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ "GIFFORDS PAC endorses Aaron Ford for governor and Sandra Jauregui for lieutenant governor in Nevada". giffords.org. May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Nevada Conservation League Announces Endorsement of Aaron Ford in 2026 Election Cycle – Nevada Conservation League". www.nevadaconservationleague.org. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  31. ↑ "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.
  32. ↑ "New JDCA Endorsees". Jewish Democratic Council of America. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. ↑ "2026 Endorsements for a Better Nevada". PLAN Action. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  35. ↑ 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.
  36. ↑ www.nvsos.gov https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2026StateWidePrimary/ElectionIndex.aspx. Retrieved August 22, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. 1 2 3 4 Margiott, Ben (March 16, 2026). "Who is running for Nevada governor, 2nd Congressional district, Reno Mayor? See full list". KRXI2.
  38. ↑ 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.
  39. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Fox News Power Rankings: The top races to watch as 36 states choose their next governor". Fox News. Rémy Numa. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  43. ↑ "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  44. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  45. ↑ Silver, Nate (August 20, 2026). "FLIPR 2026 midterm election forecast". www.natesilver.net. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  46. ↑ Wood, Pamela (July 18, 2026). "Wes Moore hits campaign trail with a mission: Elect other Black governors". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  47. ↑ Mason, Melanie (July 8, 2026). "Newsom heads to Nevada, kicks off midterm campaign swing with eye on 2028". Politico.com. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Facebook". Facebook. August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  49. ↑ "2026 Governor Polling". Race to the White House. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  50. ↑ "2026 Nevada Governor - Lombardo vs. Ford". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  51. 1 2 3 Neugeboren, Eric (August 5, 2026). "Three GOP polls show Lombardo with sizable lead in Nevada governor's race". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  52. ↑ Neugeboren, Eric (July 22, 2026). "Lombardo, Ford tied in Nevada governor's race, Dem poll shows". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Wedgewood_Polls_NV_Survey.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  54. ↑ 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).
  55. ↑ Berg, Matt (March 25, 2026). "What A Day: Mar-a-Uh-Oh!". Crooked Media. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Nevada 2026 Poll: Dead Heat for Governor, U.S. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto Underwater". Emerson College. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  57. ↑ Sebelius, Steve (October 21, 2025). "New poll shows Lombardo has slight lead in 2026 governor matchup". KTNV. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  58. ↑ "Nevada Newsmakers Survey Spring 2023". Nevada Newsmakers. May 22, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
[edit]
Official campaign websites
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