Who is Joe Lombardo and what is Lombardo running on in the 2026 Nevada Governor race?

Joe Lombardo is the Republican candidate for Nevada governor, and the incumbent. Governor of Nevada since 2023; former Clark County Sheriff and Army veteran. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Joe Lombardo (R) seeking a second term.
• Rating: Toss-up (Cook).
• Polling: Ford 44, Lombardo 42 (Emerson, Sept 5 to 8, 2026); aggregate Lombardo +1.2 as of Sept 10, 2026.

Why Lombardo is ahead

• Lombardo is the incumbent with a large money edge: ~$15M across campaign and PACs vs ~$2M for Ford entering 2026.
• Polls are essentially tied (Emerson Sept: Ford +2; aggregate Lombardo +1.2) in a purple state Trump carried in 2024.
• Ford ties Lombardo to Trump, whose popularity has declined in Nevada, and runs on grocery, gas, housing and healthcare costs; the 60,000-member Culinary Union endorsed Ford.
• Lombardo has kept some distance from Trump and runs on vetoes, school accountability and tightened criminal-justice rules.

What Lombardo is running on

• Taxes/vetoes. Casts himself as a check on the Democratic legislature; vetoed ~160 bills over two sessions and warns Democrats would bring higher taxes and fewer jobs.
• Education. Backs school choice and charter expansion and stresses accountability over more spending; signed a bipartisan school-district accountability bill.
• Housing. Favors ‘attainable housing’ for middle-income buyers, pursuing federal BLM land for housing; cautious on Ford’s corporate homebuying limits.
• Crime. Signed tightening of post-2020 criminal justice reforms.
• Transgender athletes. Supports a proposed constitutional amendment targeting transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
• Cost of living. Blames affordability problems on the Biden administration.

In Lombardo’s own words

“Nevadans didn’t send me to Carson City to play politics.”

“I won’t hesitate for a second to say no again.”

The other candidates

• Aaron Ford (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.