Aaron Ford defeats Joe Lombardo in Nevada governor race

Democrat Aaron Ford defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo in Nevada’s gubernatorial election, flipping the governor’s office and making Ford the state’s first Black governor. Lombardo said Wednesday afternoon that he had conceded and called Ford to congratulate him. The Associated Press called the race at 4:46 a.m. EST Wednesday. With all 17 counties reporting Wednesday afternoon, Ford had 505,738 votes, or 51.73%, and Lombardo had 431,367, or 44.12%, according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s office. The reported totals put Ford ahead by 74,371 votes. The results remain unofficial until Nevada completes its statewide canvass, the Secretary of State’s office said. The canvass was due to be completed by Nov. 13. The race call and Lombardo’s concession came before that formal step. Ford, who has served as Nevada’s attorney general since 2019, will also be the first Black governor of any state west of the Mississippi River. He previously became Nevada’s first Black Senate majority leader and its first Black attorney general. His election comes as Democrats take control of the governor’s office from Lombardo, who won his first term in 2022. Affordability was a central issue...