Before the ugliness that erupted last week, we already knew the stakes were high and the tactics would be low in the most important race on the ballot in November.

But beyond the character issues that should be vetted about the two gubernatorial hopefuls -- deciding how Shady Steve is or how unable to answer questions Adam is -- are two starkly different Carson City scenarios to consider. Either one will have long-term ramifications for the state well beyond which party has the upper hand when congressional and local districts are redrawn in 2020.

Policies that will run the gamut, from education to immigration to social issues, will be determined by who succeeds Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has been predictably thoughtful (read some of his veto messages, for instance) but unpredictably controversial (Tesla tax incentives, the largest tax increase in history, for example).

We can’t be sure what kind of governor Attorney General Adam Laxalt or Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak might be. But we can be fairly certain that beyond choosing disparate people to populate the administration and the judiciary, they will interact very differently with what will certainly be a Democratic Legislature. The Democrats are as much of a lock to control both houses as I am to be at the first Raiders-Bills game in Las Vegas.

Because of the superficiality and demagoguery that characterize most campaigns, and will be heard in this one at a much higher volume, I don’t expect most voters to consider the 2019 (and 2021) capital matrix. But what happens in Carson City will not stay in Carson City and will affect every Nevadan’s life.

So consider the two possibilities:

---Scenario One: Gov. Adam Laxalt.

Laxalt is running to be a bulwark against Democratic overreach in Carson City -- a prospect that should be of concern to all who are not Sandersistas or with MoveOn.org. He has taken the campaign to an inane, albeit perhaps resonant theme in some susceptible quarters, by stoking fears that Nevada might become – please, close your eyes and cover your ears – CALIFORNIA. (Sidenote: I have always found it humorous that despite his constant railing about the over-regulated and high-taxed dystopia to the West, Laxalt lists as a source of income a financial outfit based in….Newport Beach.)

Laxalt has been perhaps the most ideological attorney general in Nevada annals, even to the point of letting his personal views override the will of the voters. That may provide a window into what he would be like as governor, although most of his right-wing initiatives would almost surely be blocked by a Democratic Legislature.

Laxalt, though, would be able to brandish his veto pen to blunt Democratic measures on a wide array of social and economic issues, which will be an appealing reason to vote for him for conservatives and others, too. If you don’t want gun control or expanded Medicaid or tax increases, you could argue Laxalt is your man (although his amorphous education plan almost surely would call for a large tax increase IF he were to follow through).

Of course, Laxalt could govern as a bridge-builder, one who is willing to compromise with the Democrats on an array of issues. And we also don’t know if Democratic leaders would be willing to work with him on incendiary measures such as school choice.

But what we can be pretty sure of is that Laxalt has been inculcated in conservative dogma, which he either believes or rotely disgorges, and would probably bring that ideology to the statehouse. If I had to guess, he might just break Sandoval’s record for vetoes.

---Scenario No. 2: Gov. Steve Sisolak

Many progressives believe Sisolak will make all of their legislative dreams come true, even if he has described himself as a moderate and has appeared to be one as a commissioner. But local government is hardly a place where someone’s core beliefs can be fully exposed, so we can’t be sure.

Some labor folks are skeptical of his commitment to their cause while some business interests surely whisper, “He won’t be THAT bad.” And while his colleague, Chris Giunchigliani, overstated the case in the primary, making him seem like Ted Cruz, many questions remain about what kind of governor Sisolak would be.

There will be tremendous pressure on him to give Democrats so much of what they have wanted since they last controlled all the levers of state government more than a quarter-century ago. Many of the bills Republican governors have vetoed would be resurrected as would Democratic wish lists on….everything.

There is very little evidence that Sisolak is a liberal besides his nod to the left in the primary and his daughters vouching for his commitment to Planned Parenthood. But Democratic governors tend to sign bills proposed by Democratic Legislatures, so if that’s what you want, Sisolak is your man.

Of course – and I am sure many Democrats fear this – Sisolak could be way too business-friendly for their tastes and might govern that way. We do know he has been a strong commission chairman, which could be good for Democrats who believe he will build consensus for their issues or good for Republicans who think he will not govern as a leftie.

Sisolak is undeniably more of a question mark than Laxalt, who has not tried to mask his ideology. But people change, they evolve, they mature. I think Sisolak will be much like Bob Miller or Richard Bryan, hard to pin down, but I would not guarantee it.

There are other factors to consider, of course, and those character questions should be taken seriously.

Voters should decide whether Sisolak, perhaps the state’s most prolific fundraiser ever, really has been affected by a pay-to-play mentality, or whether Laxalt, who the preponderance of evidence shows has been influenced by Sheldon Adelson and/or his minions, will be his captive as governor.

And there are ancillary considerations, too.

For instance, the Democrats could conceivably have veto-proof majorities – it’s very possible in the Assembly, a longer shot in the state Senate. That would make the governor’s role in the process almost irrelevant.

It’s also worth considering that the Republicans could well control the three most powerful positions in Nevada if Laxalt wins, his former deputy Wes Duncan becomes attorney general and his chief of staff Nick Trutanich is confirmed as U.S. attorney. Duncan and Trutanich are two well-liked and respected guys, but they are close to Laxalt, which is worth contemplating.

But no factor is as important in this election as what impact the governor will have in the four months (at least) out of 24 that the Legislature is in session. We don’t know exactly what each scenario’s outcome will look like. But we have a pretty good idea.