Aaron Ford Takes Nevada Governor's Mansion in Shift from Red to Blue
The Democrat defeated incumbent Joe Lombardo, who cited a desire to focus on affordability and housing in his first remarks.
By Ana Castro ·
Democrat Aaron Ford secured enough votes to defeat incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, transferring control of the Nevada governor's mansion from the Republican to the Democratic party.
Lombardo confirmed via a public statement that he contacted Ford to extend his congratulations. In his remarks, the outgoing governor stated, "Serving as your governor has been the honor of my lifetime."
Voters in Las Vegas expressed a mix of relief and cautious optimism following the election night results. Jamie Lurtz described her feelings as excitement, noting that she believed Lombardo needed to leave office. Danny Worry, another resident, said he loved the outcome but remained guarded about the future. He stated, "We’ll see. It can’t be any worse than Lombardo."
For some residents, the decision was influenced by recent events involving the incumbent. One voter recalled viral body camera footage of a traffic stop in which Lombardo identified himself. Kaj Sorenson felt the incident made Lombardo appear above the law. Sorenson added, "I didn’t like that part at all."
Ford is scheduled to hold a rally on Wednesday to mark his victory. During his initial comments on election night, the governor-elect outlined his administrative priorities. He said he intends to focus on affordability and increasing housing construction across the state.
