2022 Nevada gubernatorial election
The 2022 Nevada gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Nevada. Incumbent [Nevada Nevada Democratic Party|Democratic Party|Democratic] governor Steve Sisolak ran for re-election to a second term, but lost in the general election to [Nevada Nevada Republican Party|Republican Party|Republican] Joe Lombardo, the [Sheriff of Clark County, Nevada|Clark County|Clark County Sheriff]. This was the first time since 1966 that an incumbent Democratic governor lost reelection in Nevada.
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, lost the county by 13.3% there, while Lombardo only lost by 5.7%, a significant gain.
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.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Steve Sisolak, incumbent governor and former Clark County Commissioner
Eliminated in primary
- Tom Collins, former Clark County Commissioner and former state assemblyman for the 1st District
Declined
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
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 and U.S. representative for
- John Lee, mayor of North Las Vegas
- 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 and former state assemblywoman for the 4th District ''''
Declined
- Mark Amodei, U.S. representative for '
- Heidi Gansert, state senator from the 15th district
- Rick Harrison, businessman and reality television personality
- Mark Hutchison, former lieutenant governor of Nevada '
- Ben Kieckhefer, state senator from the 16th district, member of the Nevada Gaming Commission
- Adam Laxalt, former Nevada Attorney General and nominee for governor in 2018
- Derek Stevens, casino owner
Polling
Graphical summary| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Joey Gilbert | Dean Heller | John Lee | Joe Lombardo | Guy Nohra | Fred Simon | Other | Margin |
| Real Clear Politics | April 25 – June 7, 2022 | June 10, 2022 | 18.3% | 14.7% | 11.5% | 33.0% | 7.5% | 3.5% | 11.5% | Lombardo +14.7 |
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Declared
- Brandon Davis, advertising agency owner
Independent American primary
Candidates
Declared
- Ed Bridges, nominee for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2020
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Bradley Beck, geologist
- Austin Billings, logistics professional
- Monique Richardson, pastor
General election
Polling
Aggregate polls| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Sisolak | Joe Lombardo | None of These Candidates | Other | Undecided |
| The Trafalgar Group | November 5–7, 2022 | 1,089 | ± 2.9% | 46% | 49% | – | 3% | 2% |
| Research Co. | November 4–6, 2022 | 450 | ± 4.6% | 45% | 47% | – | 3% | 5% |
| Data for Progress | November 2–6, 2022 | 1,100 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 48% | 2% | 5% | – |
| InsiderAdvantage | November 4, 2022 | 550 | ± 4.2% | 44% | 49% | – | 4% | 4% |
| KAConsulting | November 2–3, 2022 | 501 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 45% | – | 2% | 10% |
| Cygnal | November 1–2, 2022 | 600 | – | 42% | 47% | – | – | 5% |
| Emerson College | October 26–29, 2022 | 2,000 | ± 2.1% | 45% | 49% | – | – | 3% |
| Emerson College | October 26–29, 2022 | 2,000 | ± 2.1% | 46% | 50% | – | – | – |
| Suffolk University | October 24–28, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 43% | 4% | 5% | 6% |
| OH Predictive Insights | October 24–27, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 41% | 1% | 4% | 9% |
| Susquehanna Polling and Research | October 24–27, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.3% | 44% | 45% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
| Echelon Insights | October 24–26, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.9% | 44% | 45% | – | 4% | 7% |
| Echelon Insights | October 24–26, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.9% | 45% | 48% | – | – | 6% |
| The Trafalgar Group | October 21–24, 2022 | 1,100 | ± 2.9% | 44% | 51% | – | 3% | 2% |
| Siena Research/NYT | October 19–24, 2022 | 885 | ± 4.2% | 45% | 49% | – | <1% | 5% |
| Phillips Academy | October 22–23, 2022 | 1,052 | ± 3.0% | 50% | 45% | – | – | 5% |
| InsiderAdvantage | October 20, 2022 | 550 | ± 4.2% | 43% | 49% | – | 4% | 5% |
| CBS News/YouGov | October 14–19, 2022 | 1,057 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 48% | – | 4% | – |
| Data for Progress | October 13–19, 2022 | 819 | ± 3.0% | 47% | 48% | – | 3% | 2% |
| BSP Research/Shaw & Co. | October 12–19, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.1% | 43% | 41% | – | 6% | 10% |
| University of Nevada, Reno | October 5–19, 2022 | 585 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 45% | – | 4% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 13–17, 2022 | 707 | ± 4.0% | 42% | 47% | – | 7% | 4% |
