Nevada voters face split in 36 governor races on Election Day

Polls in Clark County opened at 7 a.m. On Tuesday, November 3, for the midterm elections. Nevada conducts its elections largely by mail, but voters in Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas can still cast ballots at local polling places until 7 p.m. Anyone in line when the polls close is entitled to vote. The state has no U.S. Senate race this year, but every U.S. House seat and the governor’s office are on the ballot. Local measures and state offices also vary by county.

Nevada voters will choose between Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. This race is one of nine battleground governorships identified by Ballotpedia. The Associated Press notes that Nevada is a key state in the broader contest for control of executive branches across the country. The outcome here, along with races in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, will determine if Democrats can gain a nationwide majority of governorships.

Nationally, 36 governorships are up for grabs in this election. Heading into the vote, Republicans hold 26 governor’s offices and Democrats hold 24. Of the 36 offices on the ballot, the parties hold an even 18 to 18 split. This balanced starting point makes the election a critical test for both parties. Democrats need a net gain of two governorships to achieve a nationwide majority, a position Republicans have held since 2010.

Nineteen of the 36 governor races are open seats, meaning no incumbent is on the ballot. 15 governors are term-limited and cannot run again. Three other sitting governors chose not to seek re-election: Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin. Additionally, Rhode Island’s Daniel McKee lost his primary earlier in the year. These open seats create significant uncertainty for both parties as they attempt to recruit candidates who can define their party’s future.

Democrats are defending five governorships in states that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024. These states include Arizona, where Katie Hobbs is running, as well as Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Republicans are defending two governorships in states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024: New Hampshire, where Kelly Ayotte is running, and Vermont, where Phil Scott is seeking another term. Democrats hope to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades.

The Associated Press describes the election as a referendum on Trump’s second term. Voters are grappling with high prices and anger over an unpopular war with Iran. A poll by the AP and NORC Center for Public Opinion Research found that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump’s job performance. Only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 adults say the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for rising costs.

More than 57 million people had already voted by Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. Republicans are bracing to lose the House while fighting to hold the Senate. The AP notes that one or two seats could tip either chamber. Democrats are described as cautiously optimistic. Trump held dozens of rallies recently, ending his schedule Sunday in Salina, Kansas, where he urged voters to pretend he was on the ballot.

In Nevada, the election is part of a larger wave that includes all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats. Republicans hold 218 House seats, while Democrats hold 214. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority in the House. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, plus two independents. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control. Eleven senators are not running again, including four Democrats and seven Republicans.

The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. An analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This included more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration on Monday from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. Critics argue the plan risks disenfranchising eligible voters and infringes on state authority. Another judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time.

The election results will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of Trump’s term. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries would be the first Black speaker and has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight. A strong Democratic night would also boost potential 2028 candidates, including Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker and Pete Buttigieg.