2018 Nevada gubernatorial election

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The 2018 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Nevada. Incumbent Republican governor Brian Sandoval was ineligible to run for re-election due to the absolute two-term limit established by the Nevada Constitution. Nevada is one of eight U.S. states (or nine U.S. states and territory) that prohibits its governors or any other state and territorial executive branch officials from serving more than two terms, even if they are nonconsecutive.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2018 Nevada gubernatorial election
← 2014
November 6, 2018
2022 →
 
Nominee Steve Sisolak Adam Laxalt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 480,007 440,320
Percentage 49.39% 45.31%
Sisolak:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Laxalt:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Lord:      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes
Governor before election

Brian Sandoval
Republican

 Elected Governor

Steve Sisolak
Democratic

Close

The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2018 and the primary election was held on June 12, 2018.[1] The Republican nominee was Adam Laxalt and the Democratic nominee was Steve Sisolak. Sisolak won the election, becoming the first Democrat to be elected governor of Nevada since Bob Miller won his second full term in 1994, and the first non-incumbent Democrat to win since 1982. This was one of eight Republican-held governorships up for election in a state won by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. As of 2026, this is the only time a Democrat was elected governor of Nevada in the 21st century.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Adam Laxalt

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

State officials

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Newspapers

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Adam
Laxalt		 Dan
Schwartz		 Jared
Fisher		 Undecided
The Mellman Group[43] April 12–19, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 55% 4% 2% 38%
WPA Intelligence (R)[44] August 6–8, 2017 302 ± 5.7% 64% 5% – 31%
Doug Schoen (D)[45] July 7–20, 2017 600 ± 4.0% 34% 30% – 35%
Close

Results

Results by county:
Map legend
  •   Laxalt—80–90%
  •   Laxalt—70–80%
  •   Laxalt—60–70%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Adam Laxalt 101,651 71.49%
Republican Dan Schwartz 12,919 9.09%
Republican Jared Fisher 6,696 4.71%
Republican Stephanie Carlisle 6,401 4.50%
None of These Candidates 6,136 4.32%
Republican William Boyd 6,028 4.24%
Republican Stan Lusak 1,011 0.71%
Republican Frederick Conquest 766 0.54%
Republican Edward Dundas 576 0.41%
Total votes 142,184 100.00%
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Steve Sisolak

Federal politicians

  • Eric Holder, 82nd United States Attorney General (2009–2015)[56][57]
  • Jeff Merkley, U.S. senator from Oregon[58]
  • Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States (2009–2017), U.S. senator from Illinois (2005–2008)[59][60]
  • Harry Reid, U.S. senator from Nevada (1987–2017) and Senate Majority Leader (2007–2015)[61]
  • Dina Titus, U.S. representative from Nevada (3rd district: 2009–2011 and 1st district: 2013–present)[62][63]

State legislators

City politicians

Chris Giunchigliani

Federal politicians

  • Hillary Clinton, U.S. senator from New York (2001–2009), 67th United States Secretary of State (2009–2013) and 2016 Democratic nominee for president[69]

State legislators

Local officials

  • David Bobzien, Reno City councilmember (at-large)[70]
  • Jenny Brekhus, Reno City Councilmember (Ward 1)[70]

Labor unions

Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Chris
Giunchigliani		 Steve
Sisolak		 None of
these		 Other Undecided
Benenson Strategy Group (D-Women Vote!)[80] May 21–23, 2018 608 ± 4.0% 35% 38% 11% 2% 13%
The Mellman Group[43] April 12–19, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 16% 44% – – 40%
Expedition Strategies (D-Giunchigliani)[81] March 17–19, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 31% 27% 18% – 23%
Close

Results

Democratic primary results by county:
Map legend
  •   Sisolak—50–60%
  •   Sisolak—40–50%
  •   Sisolak—30–40%
  •   Giunchigliani—30–40%
  •   Giunchigliani—40–50%
  •   Giunchigliani—50–60%
  •   None of These Candidates—<30%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Sisolak 72,749 50.03%
Democratic Chris Giunchigliani 56,511 38.86%
None of These Candidates 5,069 3.49%
Democratic John Bonaventura 4,351 2.99%
Democratic Henry Thorns 2,761 1.90%
Democratic David Jones 2,511 1.73%
Democratic Asheesh Dewan 1,468 1.01%
Total votes 145,420 100.00%
Close

