Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has moved on to the general election after defeating six Republican challengers, securing his party’s nomination for a second term. The race is heating up as Democrats aim to regain the governor’s mansion this November.
Lombardo, a former sheriff of Clark County, was seen as the frontrunner entering the primary. He won the governorship in 2022, defeating Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak, a significant feat as he was the only Republican to unseat a sitting Democratic governor that year.
Now, he’s gearing up for the general election against Democratic contenders, including state Attorney General Aaron Ford and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill.
Lombardo’s margin of victory came against lesser-known challengers like Donald Bewdley Jr., Irina Hansen, Kameron Hawkins, Matthew Winterhawk, Jose Zelaya, and Barak Zilberberg.
Bewdley Jr. is a hedge fund manager and founder of an AI startup, leveraging his private sector experience in his campaign. Hansen, a real estate agent with previous mayoral aspirations in Las Vegas, aimed to position himself as an outsider to the political establishment. Meanwhile, Winterhawk, a businessman and nonprofit founder, presented himself as a fresh alternative to Nevada’s political landscape.
Prior to this, Hawkins, a Navy veteran and conservative activist, tried for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2022. Zelaya, a real estate investor, kept a low profile during the campaign and didn’t reveal much about his candidacy.
This gubernatorial race is one of the most scrutinized in the 2026 midterm elections. The outcomes could influence national profiles and the political strategy for the upcoming 2028 presidential election, especially as Democrats attempt to reclaim the governor’s office after losing it in 2022.
On another note, Nevada’s current ballot doesn’t feature a Senate race, which highlights the gubernatorial contest as the key focus, significantly driving campaign advertising dollars. The primaries also included races for the U.S. House and various state offices, with voters in Henderson, Nevada’s second-largest city, participating in the mayoral race.
