Gov. Joe Lombardo officially launched his re-election bid Monday, kicking off what is likely to be one of the most competitive and closely watched gubernatorial races in the country in 2026.

Lombardo’s long-anticipated launch took place at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, where he graduated in 1980. In remarks lasting more than 20 minutes, Lombardo touted a litany of policies enacted during his tenure, such as raises for teachers and law enforcement, more accountability of schools and efforts to increase attainable housing statewide.

“We’ve accomplished a lot in the past few years,” Lombardo said at the Monday event. “My main vision has been keeping Nevada safe, strong and full of opportunity.”

Notably, Lombardo largely steered clear of thornier issues, such as immigration and President Donald Trump, whom he mentioned once while discussing freeing up federal land for housing development. He also largely avoided social issues, but he said that electing Democrats would mean “boys in girls sports.”

Since he was elected in 2022, Lombardo has promised to be a bulwark against the state’s  Democratic-controlled Legislature, which must back any legislation he enacts. As governor, he has vetoed a record number of bills — a reality that he lamented on Monday — and pushed conservative policies such as expanding school choice and undoing what he calls Democrats’ “soft-on-crime" legislation. 

He also took credit for  getting raises for charter school teachers, starting the process to establish voter ID requirements (which will be on the 2026 ballot after voters overwhelmingly passed it last year) and creating a new campus to house people experiencing homelessness.

Lombardo criticized the Legislature for failing to pass his marquee crime bill, which died in the final minutes of this year’s legislative session.

Despite his positive approval rating among Nevadans, Lombardo has his vulnerabilities.

Recent Democratic polling found weak numbers on the state of Nevada’s economy, as well as Lombardo’s support of Trump. The Cook Political Report has dubbed the gubernatorial race a “toss up” — one of five contests with that designation.

The former Clark County sheriff unseated Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022 while pitching himself as a moderate Republican, but he will face questions during the next year over his support of Trump, who became the first Republican to win Nevada in 20 years but whose immigration and economic policies have come under scrutiny in the Silver State.

Attorney General Aaron Ford and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill are running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Lombardo did not take questions after his speech on Monday.

Economy

The economy was central to Lombardo’s re-election pitch Monday.

He praised Nevada for having the sixth-fastest employment growth since 2022 and his efforts to limit red tape for small businesses and cut regulations. However, he also acknowledged Nevada’s still-high unemployment rate, which is the second-highest among all states — what he called “unacceptable.”

“That is why we will continue to invest in workforce training and cutting edge solutions to help match our workforce with continued private investment, he said. “That's what you asked us to do, and that's what we have done.”  

As governor, Lombardo has made efforts to diversify the state’s economy, such as by approving tax abatements for Tesla’s multibillion-dollar expansion in Northern Nevada and pushing lithium production, although the state remains heavily reliant on tourism.

“When I asked him why he wanted to run for governor, he said I want to get Nevada back open for business, and now as governor he’s getting us through,” Latin Chamber of Commerce President Peter Guzman said at Monday’s event.

Shortly after the crowd broke out in chants of four more years.

The economy will also be central to Democrats’ messaging. They have criticized Lombardo’s response to the megabill, which includes cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, accusing him of being silent on policies that harm Nevadans. They have also blamed Lombardo and Trump for Vegas’ struggling economy, which has seen a notable drop in visitation this year in what some experts attribute to a decrease in international travel because of Trump's trade policies. 

Lombardo has pushed back against some of the president’s most drastic economic proposals, asking the White House in February not to slash Medicaid funding, and is one of seven Republican governors who did not sign a letter in support of the megaspending bill. 

Soon after the bill passed, Lombardo said he was still assessing the effects of the bill, but touted its inclusion of No Taxes on Tips, a policy that Trump first pitched in Las Vegas and could have an outsized effect in hospitality-focused Nevada. The Indy reported the policy covers 440,000 Nevadans, but that few will end up benefitting.

Immigration

During his speech, Lombardo made no mention of immigration — an area that has drawn increased scrutiny from the Trump administration and has been central to messaging from his affiliated Better Nevada PAC. 

But Lombardo has increasingly aligned with Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. 

In August, Lombardo authorized Nevada’s National Guard to “temporarily” support immigration enforcement activities in a “logistical” capacity. He is also in the process of finalizing an agreement with the Department of Justice in response to Nevada being labeled a “sanctuary state.”

Although largely a federal issue, immigration policy has increasingly become a point of contention in the lead-up to the 2026 race. Lombardo has suggested that Ford, the Democrats’ top contender for the nomination, is partly responsible for the state’s sanctuary state designation due to his office’s release of legislatively mandated model immigration policies — a claim that Ford has rebutted.

Updated on 9/15/25 at 8:20 p.m. to correct that Lombardo mentioned Trump once when discussing freeing up federal for housing development.