Nevada might be a year away from the 2026 midterm election, but that hasn’t stopped some candidate announcements for governor and attorney general. However, things can change between now and the official candidate filing period in March. Here’s who has announced their intention to run for statewide office so far.
2026 Governor Race
Aaron Ford, Nevada Attorney General, announced he is running for governor
So far, he will face Democratic Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill in the June primary, and has endorsements from both of Nevada’s Senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto.
In a video posted on social media, Ford said he envisions a future with attainable housing, affordable insurance, and jobs that pay a living wage.
In 2019, Ford became the first African American to be elected to a statewide constitutional office in Nevada. He was previously the State Senate Majority Leader.
Alexis Hill, chair of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners, will be running for governor
Hill confirmed her plans to the Reno Gazette-Journal in July.
Hill joins her fellow Democrat—Attorney General Aaron Ford—in challenging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. She said she wants to be an alternative for Nevadans who are tired of the status quo.
Hill is behind in terms of fundraising. But she’s counting on small-dollar donors, who she said have supported her previous campaigns.
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2026 Attorney General Race
Nicole Cannizzaro, Nevada Senate Majority Leader, will be running for Nevada Attorney General
So far, Cannizzaro will face Nevada’s Democratic Treasurer Zach Conine in the June primary.
In announcing her run, she said, “Our leaders should be focused on making Nevada safer and stronger, but the Trump administration and Congress have continued their assault on ordinary Nevadans. As a former gang prosecutor, I don’t scare easy. I’ve taken on the big fights to protect reproductive health care, cut health care and drug costs, and go after corporate investors who have jacked up the cost of housing.”
Cannizzaro, who’s from Las Vegas, is the first female Senate majority leader—and previously served as a prosecutor in Clark County. She received her law degree from UNLV’s Boyd School of Law.
Zach Conine, Nevada Treasurer, will seek the office of the State’s Attorney General
Conine was the first candidate to enter the race.
In his announcement, Conine said, “As Treasurer, I’ve worked to safeguard taxpayer dollars and expand financial protections for working families. Now, I want to take that fight to the Attorney General’s office—where I’ll hold bad actors accountable, stand up for Nevadans, and make sure the law works for everyone, not just the powerful. And if Trump, Elon, or anyone messes with Nevada, we’ll see them in court.”
Conine has served as the state’s treasurer for the past six years. He is a licensed attorney who graduated from UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law and Cornell University.
Republican Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian announces run for AG
Tarkanian is currently serving his second term on the commission and has previously run for Nevada Secretary of State, Congress, and U.S. Senate. In May, he was the first Republican to throw his hat in the ring for the Attorney General primary.
On his campaign website, Tarkanian has four main issues outlined, including tough-on-crime policies; stopping the targeting of Donald Trump’s administration by the AG’s office; fighting federal overreach; and supporting law enforcement. He graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law and developed the Tarkanian Professional Center.
This web story will be updated as candidates announce their intent to run for office.
2026 Lieutenant Governor Race
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony seeks reelection
Stavros Anthony, the Republican incumbent, was first elected in 2022, and spent much of his first term wading into the national culture war. Earlier this year, he started a task force to block trans athletes from participating in women’s sports.
An official campaign announcement also touted Anthony’s record on business development.
“He’s fought for small businesses, expanding the nonpartisan Office of Small Business Advocacy to cut red tape and help Nevada entrepreneurs solve real problems. As Chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, he’s helped grow our economy by supporting rural development and marketing grants that create jobs across the state,” it said.
Democratic legislative leader Sandra Jauregui seeks statewide office
Democrat Sandra Jauregui was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2016 and currently serves as Assembly Majority Leader.
After surviving the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip, Jauregui made gun safety legislation a priority, sponsoring bills such as a red flag law, which seeks to temporarily remove access to firearms from people in crisis, and a ban on untraceable “ghost guns,” which were later prohibited under federal law.
Jauregui is campaigning on a platform of job creation and new housing construction, although the office of lieutenant governor is largely ceremonial.