Independents

Declared

Endorsements

Ryan Bundy

Individuals

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[85] Tossup October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[86] Tossup November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[87] Lean D (flip) November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[88] Tilt D (flip) November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[89] Lean D (flip) November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[90] Tossup November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[91] Tossup November 5, 2018
Fox News[92][a] Tossup November 5, 2018
Politico[93] Tossup November 5, 2018
Governing[94] Tossup November 5, 2018
Close
Notes
  1. [a]
    The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races

Endorsements

Adam Laxalt (R)

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

State officials

Local officials

Individuals

Organizations

Newspapers

Steve Sisolak (D)

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

State legislators

City politicians

Declined to endorse

Polling

%support01020304050605/24/20179/17/201810/26/201811/4/2018Adam LaxaltSteve SisolakJared LordNone of theseOther/UndecidedOpinion polling for the 2018 Nevada gubernat...
View source data.
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Adam
Laxalt (R)		 Steve
Sisolak (D)		 Jared
Lord (L)		 Ryan
Bundy (I)		 None of
these		 Other Undecided
HarrisX[98] November 3–5, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 44% 45% – – – – –
HarrisX[99] November 2–4, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 45% 44% – – – – –
Emerson College[100] November 1–4, 2018 1,197 ± 3.0% 47% 48% – – – 4% 2%
HarrisX[101] November 1–3, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 45% 44% – – – – –
HarrisX[102] October 31 – November 2, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 47% 43% – – – – –
HarrisX[103] October 30 – November 1, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 46% 43% – – – – –
The Trafalgar Group (R)[104] October 29 – November 1, 2018 2,587 ± 1.9% 47% 45% – – – 4% 4%
HarrisX[105] October 29–31, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 45% 45% – – – – –
HarrisX[106] October 24–30, 2018 1,400 ± 2.6% 43% 45% – – – – –
CNN/SSRS[107] October 24–29, 2018 622 LV ± 4.8% 45% 46% 2% – 5% 0% 2%
807 RV ± 4.2% 40% 44% 3% – 9% 0% 3%
Gravis Marketing[108] October 24–26, 2018 773 ± 3.5% 44% 46% – – – – 10%
Ipsos[109] October 12–19, 2018 1,137 ± 3.0% 46% 41% – – – 4% 9%
Vox Populi Polling[110] October 13–15, 2018 614 ± 3.7% 48% 52% – – – – –
Emerson College[111] October 10–12, 2018 625 ± 4.2% 46% 41% – – – 3% 11%
NYT Upshot/Siena College[112] October 8–10, 2018 642 ± 4.0% 46% 45% – – – – 8%
Marist College[113] September 30 – October 3, 2018 574 LV ± 5.5% 44% 40% 8% – 2% <1% 6%
46% 45% – – 3% <1% 6%
780 RV ± 4.5% 41% 40% 8% – 2% <1% 8%
44% 45% – – 4% <1% 7%
Kaiser Family Foundation/SSRS[114] September 19 – October 2, 2018 513 ± 5.0% 46% 40% – – – 2% 12%
CNN/SSRS[115] September 25–29, 2018 693 LV ± 4.6% 41% 45% 5% – 7% 0% 1%
851 RV ± 4.1% 38% 41% 5% – 12% 1% 2%
Ipsos[116] September 7–17, 2018 1,039 ± 4.0% 43% 40% – – – 5% 12%
Gravis Marketing[117] September 11–12, 2018 700 ± 3.7% 38% 50% – – – – 8%
Suffolk University[118] September 5–10, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 35% 37% 5% 4% 2% 1%[a] 15%
Suffolk University[119] July 24–29, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 42% 41% 2% 1% 4% 2%[b] 7%
McLaughlin & Associates (R-Laxalt)[120] July 21–24, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 45% 40% 3% – – 4%[c] 8%
Gravis Marketing[121] June 23–26, 2018 630 ± 3.9% 43% 41% – – – – 17%
The Mellman Group[43] April 12–19, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 37% 43% – – – – 20%
TargetSmart (D-Giunchigliani)[122] January 3–7, 2018 1,103 ± 4.4% 37% 34% – – – – 29%
Remington (R-Laxalt)[123] May 23–24, 2017 1,021 ± 3.1% 46% 37% – – – – 17%
Close
Hypothetical polling

with Chris Giunchigliani

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Adam
Laxalt (R)		 Chris
Giunchigliani (D)		 Undecided
The Mellman Group[43] April 12–19, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 40% 38% 22%
TargetSmart (D-Giunchigliani)[124] January 3–7, 2018 1,103 ± 4.4% 39% 34% 27%
Close

Results

While Sisolak only won two of the state's counties, those two counties account for more than 80% of the total state population. His overwhelming victory in Clark County, home of Las Vegas, and his narrow victory in Washoe County were enough to pull him over the finish line. Sisolak became the first Democrat to be elected Governor of Nevada since Bob Miller's successful re-election bid in 1994.

