Nevada Democrats lead most legislative races early, with an Assembly supermajority in reach but Senate one seat short

What happened

Nevada Democrats were ahead in 33 of 42 Assembly races and seven of 11 state Senate races in early results Tuesday evening, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Those numbers would give the party comfortable majorities in both chambers of the Nevada Legislature.

According to the Review-Journal, the Assembly totals put Democrats in position for a supermajority in that chamber. Results as of Tuesday night suggested the party would fall one seat short of a supermajority in the Senate.

What was on the ballot

All 42 Assembly seats and 11 of the 21 Senate seats were up this year, the Review-Journal reported, though not every race had more than one candidate. Democrats were trying to hold their majorities in both chambers and add enough seats for a two-thirds supermajority.

The supermajority math

The Review-Journal reported that Democrats would reach a two-thirds supermajority by winning 28 seats in the Assembly and 14 in the Senate. Their early lead in 33 Assembly races is above the Assembly mark, while the Senate count appeared to come up one seat short as of Tuesday night.

Why control of the Legislature matters

While the governor's race drew the most attention, the Review-Journal noted that control of the Legislature could determine how much power the winner actually holds. The newspaper laid out several scenarios depending on how the final votes land.

If Gov. Joe Lombardo wins

A Lombardo victory paired with a simple Democratic majority could look much like the past four years, the Review-Journal reported. During that time, Democrats rejected Republican proposals and the governor vetoed Democratic-led bills he disapproved of.

If Lombardo wins and Democrats hold a supermajority, the Review-Journal said that would make his veto pen powerless. The newspaper added that a supermajority would, in theory, let Democrats pass tax bills without Lombardo's input.

If Attorney General Aaron Ford wins

A Ford win alongside any Democratic majority would hypothetically allow the party to pass its bills, according to the Review-Journal. The newspaper also reported that Ford's vetoes would be defenseless against a Democratic supermajority.

Other early results and Election Day conditions

Ford had taken an early lead in the governor's race, the state's highest-profile contest, based on preliminary results, the Review-Journal reported. Democrats also held early leads in all four of Nevada's congressional races, including the Republican-leaning 2nd District seat.

Preliminary results also showed Nevada on track to change its constitution twice, according to the newspaper. Four seats on the NSHE Board of Regents, which sets policies, approves budgets and hires top administrators at eight Nevada higher education institutions, were also on the ballot.

Long lines in Clark County

Some voters reported waiting two to three hours to cast ballots in Clark County, the Review-Journal reported. The newspaper said heavy turnout and changes to the voting process were creating long waits at polling sites across the county, and officials warned lines could grow longer. Officials also said high turnout contributed to delays in reported results. Voters who were in line by 7 p.m. remained eligible to vote after polls closed.

What to watch next

• Whether updated counts confirm Democrats reaching 28 Assembly seats and 14 Senate seats, the thresholds for a supermajority.
• The final result of the governor's race, where Ford held an early lead in preliminary results.
• Updated results in Clark County, where officials said high turnout delayed reporting.
• Final outcomes in the four NSHE Board of Regents races and the congressional contests.