Nevada 2026: Governor and House Bats

Polls in Nevada opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and will close at 7 p.m., though voters remaining in line at the deadline may still cast ballots. Most votes have already been cast due to the state's extensive early voting and mail-in ballot systems.

The central question on the business desk is not just who wins the governor's mansion, but who controls the state legislature. Democrats currently hold a simple majority in both chambers but need a two-thirds supermajority to override vetoes or pass tax measures without Republican support. They are one seat away in both the Assembly and the Senate.

If Democrats capture that additional seat in either chamber, they gain the power to override Governor Joe Lombardo's vetoes. Lombardo has used his veto power extensively over the last two legislative sessions. A Democratic supermajority would fundamentally change the budgetary and tax landscape for the 2027 session.

The governor's race pits Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. President Donald Trump’s influence weighs heavily on both candidates. Lombardo, in his first term, has tried to balance loyalty to Trump with an appeal to moderates. Ford has openly linked the two Republicans, leveraging the President's lower national approval ratings to attack Lombardo.

Nevada voters have a history of splitting tickets. In 2022, they re-elected Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto while electing Lombardo. In 2024, Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen won re-election even though Trump carried the state. This mixed outcome leaves the 2026 result uncertain in a national environment that is difficult for Republicans.

Attention also turns to the U.S. House races, specifically the 2nd District. Republican Mark Amodei announced his retirement, clearing the field. Former small-business owner David Filippo switched his campaign from the 4th District to the 2nd after Trump endorsed him ten days before the primary. Filippo won the Republican primary on a populist platform.

Filippo faces former state Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson. Independent analysts and betting markets give Filippo a two-thirds chance of winning. However, the race hinges on whether Republican primary voters remain loyal to their party or defect. Independent candidates, including Lynn Chapman, may also split the vote, creating an opening for the Democrat.

Mini Racker, reporting on the House races, noted that most in-state Republican candidates, including State Senator Carrie Buck and video game composer Marty O'Donnell, are running in difficult districts. She observed that while these candidates have strategies to counter the low popularity of the national party, most in the field would be surprised if they succeeded against the current Democratic momentum.