| Suffolk University | October 4–7, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 44% | 2% | 4% | 7% |
| CNN/SSRS | September 26 – October 2, 2022 | 926 | ± 4.7% | 46% | 46% | 5% | 2% | – |
| CNN/SSRS | September 26 – October 2, 2022 | 828 | ± 5.0% | 46% | 48% | 4% | 2% | – |
| OH Predictive Insights | September 20–29, 2022 | 741 | ± 3.6% | 42% | 45% | 5% | 3% | 5% |
| Big Data Poll | September 18–20, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 42% | – | 5% | 13% |
| The Trafalgar Group | September 17–20, 2022 | 1,086 | ± 2.9% | 45% | 48% | – | 5% | 3% |
| Data for Progress | September 14–19, 2022 | 874 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 45% | – | 7% | 3% |
| Emerson College | September 8–10, 2022 | 750 | ± 3.4% | 40% | 40% | – | 4% | 12% |
| Fabrizio Ward /Impact Research | August 16–24, 2022 | 1,332 | ± 4.4% | 41% | 38% | 3% | 7% | 10% |
| Fabrizio Ward /Impact Research | August 16–24, 2022 | 1,332 | ± 4.4% | 46% | 48% | – | – | 6% |
| The Trafalgar Group | August 15–18, 2022 | 1,082 | ± 2.9% | 44% | 46% | – | 4% | 6% |
| Suffolk University | August 14–17, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 40% | 2% | 5% | 10% |
| Beacon Research | July 5–20, 2022 | 479 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 39% | – | 1% | 6% |
| Beacon Research | July 5–20, 2022 | 301 | ± 5.6% | 48% | 46% | – | 2% | 3% |
| Emerson College | July 7–10, 2022 | 2,000 | ± 2.1% | 44% | 40% | – | 9% | 7% |
| The Tarrance Group | July 5–10, 2022 | 600 | ± 4.1% | 46% | 44% | 5% | – | 5% |
| Change Research | June 24–27, 2022 | 701 | ± 3.7% | 46% | 43% | – | – | 11% |
| WPA Intelligence | June 4–6, 2022 | 502 | ± 4.4% | 47% | 48% | – | – | 5% |
| University of Nevada, Reno | May 17–27, 2022 | 1,091 | ± 3.4% | 43% | 31% | – | 11% | 16% |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 1–9, 2022 | 748 | ± 4.4% | 44% | 35% | – | – | 21% |
| Suffolk University | April 2–6, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 37% | 39% | 6% | – | 18% |
| Blueprint Polling | March 21–24, 2022 | 671 | ± 3.8% | 40% | 43% | – | – | 17% |
| OH Predictive Insights | January 19–26, 2022 | 755 | ± 3.6% | 52% | 48% | – | – | – |
| Impact Research | December 1–7, 2021 | 800 | ± 3.7% | 47% | 45% | – | – | 8% |
| OnMessage Inc. | November 16–18, 2021 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 41% | 51% | – | – | 8% |
| The Mellman Group | September 15–22, 2021 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 44% | 3% | – | 8% |
Steve Sisolak vs. Joey Gilbert
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Sisolak | Joey Gilbert | None of These Candidates | Other | Undecided |
| University of Nevada, Reno | May 17–27, 2022 | 1,090 | ± 3.4% | 43% | 17% | – | 20% | 19% |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 1–9, 2022 | 748 | ± 4.4% | 45% | 31% | – | – | 24% |
| Suffolk University | April 2–6, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 39% | 35% | 4% | – | 21% |
Steve Sisolak vs. Dean Heller
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Sisolak | Dean Heller | None of These Candidates | Other | Undecided |
| University of Nevada, Reno | May 17–27, 2022 | 1,094 | ± 3.4% | 44% | 21% | – | 16% | 18% |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 1–9, 2022 | 748 | ± 4.4% | 46% | 33% | – | – | 21% |
| Suffolk University | April 2–6, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 39% | 39% | 7% | – | 15% |
| OH Predictive Insights | January 19–26, 2022 | 755 | ± 3.6% | 54% | 46% | – | – | – |
| Impact Research | December 1–7, 2021 | 800 | ± 3.7% | 47% | 44% | – | – | 8% |
| The Trafalgar Group | November 24–29, 2021 | 1,034 | ± 3.0% | 40% | 47% | – | – | 13% |
| OnMessage Inc. | November 16–18, 2021 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 49% | – | – | 8% |
| The Mellman Group | September 15–22, 2021 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 43% | 3% | – | 8% |
Steve Sisolak vs. John Lee
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Sisolak | John Lee | None of These Candidates | Undecided |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 1–9, 2022 | 748 | ± 4.4% | 46% | 33% | – | 21% |
| Suffolk University | April 2–6, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 37% | 40% | 5% | 18% |
Steve Sisolak vs. Guy Nohra
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Sisolak | Guy Nohra | None of These Candidates | Undecided |
| Suffolk University | April 2–6, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 41% | 29% | 7% | 23% |
Results
By congressional district
Despite losing re-election, Sisolak won three of the state's four congressional districts.| District | Sisolak | Lombardo | Representative |
| 51% | 46% | Dina Titus | |
| 41% | 55% | Mark Amodei | |
| 50% | 47% | Susie Lee | |
| 49% | 46% | Steven Horsford |