2014 Nevada gubernatorial election
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The 2014 Nevada gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Nevada. Incumbent Republican governor Brian Sandoval won re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic nominee Bob Goodman in a landslide.[1] Sandoval won a higher percentage of the vote than any other incumbent governor in 2014. This was one of nine Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Barack Obama won in the 2012 presidential election.
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November 4, 2014
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  Sandoval: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Sandoval's coattails allowed Republicans to win both chambers of the legislature for the first time since 1931, thereby giving Republicans a trifecta in the state for the first time since then.
As of 2026, this is the most recent time that the Republican candidate carried Clark County in a statewide race, the last time that the winner of the gubernatorial election carried all counties in Nevada, the last time the winner received a majority of votes, and the last time the winner received more than 70% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
Declined
- Jim Gibbons, former governor[5][6]
- Joe Heck, U.S. Representative (ran for re-election and won)[7]
- Mike Montandon, former mayor of North Las Vegas and candidate for governor in 2010[8]
Results
Sandoval
- >90%
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brian Sandoval (incumbent) | 105,857 | 89.88% | |
| Republican | Edward Hamilton | 3,758 | 3.19% | |
| None of These Candidates | 3,509 | 2.98% | ||
| Republican | William Tarbell | 1,966 | 1.67% | |
| Republican | Thomas Tighe | 1,495 | 1.27% | |
| Republican | Gary Marinch | 1,195 | 1.01% | |
| Total votes | 117,780 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
For the first time in a gubernatorial election since it was added in 1975, the None of These Candidates option received a plurality of the votes. This has been ascribed to the eight Democratic candidates' lack of name recognition, money and political experience. High-profile Democrats were put off by Sandoval's popularity and large war chest, leading to no "serious challenger" emerging.[10][11] According to state law, even if the "None of These Candidates" option receives the most votes in an election, the actual candidate who receives the most votes still wins the election. Thus, Bob Goodman was certified as the Democratic nominee.
Candidates
Declared
- Charles Chang[3]
- Frederick Conquest, anthropology professor and candidate for governor in 2010[2]
- Stephen Frye, psychiatrist and candidate for NV-03 in 2012[4]
- Bob Goodman, former Economic Development Commissioner, former Wyoming economic development director and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006 and 2010[3]
- Chris Hyepock, casino manager[12]
- Allen Rheinhart, painter, sculptor and writer[3]
- John Rutledge, philanthropist and attorney[4][13]
- Abdul Shabazz, denture repair business owner and candidate for Mayor of Las Vegas in 2011[4]
Withdrew
- Fernando Lopes[3]
Declined
- Richard Bryan, former U.S. Senator and former governor[14]
- Barbara Buckley, former Speaker of the Nevada Assembly[15][16]
- Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General[17]
- Steven Horsford, U.S. Representative (ran for re-election and lost)[18]
- Jan Laverty Jones, former mayor of Las Vegas, candidate for governor in 1994 and nominee for governor 1998[19]
- Ruben Kihuen, state senator (ran for re-election and won)[20]
- Susie Lee, education activist[20]
- Kate Marshall, Nevada State Treasurer (ran for Secretary of State and lost)[20]
- Ross Miller, Secretary of State of Nevada (ran for Nevada Attorney General and lost)[21]
- Joe Neal, former state senator and nominee for governor in 2002[22]
- Rory Reid, former Clark County Commissioner and nominee for governor in 2010[23]
- Tick Segerblom, state senator[24]
- Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner[25][26]
- Debbie Smith, state senator (ran for re-election and won)[20]
- Dina Titus, U.S. Representative and nominee for governor in 2006 (ran for re-election and won)[27]
Results
None of These Candidates
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- <30%
Goodman
- <30%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None of These Candidates | 21,725 | 29.96% | ||
| Democratic | Bob Goodman | 17,961 | 24.77% | |
| Democratic | Stephen Frye | 8,231 | 11.35% | |
| Democratic | John Rutledge | 6,039 | 8.33% | |
| Democratic | Charles Chang | 5,619 | 7.75% | |
| Democratic | Chris Hyepock | 4,743 | 6.54% | |
| Democratic | Allen Rheinhart | 3,605 | 4.97% | |
| Democratic | Abdul Shabazz | 2,731 | 3.77% | |
| Democratic | Frederick Conquest | 1,867 | 2.57% | |
| Total votes | 72,521 | 100.00% | ||
Independent American Party of Nevada primary
Candidates
Declared
- David Lory VanDerBeek, family therapist and nominee for the Nevada Assembly in 2010 and the U.S. Senate in 2012[2]
Green primary
Candidates
Withdrew
- David Gibson
Independents
Candidates
Withdrew
- Frederick Conquest, anthropology professor and Democratic candidate for governor in 2010[2]
General election
Candidates
