Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is seeking a second term in office in the 2026 midterm elections , campaigning on his record of economic diversification, public safety and business-friendly policies.
Lombardo then spent 26 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He rose through the ranks to become assistant sheriff before being elected Clark County sheriff in 2014. He served in that role until winning Nevada’s gubernatorial election in 2022. He was sworn in as the state’s 31st governor in January 2023. The 63-year-old Republican is now seeking another term as governor in the 2026 elections.
Lombardo has made economic diversification the centrepiece of his administration. The ex-sheriff’s campaign is focused on reducing Nevada’s dependence on tourism and gaming by expanding industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, technology and clean energy.
Lombardo has supported expanding the industry in Nevada but has also called for safeguards to ensure projects account for electricity demand, water consumption, infrastructure costs, and impacts on public services. His administration has also issued an executive order placing additional guardrails on future data-centre development. On May 15, Lombardo was stopped by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The governor was stopped for allegedly running a red light close to Mandalay Bay, according to a sergeant captured on camera.
On trade and tariffs, Lombardo has generally approached the issue from an economic perspective, focusing on how federal policies affect Nevada businesses and consumers. He has also discussed the economic effects of international conflicts, including the impact of tensions involving Iran on fuel prices and inflation, rather than making foreign policy a central campaign issue.
