Gov. Joe Lombardo tries to separate himself from Trump as his race against Aaron Ford is rated a toss-up

What happened

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican seeking a second four-year term, is in one of the most competitive governor races in the country, according to a New York Times report published by the Las Vegas Sun. Lombardo was favored for months. Analysts now rate his contest with Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford a toss-up.

The Times reported that dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy, immigration and the Iran war has Republicans worried about the midterms. Public polling has been limited. Recent surveys show the two candidates neck and neck, even though Lombardo has raised far more money.

How each candidate is campaigning

Lombardo focuses on state issues

According to the Times, the governor rarely mentions Trump on the campaign trail. He has presented himself as a low-key conservative focused on education, public safety and diversifying an economy that depends on gambling and tourism. His campaign declined an interview.

Lombardo points to his business-friendly record, including cutting regulations and courting industries such as mining and manufacturing. The Times noted that Nevada's unemployment rate, still among the highest in the country, has dropped five straight months. He also worked with Democrats on a $2.6 billion increase in education funding. He appealed directly to Trump to save several Nevada solar projects that a presidential executive order had put at risk.

Lombardo has accused Ford of backing policies akin to socialism. After California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed Ford, Lombardo's allies put up billboards along Nevada highways showing the two men together.

Ford ties Lombardo to Trump

Ford has criticized Lombardo for praising Trump's foreign policy and supporting his tariffs. At an August rally with Trump, Lombardo said it was important to "take care of" the president's "billionaire friends" because they provide jobs. Ford's campaign quickly turned the remark into a television ad. "He's been a doormat for Donald Trump his entire tenure," Ford told the Times.

Ford has made affordability the center of his campaign and has spoken Spanish on the trail to win back Latino voters who backed Trump in 2024. He argues that Lombardo's opposition to bills on prescription drug prices and tenant protections shows the governor has not done enough on costs. Critics also point to Lombardo's record number of vetoes. Ford would be Nevada's first Black governor.

A Democratic prosecutor crosses over

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, a Democrat, endorsed Lombardo because of the governor's law enforcement credentials. It is the first time he has publicly backed a Republican. "He's not MAGA," Wolfson told the Times.

Why the race is so close

Independents make up the largest share of Nevada's registered voters, the Times reported. That has pushed Lombardo to energize Republicans without driving away unaffiliated voters. Republicans have won the state's last two big races. In 2024 Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to carry Nevada since George W. Bush, and in 2022 Lombardo unseated Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.

"Now the shoe's on the other foot," said David Damore, a political science professor at UNLV. Both candidates have faced anger over housing costs, gas prices among the nation's highest and rapid data-center construction. In Las Vegas, tourism is down, especially among Canadians upset over tariffs. The Culinary Union has called the drop a "Trump slump."

The candidates have not debated, and both have mostly appeared before friendly crowds. Readers following turnout can find our latest reporting on Clark County early voting and mail ballots and more in our elections coverage.

What Las Vegas voters told the Times

Virginia Toalepai, who owns a construction safety company in Las Vegas, voted for Trump but said his tariffs have hurt. She said that was the president's doing, not Lombardo's. "The governor doesn't set the cost of eggs," she said.

At Broadacres Marketplace, a swap meet popular with Las Vegas Latino shoppers, vendors said many regular customers were too nervous to leave home. Merchant Carmen Garcia, 60, said she did not vote in 2024 but plans to support Democrats this year because she believes the immigration crackdown has gone too far. Lombardo has said his relationship with Trump has kept large-scale immigration raids out of Nevada.

Will Powell, a 46-year-old limousine driver and independent from Henderson, gave Lombardo high marks on education and crime. He said the president's endorsement is the one thing hurting the governor in his eyes.

What to watch next

• The outcome of a governor's race analysts now call a toss-up, with recent surveys showing Lombardo and Ford neck and neck.
• Republican turnout, which Lombardo has urged in a state he calls "razor-thin."
• How independents, the largest group of Nevada registered voters, and Latino voters split between the two candidates.