2022 Nevada gubernatorial election

The 2022 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Nevada. Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak lost re-election to a second term, being defeated by Republican Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo.

Sisolak was the first Democrat to seek re-election to Nevada's governorship since Bob Miller in 1994, and was subsequently the only incumbent governor in the United States to lose re-election in 2022. Decision Desk HQ called the race for Lombardo on November 11.

Significantly, Lombardo's win marked the first time in the state's history that anyone had won the governorship without winning either Clark or Washoe counties, home to a combined 89% of the state's population. This was largely due to Lombardo's stronger performance in Clark, his home county; Sisolak's previous opponent, Adam Laxalt, received only 40.8% of the vote there, while Lombardo received 45.4%.

Political analysts have attributed Sisolak's defeat to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic; lockdowns during the pandemic proved unpopular in Nevada, which has a tourism-driven economy and a reputation for libertarian political leanings.

Amid a slate of failed gubernatorial pickup attempts, this was the only governorship Republicans flipped in the 2022 elections, as well as the only state governorship to flip to the party that did not carry that state in the 2020 presidential election. This was also the first time since Pat Quinn's defeat in the 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election that an incumbent Democratic governor lost re-election in any state.

Nominee

 * Steve Sisolak, incumbent governor (2019–present) and former Clark County Commissioner (2009–2019)

Eliminated in primary

 * Tom Collins, former Clark County Commissioner (2005–2015) and former state assemblyman for the 1st District (1993–2001)

Declined

 * Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Clark County Commissioner (2015–present)

Results
[[File:Nevada gubernatorial Democratic primary election results map by county, 2022.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#7996e2|Sisolak}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}

{{legend|#584cde|70–80%}}

{{legend|#3933e5|80–90%}}

{{legend|#0d056c|90–100%}}]]

Nominee

 * Joe Lombardo, Sheriff of Clark County (2015–present)



Eliminated in primary

 * Seven Achilles Evans, businessman
 * Gary "Radar" Evertsen
 * Joey Gilbert, attorney and former boxer
 * Eddie Hamilton, businessman and perennial candidate
 * Tom Heck, retired air force officer and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016 and 2018
 * Dean Heller, former U.S. senator (2011–2019) and U.S. representative for NV's 2nd congressional district (2007–2011)
 * John Lee, Mayor of North Las Vegas (2013–2022)
 * Stan Lusak, candidate for governor in 2018
 * Guy Nohra, venture capitalist
 * Edward O'Brien
 * Fred J. Simon, small business owner and surgeon
 * William "Dock" Walls, businessman and perennial candidate
 * Amber Whitley
 * Barak Zilberberg, real estate investor

Withdrew

 * Michele Fiore, Las Vegas City Councilwoman (2017–2022) and former state assemblywoman for the 4th District (2012–2016) (ran for State Treasurer)

Declined

 * Mark Amodei, U.S. representative for NV's 2nd congressional district (2011–present) (ran for re-election)
 * Heidi Gansert, state senator from the 15th district (2016–present)
 * Rick Harrison, businessman and reality television personality
 * Mark Hutchison, former lieutenant governor of Nevada (2015–2019) (endorsed Lombardo)
 * Ben Kieckhefer, state senator from the 16th district (2010–2021), member of the Nevada Gaming Commission (2021–2023)
 * Adam Laxalt, former Nevada Attorney General (2015–2019) and nominee for governor in 2018 (ran for the U.S. Senate)
 * Derek Stevens, casino owner

Polling

 * Graphical summary

Results
[[File:Nevada gubernatorial Republican primary election results map by county, 2022.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#e27f7f|Lombardo}}

{{legend|#ffd9e0|20–30%}}

{{legend|#ffc8cd|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend|#ff9955|Gilbert}}

{{legend|#ffdac1|20–30%}}

{{legend|#ffcca9|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb380|40–50%}} ]]

Declared

 * Brandon Davis, advertising agency owner

Declared

 * Ed Bridges, nominee for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2020

Declared

 * Bradley Beck, geologist
 * Austin Billings, logistics professional
 * Monique Richardson, pastor

Polling

 * Aggregate polls


 * Steve Sisolak vs. Joey Gilbert
 * Steve Sisolak vs. Dean Heller
 * Steve Sisolak vs. John Lee
 * Steve Sisolak vs. Guy Nohra

By congressional district
Despite losing re-election, Sisolak won three of the state's four congressional districts.