Ford wins Nevada governor's race, ending Lombardo's tenure

Aaron Ford, the current Nevada attorney general, defeated incumbent Joe Lombardo in the state's gubernatorial election.

Ford, a Democrat, will become the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. He previously served as Nevada's first Black Senate majority leader and attorney general. Ford entered the state legislature in 2012 after a career in private law practice and math teaching.

During his tenure as attorney general, Ford joined legal challenges against the Trump administration. These lawsuits sought to uphold birthright citizenship, prevent federal election interference, and restore education funding to the state.

Lombardo, a Republican who served as a sheriff before politics, won the 2022 election with the endorsement of President Trump. In his campaign, Lombardo emphasized his first-term accomplishments, including raising pay for teachers and state employees. He also highlighted a $133 million fund set aside to develop housing for middle-income residents.

Ford campaigned by attributing the state's economic difficulties to Lombardo and the federal administration. He pointed to gas prices exceeding $5 per gallon and a decline in tourism revenue caused by tariffs and immigration crackdowns. Ford also warned that Nevada could lose an estimated $1.2 billion in federal funding due to changes in Medicaid, food assistance, and Affordable Care Act subsidies.

If elected, Ford pledged to revive bills that Lombardo vetoed during his first term. These proposals include limiting the number of homes large corporations can purchase and allowing the state to adopt Medicaid negotiated prescription drug prices. Both candidates supported tax breaks for data centers, though they disagreed on how to manage those incentives going forward.