Nevada's closed primaries will decide competitive races for governor, an open U.S. House seat and key statewide offices amid concerns about housing, rising data-center energy demand and federal program cuts. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is viewed as vulnerable, and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford is the leading challenger with major endorsements. Trump-backed candidates are prominent in GOP primaries, and election integrity — including voter ID and mail ballot rules — is a central campaign issue. The 2nd District favors Republicans by roughly 70,000 registered voters, while the 3rd District remains a toss-up with many nonpartisan voters.
Nevada Primaries Spotlight Vulnerable Governor, Trump-Backed GOP Contenders and High-Stakes House Races
James Settelmeyer, a Republican candidate for Congress in Nevada's 2nd district, speaks to attendees of a Nevada Builders Alliance event in Washoe Valley, Nev., Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
LAS VEGAS — Nevada voters are casting ballots in closed primaries that will determine nominees for several competitive contests, most notably an open U.S. House seat and the governor’s race. The state is grappling with a shortage of affordable housing, surging energy demand from data centers and cuts to federal programs that have heightened the stakes for both parties.
Closed Primaries, Clear Stakes
Nevada operates a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party contests after a 2024 effort to open primaries failed. Several races pit establishment-backed candidates against political outsiders, and national attention centers on retaining the 3rd Congressional District and whether Republicans can flip or defend key seats in November.
Governor's Race: Lombardo Seen As Vulnerable
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is widely regarded as one of the nation's most vulnerable incumbents heading into the fall. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Aaron Ford — backed by Nevada's Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris — is the front-runner. He faces Alexis Hill, a northern Nevada county commissioner who campaigned as an agent of change. Both Democrats made affordability a central theme, citing high gas prices, limited affordable housing and federal cuts to health and food assistance.
Ford has emphasized attacks on Lombardo and former President Donald Trump as drivers of economic strain in Nevada, while also seeking to become the state's first Black governor.
Northern Nevada: Open 2nd District
Longtime Rep. Mark Amodei is retiring, creating a competitive GOP primary in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, which covers Reno, Carson City and a vast rural expanse. President Trump has endorsed David Flippo, a party loyalist with no prior elected office experience, while Amodei and Lombardo back former state Sen. James Settelmeyer.
The 2nd District strongly favors Republicans: registered GOP voters outnumber Democrats by roughly 70,000, and a Republican has held the seat since the 1980s. Democrats are aiming to attract nonpartisan voters with candidates such as former Assembly Majority Floor Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson and investor Greg Kidd.
3rd District: Toss-Up Battle
Nevada's 3rd Congressional District is viewed as the state's most competitive seat, with a slim Democratic registration advantage and a large share of nonpartisan voters. Democratic Rep. Susie Lee narrowly carried the district in 2024, as did Trump. Republican contenders seeking to challenge Lee include Trump-backed composer Marty O'Donnell, former U.S. ambassador and dermatologist Jeff Gunter, neurosurgeon Aury Nagy and businesswoman Tera Anderson. Their campaigns emphasized border security, energy independence and reducing the federal debt.
Attorney General And Secretary Of State Races
With Ford running for governor, the attorney general's office is open. Democrats Nicole Cannizzaro (state Senate majority leader) and State Treasurer Zach Conine are competing to continue legal challenges to federal policies. On the GOP side, Trump-backed attorney Adriana Guzmán Fralick faces Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian, who has run for federal office multiple times.
Both Republican AG contenders emphasized "election integrity," raising doubts about voting security — a theme echoed across several GOP primaries. Nevada was among the swing states where former President Trump falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen; official reviews found no evidence of widespread fraud.
The secretary of state primary also drew attention. GOP hopefuls include Jim Marchant, who has said the 2020 election "was probably stolen"; former state lawmaker Sharron Angle, who joined efforts to challenge Nevada's 2020 certification; and Shirley Folkins-Roberts, an attorney endorsed by Lombardo who has said she does not believe Nevada elections suffer widespread fraud. The Republican winner will challenge incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.
Election Reforms On The Table
Election-related proposals are central to the debate. Republican plans promoted by some candidates and supporters — including limits on mail ballots, ending automatic voter registration and requiring ballots to be counted on Election Day — mirror national GOP priorities and the proposed SAVE Nevada Act. Those measures are unlikely to pass a Democratic-controlled legislature but remain a potent campaign issue. Voter ID, approved by voters in 2024, will appear again on the ballot this November in a related context.
Bottom line: Nevada's primaries will shape competitive general-election matchups this fall. The outcomes will test Trump’s influence on the GOP, the strength of Democratic organization in close districts, and how election integrity issues continue to drive campaigns.
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