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Nevada gubernatorial election, 2026

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2022
Governor of Nevada
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 13, 2026
Primary: June 9, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Nevada

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Republican
Inside Elections: Tilt Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2026
Impact of term limits in 2026
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
Nevada
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Controller
Treasurer
State Board of Regents (5 seats)

Nevada is holding an election for governor on November 3, 2026.

To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Governor of Nevada

Aaron Ford and Matthew Winterhawk are running in the general election for Governor of Nevada on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

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WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I’m Winterhawk a father, husband, and Nevadan who’s tired of the corruption and theater in politics. I’m not a career politician; I’m a builder, a doer, and someone who knows what it’s like to live under the weight of broken systems. I’ve started businesses, helped schools directly, and fought for community-based solutions when others just talked. I’m running for governor to restore truth, efficiency, and accountability in our government. I will create the Department of Government Efficiency on Day One, so Nevadans know exactly where their tax dollars go. I’m also a strong advocate for real education not indoctrination and I will fight to protect our land, resources, and public safety. I represent everyday Nevadans, not lobbyists. I’m not running to gain power. I’m running to give it back to the people. Battle Born. Nevada First. Always."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Efficiency and Transparency from Day One. I’ll launch a Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate waste, expose backroom deals, and track every tax dollar spent. Nevadans deserve to know where their money is going no more loopholes, no more fog. We’ll light up every corner of government spending and bring real accountability to Carson City.


Real Education, Not Indoctrination. Our kids deserve schools that teach them how to think not what to think. I will prioritize education that builds skills, values, and real-world knowledge while keeping politics and outside agendas out of the classroom. Parents and teachers should be the foundation of our education system, not activist consultants.


Nevada-Owned Future. I will fight to protect our land, water, and resources from foreign investors and federal overreach. Our sovereignty must come first. Nevada shouldn’t be up for sale and I’ll make sure our future stays in the hands of Nevadans.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Efficiency and Transparency from Day One.

I’ll launch a Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate waste, expose backroom deals, and track every tax dollar spent. Nevadans deserve to know where their money is going no more loopholes, no more fog. We’ll light up every corner of government spending and bring real accountability to Carson City.

Real Education, Not Indoctrination. Our kids deserve schools that teach them how to think not what to think. I will prioritize education that builds skills, values, and real-world knowledge while keeping politics and outside agendas out of the classroom. Parents and teachers should be the foundation of our education system, not activist consultants.

Nevada-Owned Future.

