Nevada Primary Dynamics
Nevada Primary Election Records 21.5% Turnout, Featuring Political Attacks and Economic Claims
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Nevada's June 9 primary ended with a 21.5% voter turnout — about 5 percentage points higher than the June 2024 primary — but still left nearly four out of five registered voters on the sidelines, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal. At least 443,374 Nevadans cast ballots, with 60% of them mailing in or dropping off their votes without ever entering a polling booth.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford each secured their parties' gubernatorial nominations by wide margins, setting up a closely watched rematch in November, The Center Square reported.
Lombardo and Ford Win Big, Trade Sharp Attacks
Lombardo won the GOP gubernatorial primary with about 91% of the vote. Ford secured the Democratic nomination with roughly 66%. Both victories were lopsided, but the general election is expected to be much closer, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Lombardo's campaign wasted no time going on offense. It accused Ford of spending 420 days out of state while collecting a taxpayer-funded salary. Ford fired back, calling the attack "a distraction" and "an overt effort to avoid consequences," The Nevada Independent reported. Ford said he is focused on building a "multiracial working-class coalition" heading into the fall.
Trump Endorsement Decides a Key Congressional Race
In the 2nd Congressional District, retired Lt. Col. David Flippo — backed by Donald Trump — upset establishment favorite James Settelmeyer to win the Republican primary. Analysts at The Nevada Independent said Trump's endorsement record in Nevada remains perfect, calling it proof that the "Trump endorsement is still golden" in the state.
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno saw opportunity in the result. She told Las Vegas Review-Journal that "we're living in a different time than two years ago" and called the CD-2 seat "one we can actually win this election."
80% of Voters Sat This One Out — and That Has Consequences
Despite key races on the ballot, only 21.5% of registered voters participated. Nonpartisan voters — who make up 46% of Clark County's electorate — had just a 6.4% participation rate. By contrast, nearly 30% of Democrats and 27% of Republicans cast ballots, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar expressed concern. "I wish the turnout was higher," he said, warning that "so few people have a voice" in these districts, The Nevada Independent reported. UNLV political science professor Ken Miller noted that primaries are actually "the most important election" for deciding who holds office in partisan-leaning seats.
A Supreme Court Ruling Could Shake November's Results
About 60% of Nevada's primary ballots — roughly 266,000 votes — came in by mail or drop box. Nevada law allows mail ballots to be counted up to four days after Election Day. But a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling, stemming from a similar case in Mississippi, could strike that window down, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
If the court rules against post-Election Day counting, thousands of ballots in November's general election could be thrown out. Election officials are watching the decision closely as they prepare for what promises to be a high-stakes fall race between Lombardo and Ford.
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