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Nevada Governor
| NEVADA |
Nov. 8,
2022 Governor |
|
Plurality: 15,386 votes (1.51 percentage points). NV
Secretary of State
REPUBLICAN PICK-UP Notes: Gov. Steve Sisolak (D, seeking a second term, lost a closely fought race to Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo (R). Also running were Brandon Davis (L) and Ed Bridges (IA). Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the race a toss-up. Sisolak and Lombardo debated in Las Vegas, hosted by The Nevada Independent, on Oct. 2 (>). Former President Trump participated in a law and order event with Laxalt and Lombardo at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino on July 8 (>) and rallied with them "and the entire Trump Nevada ticket" on Oct. 8 at Minden-Tahoe Airport (>). Gov. Glenn Youngkin (VA) campaigned with Lombardo in Las Vegas and Reno on Sept. 15. Former President Obama rallied with Nevada Democrats at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas on Nov. 1 (>). Third quarter campaign finance reports filed with the Nevada Secretary of State show that from Jan. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022, the Sisolak campaign raised $6.5 milion, spent $13.5 million and had cash on hand of $1.2 million, while the Lombardo campaign raised $4.0 million, spent $4.8 million and had cash on hand of $1.8 million. Outside groups were major players. On the Republican side, RGA Nevada PAC spent $12.8 million. Robert Bigelow, owner of Budget Suites of America and founder of Bigelow Aerospace, was the major backer of two independent PACs which supported Lombardo and conservative candidates: Better Nevada PAC reported spending $8.9 million and Stronger Nevada PAC spent $4.3 million. AP called the race for Lombardo on Nov. 11. Analysts said Sisolak fell short because he did not do as well as he needed to in Clark County, where Lombardo was a known figure. Democrats nonetheless had a generally successful cycle in Nevada, winning the U.S. Senate race, holding on to three U.S. House seats, splitting the state executive offices, and strengthening control in the legislature. June 14 Primaries Fifteen candidates qualified for the June 14, 2022 Republican primary ballot. Leading the field were businessman and attorney Joey Gilbert, former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo. Former President Trump made a relatively late endorsement, on Apr. 27, 2022, backing Lombardo. At the Nevada Republican Party Convention in Las Vegas on Apr. 29-30, Gilbert scored an upset, winning 68% of the vote. Lombardo announced his candidacy on June 28, 2021 (>). He was elected sheriff in 2014 and re-elected in 2018; he started with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1988. Gilbert, who practices law in Reno and is a former champion boxer, announced in June that he would run, making election integrity a central issue of his campaign. He was at the U.S. Capitol for the Jan. 6 insurrection. The Republican candidates participated in various debates and forums starting with the RedMove Nevada debate on Jan. 6, 2022 (eight candidates: Fiori, Gilbert, Heck, Heller, Lee, Nohra, Simon, Zilberberg participated). Lombardo drew criticism from his rivals for skipping several of the events. Five candidates (Gilbert, Heller, Lee, Lombardo and Nohra) participated in a debate on KLAS Channel 8 debate on May 25 (>). Sisolak's pandemic response was an issue. In Nevada, as in other states, there were lawsuits and the opposition extended to several recall efforts in 2020, although none of them gathered sufficient signatures (>). When the votes were tallied, Lombardo garnered 38.4% of the vote followed by Gilbert (27.0%), Heller (14.1%). Lee (7.8%), venture capitalist Guy Nohra (3.7%) and surgeon and businessman Fred Simon (3.0%). Echoing Trump's claims of a stolen election in 2020, Gilbert challenged the primary result and paid over $190,000 for a recount which changed just a handful of votes. In the June 14 Democratic primary, Sisolak won close to 90% of the vote, defeating former Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins. Campaign Managers: Steve Sisolak: Sam Barrett Experience includes work at the DCCC in the 2020 cycle, and campaign manager on Brad Ashford's 2016 campaign for Congress in Nebraska. Joe Lombardo: Matthew Brasseux (Sept. 2021) Deputy director of strategic initiatives (Feb. 2020-Sept. 2021), director of targeted engagement (June 2019-Sept. 2021) and director of evangelical engagement (May 18-Sept. 2021) at the RNC. Sales/government relations for Dallas Door & Supply Company, Apr. 2015-Feb. 2018. Public policy consultant at Dean International, Jan. 2012-Mar. 2014. Studied business marketing at Midwestern State University. See also: Tabitha Mueller, Jacob Solis and Sean Golonka. "Battleground Nevada holds its purple hue, as Republican 'red wave' fails to gain traction in midterm elections." The Nevada Independent, Nov. 20, 2022. Casey Harrison. "Lombardo ousts Sisolak as Nevada governor; still waiting on tight Senate race." Las Vegas Sun, Nov. 11, 2022. Hugh Jackson. "One doesn't know what he wants, the other just wants to go home." Nevada Current, Nov. 3, 2022. [commentary] Sean Golonka and Riley Snyder. "Las Vegas hotel mogul Robert Bigelow spends nearly $50 million to support Lombardo, other Republicans." The Nevada Independent, Oct. 25, 2022. Ken Ritter. "No fondness between GOP, Dem candidates for Nevada governor." Associated Press, Oct. 18, 2022. Gabe Stern. "Hotel Mogul, UFO Believer Spending in Nevada Governor's Race. Associated Press, Sept. 14, 2022. Gabe Stern. "Recount in GOP primary for Nevada governor completed, one vote gained for Gilbert." Associated Press, June 30, 2022. The Nevada Independent: Election 2022 - Governor Jessica Hill. "Long shots in Republican governor's field appear to be staying in race." Las Vegas Sun, May 22, 2022. James DeHaven. "Sisolak facing historic slate of nearly two dozen campaign foes in first reelection bid." Reno Gazette Journal, Mar. 21, 2022. Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder. "Sisolak raises record $4.5 million in 2021, has more cash than all GOP foes combined." The Nevada Independent, Jan. 18, 2022. Nevada Secretary of State - Aurora Campaign Finance Disclosure: Steve Sisolak || Joseph Lombardo | RGA Nevada PAC | Better Nevada PAC | Stronger Nevada PAC |
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