Nevada’s 2026 governor race: Best case scenario for Lombardo

Great news for conservatives

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada Bews and Views

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto just gave conservatives in Nevada an early Christmas present. The Nevada senator announced Thursday she’s backing Attorney General Aaron Ford in Nevada’s Democratic gubernatorial primary over Alexis Hill, the Washoe County Commissioner who just entered the race this week.

For those who support limited government and conservative values, this couldn’t have played out better. Here’s why this news should make every conservative in Nevada smile.

Ford vs. Hill: The Perfect Storm for Republicans

Recent polling shows mixed results for both potential candidates. According to April polling from Noble Predictive Insights mentioned in news reports, Ford appears to have slightly better approval numbers than Lombardo in that survey. But here’s the key detail: about one-third of voters don’t know enough about Ford to have an opinion.

Think about that for a minute. Ford sounds good on paper because many voters don’t really know him yet.

Enter, Alexis Hill: She’s the kind of candidate who could really shake things up in a Democratic primary.

Hill, who has served on the Washoe County Commission since 2020, announced this week she would also seek the Democratic nomination. Hill represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She’s exactly the type of candidate who could push Ford further left during a primary battle.

The Sisolak Wild Card

The real gift to conservatives? Former Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is eyeing another run for governor in 2026 against Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. If Sisolak jumps in, it creates a three-way Democratic primary that could get messy fast.

Remember, Sisolak lost his re-election bid to then-Clark County Sheriff Lombardo by 15,000 votes in 2022. Many blamed his loss on COVID lockdowns that hurt Nevada’s economy. If he runs again, he brings all that baggage with him.

Lombardo’s Strong Position

Governor Joe Lombardo is sitting pretty right now. The most recent Morning Consult polling shows him with a 53 percent approval rating and just 32 percent disapproval. That’s solid ground for any incumbent governor.

Lombardo has built his reputation by focusing on what matters: safer schools, smarter spending, and getting government out of people’s way. He’s doing exactly what conservatives want — governing with principles, not publicity stunts.

Why Ford’s Primary Win Would Be Perfect

Aaron Ford winning the Democratic primary would be the best-case scenario for Lombardo’s reelection. Here’s why:

Ford is a career politician who’s been in government for years. He served in the state legislature before becoming attorney general. That’s a lot of political baggage to carry into a general election.

More importantly, Since President Donald Trump retook office in January, Ford has joined a litany of multi-state lawsuits against the administration. In a state where Trump won support, being the guy constantly suing the president isn’t exactly a winning message.

Ford also comes with the typical liberal attorney general record:

“He’s gone after fraudulent landlords who are jacking up prices on working families and won more than $1 billion in settlements from taking on big drug companies,” said Senator Cortez Masto.

That sounds great to Democrats, but it also means he’s spent his career expanding government power and regulation.

What Critics Are Saying

Democrats aren’t worried about Ford’s chances. Nevada Democratic Party Executive Director Hilary Barrett claims Lombardo is “taking our state backward,” but the poll numbers tell a different story.

Some progressives think Ford isn’t liberal enough. They want someone more radical who will push harder for big government solutions. That’s exactly the kind of primary fight that could weaken Ford for the general election.

The National Picture Matters

Lombardo’s re-election may turn on President Trump’s standing with Nevada voters 20 months from now. If Trump remains popular, that helps Lombardo. If not, it could be a drag.

But here’s the thing — Just one race with a sitting Republican governor — Lombardo in Nevada — is rated a tossup. That means national Republicans will pour resources into Nevada to hold this seat.

What Conservatives Should Do Now

First, don’t get overconfident. Elections are won by showing up and voting, not by reading polls.

Second, start paying attention to this race now. The Cook Political Report lists the 2026 race in Nevada as a toss-up. Every vote will matter.

Third, support Governor Lombardo’s agenda. When he vetoes bad bills or stands up for limited government, make sure he knows conservatives have his back.

Looking Ahead

The best part about this scenario? Ford winning the Democratic primary means no Sisolak comeback story. No redemption narrative. No “I learned from my mistakes” campaign theme.

Instead, conservatives get to run against a career politician who’s spent years expanding government power and suing President Trump. That’s a much easier race to win than facing a former governor who could claim he’s changed.

Ford represents everything conservatives oppose — more government, more regulation, more lawsuits, and more partisan politics. If he wins the Democratic primary, Lombardo gets to run as the common-sense conservative alternative.

That’s why Catherine Cortez Masto’s endorsement might just be the best news conservatives in Nevada have gotten all year.