Ford and Lombardo win Nevada gubernatorial primaries

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo won their parties' primaries in this year's gubernatorial race, CBS News projects.

Ford, who is from Clark County, defeated several primary opponents on Tuesday. His most formidable challenge came from progressive Alexis Hill. University of Nevada-Las Vegas political science professor Rebecca Gill said Ford entered the race with name recognition and a structural advantage as the highest-ranking Democrat elected statewide.

Lombardo also defeated multiple primary opponents on Tuesday.

Democrats in the state have already begun zeroing in on Lombardo, and the Democratic Governors' Association has identified Nevada as one of its top targets. The Cook Political Report has rated the race a toss-up.

The November election is expected to be largely a referendum on President Trump. The state has been hit hard by some of Mr. Trump's signature policies, including immigration and tariffs. Canadians account for half of Las Vegas' foreign tourism, which has dropped by 17% in 2025.

Tourism, which accounts for 30% of the region's jobs, declined 7.5% overall in 2025, the largest visitor drop outside of the pandemic since 1970, when the city started tracking data.

As attorney general, Ford signed onto more than 40 lawsuits in 2025 against the Trump administration, a record that will figure prominently in his effort to unseat Lombardo.

Lombardo told Politico earlier this year that he is "concerned" about reelection.

"Not only because of my re-elect but because of Nevada, right?" Lombardo said. "What's the proverbial line — all politics are local? It's no longer that way. What's happening worldwide, nationally, either we embrace it or we don't."

Gill said Lombardo will have an "uphill battle" in November.

Nevada had voted for Democrats in most presidential elections since 2008, and the state has two Democratic senators. The state's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdowns, leading Nevadans to vote Lombardo into office as governor in 2022. Two years later, Mr. Trump won the state by three points.