More information Party, Candidate ...
2018 Nevada gubernatorial election[125]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Sisolak 480,007 49.39% +25.51%
Republican Adam Laxalt 440,320 45.31% −25.27%
None of These Candidates 18,865 1.94% −0.94%
Independent Ryan Bundy 13,891 1.43% +1.43%
Independent American Russell Best 10,076 1.04% −1.62%
Libertarian Jared Lord 8,640 0.89% +0.89%
Majority 39,687 4.08%
Total votes 971,799 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +50.78%
Close

By county

While Laxalt won 15 of Nevada's county-level jurisdictions (14 counties and the independent city of Carson City), Sisolak carried the two largest, Clark (home to Las Vegas) and Washoe (home to Reno). Sisolak ultimately prevailed by winning his home county, Clark, by over 86,000 votes, double his statewide margin of 39,700 votes.

More information County, Steve Sisolak Democratic ...
County Steve Sisolak
Democratic		 Adam Laxalt
Republican		 None of
These Candidates		 Ryan Bundy
Independent		 Russell Best
Independent American		 Jared Lord
Libertarian		 Margin Total votes cast[126]
# % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Carson City 9,249 40.78% 12,080 53.26% 469 2.07% 367 1.62% 324 1.43% 1.92 0.85% -2,831 -12.48% 22,681
Churchill 1,869 19.45% 7,033 73.21% 194 2.02% 278 2.89% 129 1.34% 104 1.08% -5,164 -53.75% 9,607
Clark 352,814 54.12% 266,216 40.84% 12,712 1.95% 8,092 1.24% 6,462 0.99% 5,605 0.86% 86,598 13.28% 651,901
Douglas 7,962 30.57% 16,897 64.88% 408 1.57% 345 1.32% 211 0.81% 222 0.85% -8,935 -34.31% 26,045
Elko 2,604 17.17% 11,444 75.44% 213 1.40% 610 4.02% 140 0.92% 159 1.05% -8,840 -58.27% 15,170
Esmeralda 51 13.75% 273 73.58% 8 2.16% 29 7.82% 7 1.89% 3 0.81% -222 -59.84% 371
Eureka 61 8.06% 609 80.45% 20 2.64% 47 6.21% 16 2.11% 4 0.53% -548 -72.39% 757
Humboldt 1,067 19.25% 4,061 73.26% 118 2.13% 183 3.30% 74 1.34% 40 0.72% -2,994 -54.01% 5,543
Lander 316 15.11% 1,571 75.13% 57 2.73% 100 4.78% 26 1.24% 21 1.00% -1,255 -60.02% 2,091
Lincoln 266 13.63% 1,440 73.77% 37 1.90% 179 9.17% 16 0.82% 14 0.72% -1,174 -60.14% 1,952
Lyon 5,267 25.19% 14,211 67.95% 401 1.92% 551 2.63% 276 1.32% 207 0.99% -8,944 -42.77% 20,913
Mineral 540 29.85% 1,067 58.98% 78 4.31% 64 3.54% 34 1.88% 26 1.44% -527 -29.13% 1,809
Nye 4,607 26.33% 11,103 63.47% 329 1.88% 991 5.66% 299 1.71% 165 0.94% -6,496 -37.13% 17,494
Pershing 360 20.41% 1,255 71.15% 38 2.15% 80 4.54% 19 1.08% 12 0.68% -895 -50.74% 1,764
Storey 721 30.56% 1,476 62.57% 40 1.70% 61 2.59% 34 1.44% 27 1.14% -755 -32.01% 2,359
Washoe 91,684 48.74% 87,226 46.37% 3,669 1.95% 1,742 0.93% 1,961 1.04% 1,816 0.97% 4,458 2.37% 188,098
White Pine 569 17.54% 2,358 72.69% 74 2.28% 172 5.30% 48 1.48% 23 0.71% -1,789 -55.15% 3,244
Totals480,00749.39%440,32045.31%18,8651.94%13,8911.43%10,0761.04%8,6400.89%39,6874.08%971,799
Close

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Sisolak won three of four congressional districts.[127]

More information District, Sisolak ...
District Sisolak Laxalt Representative
1st 62% 32% Dina Titus
2nd 41% 53% Mark Amodei
3rd 50% 46% Susie Lee
4th 50% 44% Steven Horsford
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Russell Best (IA) with 1%
  2. [b]
    Russell Best (AI) with 2%
  3. [c]
    Russell Best (AI) with 4%

References

External links

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