Nevada Democrats have not held all six constitutional offices since 1962, while Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) led in the governor's race, which remained too close to call early Wednesday, according to The Nevada Independent.
The outcome marks a significant rebuke of President Donald Trump (R), with Democrats surpassing even the most ambitious expectations nationwide, the news outlet reported. Democrats flipped two of the state's Republican-held statewide offices while holding the other three, and the last time a single party secured all six constitutional offices was the GOP in 2014.
In the governor's race, Ford could become the first elected Black governor west of the Mississippi River. "I'm standing with a real chance of becoming governor," Ford said at a campaign watch party Tuesday evening, while supporters cheered as results showing a slight lead were projected onto a screen. His lead comes despite outsized ad spending from his opponent, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), and is largely propelled by anti-GOP sentiment.
Ford ran on a platform that tied Lombardo to Trump and criticized the sitting governor for a range of record-breaking vetoes that Ford said would have helped Nevadans better weather economic difficulties. Lombardo emphasized on the campaign trail that he needed four more years to complete his agenda, defending himself by pointing to his record on healthcare, education, housing and the economy. Voters interviewed by The Nevada Independent expressed frustration with Trump. “I'm here to do my part, my civic duty, to probably stop the most corrupt government that we've ever had in the United States of America,” said Chris Myers, 47, who also cited a viral video of Lombardo seemingly getting out of a traffic ticket.
In the attorney general race, The Nevada Independent projected that Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) would defeat lawyer Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R). She pledged to stand up to the Trump administration, while Democrats called Guzmán Fralick “MAGA Adriana,” in part because of her past comments on data centers. Incumbent Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) defeated former Assemblyman Jim Marchant (R) for the second time, and his victory all but ensures there will not be seismic changes to Nevada's election systems. Marchant has said he has not trusted election results in decades and wanted to cooperate with the Trump administration's efforts to interfere in Nevada's elections.
Controller Andy Matthews (R) appeared to have a path to victory but suffered from anti-Republican sentiment. Tya Mathis-Coleman (D), a staffer in the treasurer's office, will become Nevada's next treasurer, besting policy analyst Drew Johnson (R). Assembly member Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) ousted incumbent Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony (R) in a race that drew national attention with endorsements from former Transportation Department Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
Although some legislative races were too close to call as of early Wednesday, Democrats secured a two-thirds supermajority in the Assembly and are one seat shy in the state Senate, with two races offering the potential to flip a seat. A supermajority in both chambers would let them raise taxes and override the governor's vetoes.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Democrats' sweep of all six constitutional offices for the first time in 64 years signals a dramatic shift in Nevada's political landscape, with potential to reshape state policy for years
- A near-supermajority in the legislature would give Democrats power to raise taxes and override vetoes, removing a key check on their agenda
- The results serve as a strong anti-Trump message ahead of the 2028 presidential cycle, with implications for national Democratic strategy
Background
Nevada has been a key swing state in recent elections. The last time a single party held all six constitutional offices was the GOP in 2014. Democrats last achieved the feat in 1962. The 2026 elections were widely seen as a referendum on President Trump, with voters in both Northern and Southern Nevada expressing frustration with the sitting president.
Key Perspectives
Democrats: attributed the sweep to anti-Trump sentiment and successful messaging tying Republican incumbents to the president, with Ford running on a platform that linked Lombardo to Trump
Voters: expressed frustration with Trump and said they were voting blue down the ballot to send a message, with one voter calling the current government "the most corrupt" in US history
Republicans: Lombardo argued he needed four more years to complete his agenda, while Matthews acknowledged anti-GOP headwinds but was confident he could stave them off
What to Watch
- Whether Aaron Ford is officially declared the winner in the too-close-to-call governor's race, which would make him the first elected Black governor west of the Mississippi
- The outcome of the two state Senate races that could give Democrats a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers, enabling tax increases and veto overrides
- Clark County officials' appointment of Cannizzaro's replacement in the state Senate, and who Democratic senators choose to lead their caucus
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedNevada Democrats lead the governor’s race and swept the other statewide offices.Nevada Independent: “Nevada Democrats lead governor's race, sweep other statewide offices in historic night.”
- SupportedAaron Ford leads the governor’s race, which was still too close to call early Wednesday.Nevada Independent: “Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) is leading in the governor's race shortly after midnight on Wednesday, though it's still too close to call.”
- SupportedDemocrats secured a two-thirds supermajority in the Assembly.Nevada Independent: “Democrats secured a two-thirds supermajority in the Assembly”
- SupportedDemocrats flipped two Republican-held statewide offices while holding the other three.Nevada Independent: “Democrats flipped two of the state's Republican-held seats while holding the other three statewide offices.”
- SupportedDemocrats have not held all six constitutional offices since 1962.Nevada Independent: “The last time a single party secured all six constitutional offices was the GOP in 2014. Democrats have not held all constitutional offices since 1962.”
- SupportedThe result was a significant rebuke of President Donald Trump, with Democrats surpassing even the most ambitious nationwide expectations.Nevada Independent: “Democrats surpassed even the most ambitious expectations nationwide in a significant rebuke of President Donald Trump (R).”
- SupportedFord said, “I'm standing with a real chance of becoming governor,” at a campaign watch party Tuesday evening.Nevada Independent: “"I'm standing with a real chance of becoming governor," Ford said at a campaign watch party Tuesday evening”
- SupportedChris Myers said, “I'm here to do my part, my civic duty, to probably stop the most corrupt government that we've ever had in the United States of America.”Nevada Independent: “"I'm here to do my part, my civic duty, to probably stop the most corrupt government that we've ever had in the United States of America," Chris Myers, 47, said about his decision to vote Tuesday.”
- SupportedThe Nevada Independent projected that Nicole Cannizzaro would defeat Adriana Guzmán Fralick in the attorney general race.Nevada Independent: “In the race for attorney general, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) defeated lawyer Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), The Indy projected.”
- SupportedCisco Aguilar defeated Jim Marchant for the second time.Nevada Independent: “incumbent Cisco Aguilar (D) defeated former state Assm. Jim Marchant (R). Aguilar also beat Marchant in the 2022 race for secretary of state.”
- SupportedTya Mathis-Coleman will become Nevada’s next treasurer, besting Drew Johnson.Nevada Independent: “Tya Mathis-Coleman (D), a staffer in Treasurer Zach Conine's (D) office, will become Nevada's next treasurer, besting her opponent, policy analyst Drew Johnson (R).”
- SupportedSandra Jauregui ousted incumbent Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony, and her campaign drew national attention with endorsements from Pete Buttigieg and Mark Kelly.Nevada Independent: “Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) has won the Nevada lieutenant governor's race, ousting incumbent Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony (R). Although the lieutenant governor's office is largely considered a symbolic role, Jauregui's campaign drew national attention with endorsements from former Transportation Department Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).”