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Nevada, Governor

Steve Sisolak (D) defeated Adam Laxalt (R) and three other candidates in the 2018 general election for governor of Nevada.

Democrats won a trifecta in Nevada by capturing the governor's office and maintaining control of the state legislature. Heading into the election, Nevada had been under divided government since 2016 when Democrats won control of the Nevada State Assembly and the Nevada State Senate.

The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under Nevada state law, the state Legislature is responsible for drawing new maps for U.S. House and state legislative seats following the completion of the census. The governor has the power to veto these district map proposals.

Incumbent Gov. Brian Sandoval (R), who was term-limited, was first elected in 2010 by 11.8 percentage points and re-elected in 2014 by 46.7 percentage points. The last Democrat to win Nevada's governorship was Bob Miller (D) in 1990 and 1994. Hillary Clinton (D) won Nevada in the 2016 presidential election by 3 percentage points, making it one of eight states holding gubernatorial elections in 2018 that Clinton won despite having a Republican governor. As of October 24, two of three major election forecasters

Nevada was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.

The third party and independent candidates who ran were Jared Lord (L), Russell Best (Independent American), and Ryan Bundy (I).

Polls

Nevada Governor 2018, general election

Poll Poll sponsor Steve Sisolak Adam LaxaltUndecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
The Trafalgar Group
October 29-November 1, 2018
N/A 39%45%16%+/-1.92,587
SRSS
October 24-29, 2018
CNN 46%45%9%+/-4.8622
Reuters/Ipsos/UVA Center for Politics
October 12-19, 2018
N/A 41%46%13%+/-3.01,137
Vox Populi (Democrat vs. Republican only, no undecided option)
October 13-15, 2018
N/A 42%40%0%+/-3.7614
Marist University
Sept. 30-Oct. 3
NBC News 40%44%16%+/-5.5574
SSRS
Sept. 25-29
CNN 45%41%14%+/-4.6693
Reuters/Ipsos/UVA Center for Politics
Sept. 7-17
Thomson Reuters and the University of Virginia Center for Politics 40%43%17%+/-3.51,039
Suffolk University
Sept. 5-10
Reno Gazette-Journal 37%35%28%+/-4.4500
Suffolk University
July 24-29
Reno Gazette-Journal 41%42%16%+/-4.4500
AVERAGES 41.22% 42.33% 14.33% +/-3.98 918.44

Race rating

The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of 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.

Race ratings: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2018

Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up

Election history

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

2010

On November 2, 2010, Brian Sandoval won election to the office of Governor of Nevada. He defeated Rory Reid, David Scott Curtis, Arthur Forrest Lampitt, Eugene DiSimone, Aaron Y. Honig, and Floyd Fitzgibbons in the general election.

Governor of Nevada, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Sandoval 54.3% 382,350
Democratic Rory Reid 42.3% 298,171
Green David Scott Curtis 0.6% 4,437
Libertarian Arthur Forrest lampitt 0.7% 4,672
Independent Eugene DiSimone 0.9% 6,403
Independent Aaron Y. Honig 0.5% 3,216
Independent Floyd Fitzgibbons 0.7% 5,049
Total Votes 704,298
Election results via Silver State Election Results.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Jim Gibbons won election to the office of Governor of Nevada. He defeated Dina Titus, Christopher Hansen, and Craig Bergland in the general election.

Governor of Nevada, 2006

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJim Gibbons 49.7% 279,003
Democratic Dina Titus 45.5% 255,684
Ind. American Christopher Hansen 3.6% 20,019
Green Craig Bergland 1.2% 6,753
Total Votes 561,459
Election results via US Election Atlas Results.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Kenny Guinn won re-election to the office of Governor of Nevada. He defeated Joseph Neal, Richard Geyer, David Holmgren, Jerry Norton, and A. Charles Laws in the general election.

Governor of Nevada, 2002

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngKenny Guinn Incumbent 71.6% 344,001
Democratic Joseph Neal 23.1% 110,935
Libertarian Richard Geyer 1.7% 8,104
Ind. American David Holmgren 1.5% 7,047
Independent Jerry Norton 1.2% 5,543
Green A. Charles Laws 1% 4,775
Total Votes 480,405
Election results via US Election Atlas Results.

Demographics

Demographic data for Nevada

NevadaU.S.
Total population:2,883,758316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):109,7813,531,905
Gender
Female:49.7%50.8%
Race and ethnicity**
White:69%73.6%
Black/African American:8.4%12.6%
Asian:7.7%5.1%
Native American:1.1%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.6%0.2%
Two or more:4.4%3%
Hispanic/Latino:27.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:85.1%86.7%
College graduation rate:23%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$51,847$53,889
Persons below poverty level:17.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Nevada.

As of July 2016, Nevada' three largest cities were Las Vegas (pop. est. 640,000), Henderson (pop. est. 300,000), and Reno (pop. est. 250,000).