GOP primary for U.S. House seat and Democratic governors race among Nevada's key contests

By — Jessica Hill, Associated Press Jessica Hill, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/gop-primary-for-u-s-house-seat-and-democratic-governors-race-among-nevadas-key-contests Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter GOP primary for U.S. House seat and Democratic governors race among Nevada's key contests Politics Jun 9, 2026 12:51 PM EDT LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevadans are choosing their party nominees Tuesday for two closely watched congressional seats and the governor's race, among others, as the state grapples with an affordable housing shortage, exploding energy demand from data centers and federal cuts to key state programs. READ MORE: What to watch in Tuesday's primaries as Platner seeks Senate nomination in Maine The state has a closed primary, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans will vote in party contests after an effort to open them failed in 2024. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Several primaries feature matchups between candidates backed by party leaders and political outsiders promising change. Come November, the governor's race is considered one of the most competitive in the country, and holding on to the 3rd Congressional District is considered crucial for Democrats' hope of retaking the U.S. House. Here's a look at the most prominent races: Democrats seek a rival for Lombardo Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, is considered one of the most vulnerable governors in the country this fall. The Democrats vying to challenge him include state Attorney General Aaron Ford, who has the backing of the Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Alexis Hill, a county commissioner in northern Nevada who campaigned as a candidate willing to shake things up. They focused their campaigns on affordability, as the state continues to see a shortage of affordable housing, some of the highest gas prices in the country and cuts to federal healthcare and food assistance programs. Ford largely ignored Hill, instead directing his attacks at Lombardo and arguing that both the governor and Trump are responsible for Nevadans' economic woes. He is trying to become Nevada's first Black governor. 2nd Congressional District In the Republican contest to replace longtime Rep. Mark Amodei, who is retiring, President Donald Trump has endorsed David Flippo, a loyalist of the president who has never held elected office. Amodei and Lombardo have backed James Settelmeyer, a former state senator with a long political track record. The district covers northern Nevada and includes Reno and Carson City, the capital, along with an immense rural expanse. Trump-endorsed candidates have seen success in primaries elsewhere, underscoring his unrivaled power over the Republican Party as he enters the last years of his presidency. He easily won the district in t