Aaron Ford defeats Joe Lombardo in Nevada governor race

Aaron Ford, the Nevada attorney general, has defeated Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in the state's gubernatorial election. The Associated Press called the race for Ford, ending Lombardo's first term in office. Ford, a Democrat, will serve as Nevada's next governor.

This victory marks a milestone for Ford. He will become the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. Ford has held other firsts in Nevada politics, including serving as the state's first Black Senate majority leader. He first entered the state legislature in 2012. Before that, he practiced law and taught mathematics.

During his time as attorney general, Ford joined lawsuits against the Trump administration. Those legal efforts aimed to uphold birthright citizenship, stop federal interference in elections, and restore education funding. In the current campaign, Ford focused on the state's economic challenges. He cited gas prices exceeding $5 per gallon and a decline in tourism as primary issues.

Ford attributed these economic woes to Lombardo and President Trump. He pointed to tariffs and immigration crackdowns as factors hurting tourism, a key revenue source for Nevada. He also warned that the state risks losing an estimated $1.2 billion in federal funding. That loss stems from changes to Medicaid, food assistance, and cuts to Affordable Care Act health insurance.

Lombardo, who was elected in 2022, campaigned on his record from the first term. He noted that he increased pay for teachers and state employees. His administration also set aside $133 million to develop housing for middle-income residents. Lombardo, a former sheriff, received an endorsement from President Trump. Both candidates supported tax breaks for data centers, though they disagreed on how strictly to regulate the industry.

Ford has pledged to revive legislation that Lombardo vetoed. One such bill would limit the number of homes large corporations can purchase. Another would give the state the power to adopt Medicaid negotiated prices for prescription drugs. The race was considered one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the United States.

The Associated Press confirmed the result for Ford. Lombardo will leave office after completing his first term. Ford will take over the duties of the governor in Nevada.