Latino, young and nonpartisan voters swung toward Democrats in Nevada's 2026 election as Republican turnout lagged

What the analysis found

Nevada Democrats had their best election ever, winning across nearly the entire ballot, according to an analysis published in the Spanish-language edition of The Nevada Independent. Attorney General Aaron Ford won the governor's race, becoming the second Democrat elected governor this century. Ford will also be the state's first Black governor and the first Black governor elected in a state west of the Mississippi River.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo sought a second term by balancing support for President Donald Trump with a moderate image, and it was not enough, the outlet reported. Analysts pointed to Trump's falling approval ratings, persistently high gas prices, the war in Iran and an economy that has not seemed to work for the average person. For more on the overall results, see our earlier look at why Nevada Democrats swept the 2026 election.

Republican turnout fell behind

A first since at least 2014

This was the first midterm since at least 2014 in which Nevada Republicans turned out at a lower rate than Democrats, The Nevada Independent reported. Erik Jimenez, who leads the Washoe County Democratic Party and tracked the data closely, said the clearest trend was apathy among Republicans. The outlet's analysis found that voters who had taken part less often in the four previous general elections were much more likely to be Democrats.

Greg Bailor, a Republican consultant who follows early voting trends on his website, said he saw the gap as a measure of enthusiasm. He added that frustration with the economy may have lowered Republican turnout, especially among younger voters. A veteran Republican strategist who spoke anonymously called the result a verdict on Trump that Republicans could not overcome.

Latino voters shifted left

Registration and turnout numbers

Latino voters moved sharply toward Democrats after leaning right in 2024, according to the report. Jimenez found nearly three times as many Latino voters registered as Democrats as Republicans this cycle, compared with almost double in 2024. The Latino vote makes up about 20 percent of Nevada's electorate and tends to be younger and less likely to vote.

This time, Latinos made up nearly 24 percent of Election Day voters in 2026, up from 17 percent in 2024, based on Jimenez's analysis. More than a quarter of Election Day voters who had not voted before were Latino.

Gas prices and immigration enforcement

Several analysts told The Nevada Independent that Latinos, especially those who backed Trump, were frustrated by rising gas prices and economic promises they view as unkept. Francisco Heredia, an Arizona-based Democratic consultant, said many support stronger border security but felt enforcement methods went too far. José Rodríguez Romero, 18, of west Las Vegas, told the outlet he voted Democratic down the ballot because the threat of deportation has weighed on his family and friends.

Young and nonpartisan voters

Young voters showed notably high enthusiasm and favored Democrats in Nevada after leaning strongly Republican in 2024, the outlet's analysis found. Experts linked the change to economic challenges and weaker party loyalty. David Damore, executive director of The Lincy Institute, said young people had a lot at stake, pointing to wars and artificial intelligence.

Damore noted that young voters are also more likely to be nonpartisan. Nonpartisans, the largest share of Nevada's electorate, leaned significantly toward Democrats, which he suggested may reflect frustration with Republicans more than support for Democrats.

What analysts say it means

Billy Vassiliadis, a veteran Democratic strategist, described it as an angry vote against the parties in power, much like 2024 but in the opposite direction. Trump's 2024 win in Nevada had been the first for a Republican since 2004. Rebecca Gill, a UNLV political science professor, said voters wanted a government that responds and works, and that neither party holds a permanent advantage in Nevada, partly because of how often residents move in and out. Our elections coverage tracks other results from the cycle.

What to watch next

• Aaron Ford is preparing to take office as governor of one of the most diverse states in the country, The Nevada Independent reported.
• Damore cautioned that Democrats should not read their wins as a mandate to pursue their full list of priorities.
• The anonymous Republican strategist said the party needs to find the right leader to regain ground in Nevada and failed to mobilize enough voters in Clark County.