Aaron Ford Ousts Joe Lombardo in Nevada Governor Race

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo in the gubernatorial race, according to an Associated Press call. The victory makes Ford the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River.

Ford, a Democrat, entered the race after serving as Nevada’s first Black Senate majority leader and attorney general. He was first elected to the state legislature in 2012. Prior to his legislative service, he practiced law privately and taught mathematics.

Lombardo, a former sheriff, won the governor’s office in 2022. He received the endorsement of President Donald Trump for his re-election bid. Throughout the campaign, Ford attributed the state’s economic struggles to Lombardo and Trump. He cited gas prices exceeding $5 per gallon and a decline in tourism revenue driven by tariffs and immigration enforcement.

The race also centered on federal funding. Nevada faces a potential loss of an estimated $1.2 billion in federal aid due to changes in Medicaid, food assistance, and Affordable Care Act subsidies. As attorney general, Ford participated in lawsuits against the Trump administration to uphold birthright citizenship, prevent federal election interference, and restore education funding.

Ford pledged to revive legislation that Lombardo vetoed. These measures include limiting the number of homes large corporations can purchase and granting the state the authority to adopt Medicaid negotiated prescription drug prices. Lombardo campaigned on his first-term record, which included raising pay for teachers and state employees. He also set aside $133 million for middle-income housing development.

Both candidates supported tax breaks for data centers but disagreed on how strictly to regulate the industry. The AP race call confirmed Ford’s victory in what observers described as one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the country.