Nevada voters went to the polls Tuesday, June 9, to choose the Democratic nominee who will face Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in November, as rising prices and a slowdown in tourism have hurt President Donald Trump’s popularity in the state.
Six Democrats were on the ballot in Nevada’s gubernatorial primary, including state Attorney General Aaron Ford and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill. Hill spent primary day campaigning door-to-door in northern Nevada, saying her campaign has knocked on at least 20,000 doors since she entered the race. She has emphasized issues such as economic equality and environmental stewardship. Ford, meanwhile, has sought to make affordability the central issue of the contest and to link Lombardo to Trump’s agenda. Ford also benefited from the backing of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, a major political force in Nevada that represents hospitality workers. Lombardo has said he is focused on state issues and not the details of national debates such as tariffs. In an NPR report, an archived recording of the governor captured him saying he was “concerned about Nevada” rather than “all the nuances” of foreign policy and tariffs. The same report cited recent polling showing Trump’s approval rating in Nevada is nearly 20 points underwater—an indicator Democrats hope will create an opening in a state that has often been decided by narrow margins.
