CARSON CITY, Nevada — Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford were projected to win their respective Nevada primary contests this week, setting up a closely watched general election race in the battleground state, according to projections by major U.S. media organizations following Tuesday’s vote.
Lombardo, seeking a second term as governor, faced several Republican challengers but was projected to secure his party’s nomination comfortably, according to election results and media projections. Ford, the highest-ranking Democrat elected statewide, defeated a field of Democratic rivals led by Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill, according to projections reported after polls closed.
The primary election took place on June 9 and featured contests for governor, congressional seats and other state offices. The governor’s race drew particular attention because Nevada remains one of the most competitive states in national elections. The winner of the Nov. 3 general election will lead a state that has frequently been decided by narrow margins in recent federal and statewide contests.
Before the primary, political observers identified Ford as the Democratic frontrunner due to his statewide profile and previous election victories. Lombardo entered the Republican contest as the incumbent governor and faced limited opposition from within his party.
Speaking after his projected victory, Ford focused on economic concerns facing Nevada residents. “Nevadans are feeling more pain at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the businesses that are closing in front of our eyes,” Ford said, according to reports from election-night events.
Ford also argued that economic issues would be central to the campaign heading into November. Republicans, meanwhile, have pointed to Lombardo’s record on jobs, education and public safety as key issues for voters, according to campaign statements and media reports.
Nevada’s primary election was conducted under the state’s partisan primary system, with registered party members selecting nominees for the general election. Election officials continued processing ballots after polls closed, although media organizations projected winners in the gubernatorial contests once results indicated clear leads.
As of Friday, neither campaign had released comprehensive general-election advertising plans. Election officials said certified primary results would be completed under Nevada’s standard canvassing procedures in the coming days, while Lombardo and Ford prepared to begin their statewide campaigns ahead of the November election.