- Brian Sandoval (Republican), incumbent governor of Nevada
- Bob Goodman (Democratic), former economic development commissioner, former Wyoming director of economic development and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006 and 2010
- David Lory VanDerBeek (Independent American Party of Nevada), family therapist and nominee for the Nevada Assembly in 2010 and the U.S. Senate in 2012
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[28] | Solid R | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[29] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[30] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics[31] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brian Sandoval (R) |
Bob Goodman (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[32] | October 16–23, 2014 | 1,314 | ± 4% | 53% | 28% | 6% | 13% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[33] | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 1,502 | ± 3% | 56% | 25% | 9%[34] | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[33] | August 18–September 2, 2014 | 2,018 | ± 3% | 51% | 29% | 8% | 12% |
| Harper Polling[35] | July 26–29, 2014 | 602 | ± 3.99% | 56% | 34% | — | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[36] | July 5–24, 2014 | 2,189 | ± ? | 57% | 33% | 2% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports[37] | June 16–18, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 55% | 28% | 6% | 11% |
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brian Sandoval (R) |
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[38] | June 7–10, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 51% | 33% | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brian Sandoval (R) |
Chris Hyepock (D) |
David Lory VanDerBeek (IAP) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Research[39] | March 3–5, 2014 | 216 | ± 6.67% | 58% | 16% | 12% | 14% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brian Sandoval (R) |
Ross Miller (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[38] | June 7–10, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 50% | 28% | 22% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Brian Sandoval (R) |
Generic Democrat |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[40] | November 3–4, 2012 | 750 | ± 3.6% | 55% | 32% | 12% |
| Public Policy Polling[41] | October 8–10, 2012 | 594 | ± 4.0% | 53% | 34% | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling[42] | August 23–26, 2012 | 831 | ± 3.4% | 53% | 35% | 12% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brian Sandoval (incumbent) | 386,340 | 70.58% | +17.22% | |
| Democratic | Bob Goodman | 130,722 | 23.88% | −17.73% | |
| None of These Candidates | 15,751 | 2.88% | +1.17% | ||
| Independent American | David Lory VanDerBeek | 14,536 | 2.66% | +1.95% | |
| Majority | 255,618 | 46.70% | |||
| Total votes | 547,349 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +34.95% | |||
By county
| County | Brian Sandoval Republican |
Bob Goodman Democratic |
None of These Candidates |
David Lory VanDerBeek Independent American |
Margin | Total votes cast[44] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Carson City | 12,108 | 77.38% | 2,410 | 15.40% | 608 | 3.89% | 521 | 3.33% | 9,698 | 61.98% | 15,647 |
| Churchill | 6,356 | 85.26% | 666 | 8.93% | 156 | 2.09% | 277 | 3.72% | 5,690 | 76.32% | 7,455 |
| Clark | 223,433 | 66.17% | 97,097 | 28.75% | 9,675 | 2.87% | 7,482 | 2.22% | 126,336 | 37.41% | 337,687 |
| Douglas | 14,910 | 82.71% | 2,174 | 12.06% | 413 | 2.29% | 529 | 2.93% | 12,736 | 70.65% | 18,026 |
| Elko | 8,038 | 78.80% | 1,119 | 10.97% | 297 | 2.91% | 746 | 7.31% | 6,919 | 67.83% | 10,200 |
| Esmeralda | 273 | 76.90% | 42 | 11.83% | 15 | 4.23% | 25 | 7.04% | 231 | 65.07% | 355 |
| Eureka | 533 | 76.14% | 53 | 7.57% | 45 | 6.43% | 69 | 9.86% | 480 | 68.57% | 700 |
| Humboldt | 3,633 | 83.54% | 459 | 10.55% | 108 | 2.48% | 149 | 3.43% | 3,174 | 72.98% | 4,349 |
| Lander | 1,475 | 83.66% | 163 | 9.25% | 42 | 2.38% | 83 | 4.71% | 1,312 | 74.42% | 1,763 |
| Lincoln | 1,323 | 82.22% | 146 | 9.07% | 56 | 3.48% | 84 | 5.22% | 1,177 | 73.15% | 1,609 |
| Lyon | 11,659 | 82.22% | 1,643 | 11.59% | 340 | 2.40% | 539 | 3.80% | 10,016 | 70.63% | 14,181 |
| Mineral | 1,102 | 78.38% | 210 | 14.94% | 48 | 3.41% | 46 | 3.27% | 892 | 63.44% | 1,406 |
| Nye | 9,095 | 74.75% | 2,005 | 16.48% | 316 | 2.60% | 751 | 6.17% | 7,090 | 58.27% | 12,167 |
| Pershing | 1,228 | 78.92% | 174 | 11.18% | 53 | 3.41% | 101 | 6.49% | 1,054 | 67.74% | 1,556 |
| Storey | 1,462 | 77.11% | 265 | 13.98% | 71 | 3.74% | 98 | 5.17% | 1,197 | 63.13% | 1,896 |
| Washoe | 87,739 | 75.92% | 21,598 | 18.69% | 3,373 | 2.92% | 2,855 | 2.47% | 66,141 | 57.23% | 115,565 |
| White Pine | 1,973 | 70.79% | 498 | 17.87% | 135 | 4.84% | 181 | 6.49% | 1,475 | 52.92% | 2,787 |
| Totals | 386,340 | 70.58% | 130,722 | 23.88% | 15,751 | 2.88% | 14,536 | 2.66% | 255,618 | 46.70% | 547,349 |
By congressional district
Sandoval won all four congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.[45]
| District | Sandoval | Goodman | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 59% | 35% | Dina Titus |
| 2nd | 78% | 16% | Mark Amodei |
| 3rd | 71% | 24% | Joe Heck |
| 4th | 66% | 28% | Steven Horsford |
| Cresent Hardy |