I will fight to protect our land, water, and resources from foreign investors and federal overreach. Our sovereignty must come first. Nevada shouldn’t be up for sale and I’ll make sure our future stays in the hands of Nevadans.
I’m deeply passionate about government reform, education, and protecting state sovereignty. I believe in empowering local communities, ending political theater, and exposing wasteful spending. I’m driven to protect children from indoctrination, ensure parents have a voice in schools, and return accountability to every department. I’m equally focused on restoring trust in law enforcement and defending Nevada’s rights over our land and water. Our state is not a playground for outside interests it’s our home, and I’ll treat it that way.
George Carlin, my father, and Ricky Gervais sadly, only one of the three is still here. Carlin taught me to question everything, to cut through the lies with humor and brutal honesty. My father taught me to work hard, stay grounded, and never let pride get in the way of doing what’s right. Ricky Gervais? He reminds me to keep laughing, even when the truth stings. Each of them stood for honesty over popularity, and that’s exactly the kind of example I want to follow.
“Common Sense” by Thomas Paine because truth is timeless. Also, “Schoolhouse Rock!” believe it or not, it taught more civics than most public schools do today. If we don’t teach power to the people, we lose the people’s power.
Integrity, transparency, and backbone. I don’t care if you make mistakes I care if you lie about them. The people want real, flawed, honest leadership. That’s what I am. And that’s who I’ll always be.
I don’t speak in rehearsed talking points. I speak from experience. I’ve worked with my hands, built my own path, raised a family, and stood up when others stayed silent. I’m relentless when it comes to the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. I don’t owe favors to lobbyists, I’m not backed by billionaires, and I won’t play politics with people’s lives. What I bring is integrity, grit, and the courage to say what needs to be said not what polls well. I’m not here to impress the system. I’m here to fix it.
The governor is the people’s last line of defense. Your job is to protect freedoms, cut corruption, ensure safety, and give every citizen a fair shot. It’s not about photo ops or fake promises it’s about results.
I want to restore what we were all promised as kids truth, humanity, accountability, and a sense of ownership over our actions. I want to help bring back a culture where law and order mean something, where failures are owned, and where leaders answer to the people. My goal is to leave this world better than I found it not just for my sake, but so my kids can carry the boulders when I’m gone, with pride and purpose, knowing their father didn’t fold, didn’t sell out, and didn’t stay silent.
I’ll never forget 9/11. I was on my way to work and stopped to fill up my gas tank. I didn’t notice anything unusual at first until the pump, mid-fill, jumped from a dollar-something per gallon to hundreds. I walked inside, told the clerk his machine was broken. He looked at me and said, “You didn’t see the news?” We stood there me, the gas station owner, and a few strangers—glued to the screen, watching in horror as the towers fell. That moment sticks with me because everything changed our country, our unity, our trust. It reminded me how fragile peace is, and how important leadership becomes when everything’s falling apart. I was only 18
My first job was in the summer when I was just 9 years old, working insulation jobs in sweltering Midwest attics. It was rural Kansas, 90% humidity, and no shortcuts just grit, sweat, and long days under a blazing roofline. It wasn’t legal, it wasn’t easy, but it taught me the value of hard work, sacrifice, and earning every dollar by showing up when it matters most.
I’ve read too many to pick just one but as a kid, no author hit me like Shel Silverstein. His words were simple but deep, playful but wise. Books like Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree taught me that imagination, emotion, and truth can all live in the same sentence. That foundation shaped the way I see the world through honesty, wonder, and the belief that even the smallest stories can carry the biggest truths.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be anyone but myself even in a fictional world. I’ve never relied on anyone else to define me, and I don’t need a fantasy to feel powerful or important. Fiction has its place, but I’ve always believed that you can’t believe what you know, and you can’t know what you believe. I’d rather face the truth head-on than escape into someone else’s story. My story’s enough and it’s just getting started.
“Where Is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. I keep wondering where is the music like that today? Songs that actually said something, challenged the world, and called for unity. That track hit different, and it still does. It’s a reminder of what we’ve lost and what we need to fight to get back.
My passion and blunt honesty. I don’t sugarcoat, and sometimes that rubs people the wrong way. I speak from the heart with expletives if necessary but always with good intentions. You may not like how I say it, but you can’t deny what I said. I’ve been avoided my whole life because I reflect uncomfortable truths like a mirror. No filter, just facts. It’s a challenge, but it’s also why I’ll never be part of the political machine.
Protecting our land, restoring education, and ending political waste. We need a governor who isn’t afraid to say “no” to DC and “yes” to Nevadans. That’s what I’ll do.
The governor should be hands-on and fully involved. The people expect leadership that can read a budget, not just sign one. I believe in direct oversight, full transparency, and open public reporting of all state spending. My administration will launch a Department of Government Efficiency to ensure that every tax dollar is justified, traceable, and beneficial to Nevadans not hidden behind lobbyists and bureaucracy.
Line-item vetoes are a surgical tool not a weapon. I’ll use them to cut waste, kill corrupt pork, and protect the public from bloated spending. But every cut I make will come with a public explanation. No backroom decisions. No hidden motives. Just fiscal responsibility and honesty.
Mutual respect, not mutual favors. The governor should work with legislators of both parties to get things done but not at the cost of accountability. My door will always be open, but so will the cameras. I will collaborate when it benefits Nevadans and push back hard when it doesn’t.
Nevadans don’t quit. We’ve built this state through grit, independence, and unity across our differences. From our desert towns to our mountain ranges, from our veterans to our visionaries we stand proud. I love our spirit, our heritage, and our refusal to be anyone’s puppet.
Federal overreach, political corruption, and mismanaged growth. Nevada risks being swallowed by interests that don’t represent us from foreign land buyers to federal agencies trying to regulate our rights. We must protect our water, schools, safety, and economic freedom or we risk losing what makes Nevada worth fighting for.
“I’m not mad I’m right. You mistake my passion for feelings.” That one always sticks with me. People confuse conviction with anger, or honesty with hostility. But the truth doesn’t always come with a smile sometimes it comes with fire. And that fire is what makes real change possible.
Only in real, clearly defined emergencies natural disasters, public infrastructure collapse, or a legitimate threat to public safety. Emergency powers should come with expiration clauses, full transparency, and legislative checks. No permanent mandates. No political abuse. Ever again.
I’m building a Department of Government Efficiency for exactly this reason. Taxpayers should know how every single dollar is spent not buried in PDFs or hidden behind bureaucracy. We’ll make corruption uncomfortable again.
I support improving access and transparency in the ballot initiative process. I’d allow secure digital signature collection to empower more citizen participation while requiring clear summaries and full financial disclosure of who’s funding both sides. This process belongs to the people not to PACs and consultants.
It means you serve every Nevadan not just donors, not just your base. It means you’re on the hook when things go wrong, and you give credit when others do right. You are not above the people you’re beneath them, lifting them up.


