Polls officially closed at 7 p.m. in Nevada, but voters standing in line are encouraged to stay to cast their vote. Once the last voter in line casts their vote, Nevada will start posting results via the Secretary of State’s website.
All eyes will mostly be on the state’s governor’s race as Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford seeks to unseat Republican incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo. This race is expected to be among the most competitive not only statewide, but nationwide.
There are also three historic wins at play if Ford can successfully oust Lombardo.
Follow The Nevadan’s live blog as we provide updates regarding key races.
Who will win Nevada’s governor’s race?
The context carries historic implications: a Ford victory would make him Nevada’s first black governor—and the first black governor west of the Mississippi. Only three Black Americans have ever been elected governor in the US. The last Democrat to unseat a sitting Republican governor in Nevada was Richard Bryan, who defeated Gov. Robert List in 1982.
Ford ran on one key issue: affordability. He pledged to sign a slew of bills aimed at helping working families that Lombardo vetoed during the 2025 legislative session, including universal free school meals, expanded paid family leave, and capping insulin at $35.
Lombardo ran on public safety and education. His campaign touted his tough-on-crime record, with his affiliated PACs tying his crime bill to decrease violent crime statistics in the state. The statistics used, however, were before Lombardo’s crime bill took effect.
Nevada Democrats also tried to tie Lombardo to President Donald Trump, calling it the “Lombardo-Trump economy.”
The two split on almost every major issue, including how to manage data centers and Flock cameras.
The winner takes office in January once results are certified.
Will Democrats flip Nevada’s 2nd District?
The seat opened when Republican Rep. Mark Amodei retired after 15 years. Amodei refused to endorse Republican David Flippo and told CNN he didn’t vote for him, saying he “represents fraud and misrepresentation and not being honest or respecting voters or the process.”
The Washoe County Republican Party responded with a resolution saying it no longer recognizes Amodei as a Republican.
Since Flippo’s announcement to run for CD2, he’s been embroiled in a bed of controversies.
Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson campaigned on affordability and pushing back on the Trump administration. Democrats and Republicans have spent millions in the conservative district.
Will Susie Lee hold Nevada’s 3rd District?
The southwest Las Vegas district is the most competitive congressional seat in Nevada, but in early October, The Cook Political Report shifted the seat from “lean Democrat” to “likely Democrat.” Trump carried it by about 1 point in 2024 even as incumbent Rep. Susie Lee (D-Las Vegas) won reelection by under 3 points.
Lee, first elected in 2018, describes herself as a centrist Democrat and campaigned on affordability and pushing back on the Trump administration. She’s been named as the most bipartisan lawmaker by the Common Ground Committee.
Republican Marty O’Donnell, a video game composer known for the “Halo” soundtrack, campaigned on restoring the American Dream, securing the border and building a “resilient” economy.
Question 6: Constitutional right to abortion
Nevadans voted for the second and last time for this initiative that would codify abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy into the state’s constitution. The measure passed in 2024 with about 64% of the vote.
It reappeared on this year’s ballot because it must pass in two consecutive general elections for the Nevada constitution to be amended.
The effort followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. Once the right to an abortion was nationally overturned, a wave of conservative states began enacting stricter abortion laws—and in some cases, total abortion bans.
Question 7: Voter identification initiative
Like Question 6, this measure reappeared on this year’s ballot because it must pass two consecutive general elections. Constitutional adoption requires approval in two consecutive general elections.
Under the amendment, voters casting a ballot in person must present a valid government-issued photo ID, while those voting by mail must provide the last four digits of their driver’s license or Social Security number.
The measure drew strong backing from Gov. Joe Lombardo and President Donald Trump as part of a national push among Republicans for stricter voter ID laws. Advocates believe the initiative would restore trust in election administration.
Opponents argued that the mandate creates unnecessary hurdles for voters of color, students, and seniors, pointing out that Nevada already ranked second in the nation in election administration on the MIT Elections Performance Index.