Voting information

See also: Voting in Nevada

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]

Race ratings: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2026
Race trackerRace ratings
9/9/20259/2/20258/26/20258/19/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy WalterToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanBattleground RepublicanBattleground Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Past elections

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2014.

2022

See also: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Nevada

Joe Lombardo defeated incumbent Steve Sisolak, Brandon Davis, and Edward Bridges II in the general election for Governor of Nevada on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe Lombardo
Joe Lombardo (R)
 
48.8
 
497,377
Image of Steve Sisolak
Steve Sisolak (D)
 
47.3
 
481,991
Image of Brandon Davis
Brandon Davis (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.5
 
14,919
Image of Edward Bridges II
Edward Bridges II (Independent American Party)
 
1.0
 
9,918
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.5
 
14,866

Total votes: 1,019,071
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada

Incumbent Steve Sisolak defeated Tom Collins in the Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada on June 14, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steve Sisolak
Steve Sisolak
 
89.5
 
157,283
Image of Tom Collins
Tom Collins
 
6.9
 
12,051
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.6
 
6,340

Total votes: 175,674
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Nevada

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Nevada on June 14, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe Lombardo
Joe Lombardo
 
38.4
 
87,761
Image of Joey Gilbert
Joey Gilbert
 
27.0
 
61,738
Image of Dean Heller
Dean Heller
 
14.0
 
32,087
Image of John J. Lee
John J. Lee
 
7.8
 
17,846
Image of Guy Nohra
Guy Nohra
 
3.7
 
8,348
Image of Fred Simon Jr.
Fred Simon Jr.
 
3.0
 
6,856
Image of Tom Heck
Tom Heck Candidate Connection
 
1.9
 
4,315
Image of Eddie Hamilton
Eddie Hamilton
 
0.6
 
1,293
Image of Amber Whitley
Amber Whitley
 
0.5
 
1,238
Image of William Walls
William Walls
 
0.4
 
833
Gary Evertsen
 
0.2
 
558
Image of Seven Achilles Evans
Seven Achilles Evans
 
0.2
 
475
Edward O'Brien
 
0.2
 
422
Image of Barak Zilberberg
Barak Zilberberg
 
0.2
 
352
Image of Stan Lusak
Stan Lusak
 
0.1
 
229
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.8
 
4,219

Total votes: 228,570
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Nevada

Steve Sisolak defeated Adam Laxalt, Ryan Bundy, Russell Best, and Jared Lord in the general election for Governor of Nevada on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steve Sisolak
Steve Sisolak (D)
 
49.4
 
480,007
Image of Adam Laxalt
Adam Laxalt (R)
 
45.3
 
440,320
Image of Ryan Bundy
Ryan Bundy (Independent)
 
1.4
 
13,891
Image of Russell Best
Russell Best (Independent American Party)
 
1.0
 
10,076
Image of Jared Lord
Jared Lord (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
8,640
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.9
 
18,865

Total votes: 971,799
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steve Sisolak
Steve Sisolak
 
51.8
 
72,749
Image of Chris Giunchigliani
Chris Giunchigliani
 
40.3
 
56,511
Image of John Bonaventura
John Bonaventura Candidate Connection
 
3.1
 
4,351
Image of Henry Thorns
Henry Thorns
 
2.0
 
2,761
Image of David Jones
David Jones
 
1.8
 
2,511
Asheesh Dewan
 
1.0
 
1,468

Total votes: 140,351
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Nevada

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Nevada on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Adam Laxalt
Adam Laxalt
 
74.7
 
101,651
Image of Dan Schwartz
Dan Schwartz
 
9.5
 
12,919
Image of Jared Fisher
Jared Fisher
 
4.9
 
6,696
Image of Stephanie Carlisle
Stephanie Carlisle
 
4.7
 
6,401
Bill Boyd
 
4.4
 
6,028
Image of Stan Lusak
Stan Lusak
 
0.7
 
1,011
Frederick Conquest
 
0.6
 
766
Edward Dundas
 
0.4
 
576

Total votes: 136,048
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2014
Governor of Nevada, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Sandoval Incumbent 70.6% 386,340
     Democratic Robert Goodman 23.9% 130,722
     Independent None of these candidates 2.9% 15,751
     Independent American David Lory VanderBeek 2.7% 14,536
Total Votes 547,349
Election results via Nevada Secretary of State

Election analysis

This section will contain facts and figures related to this state's elections when those are available.

Gubernatorial elections in 2026

There are 36 gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2026.

See also

Nevada State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Nevada State Executive Offices
Nevada State Legislature
Nevada Courts
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Nevada elections: 2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  2. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  3. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  4. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018