Democrat Steve Sisolak wins Nevada governor race

(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

last updated 7 November 2018

Democrat Steve Sisolak has been elected Nevada's first Democratic governor since Bob Miller, last elected in 1994. Republican state Attorney General Adam Laxalt conceded the race early Wednesday. Laxalt, backed by President Trump, hails from a prominent Las Vegas political family, though some of his relatives published an op-ed urging voters to reject him. Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) also did not endorse Laxalt. With about 78 percent of precincts reporting, Sisolak, chairman of the Clark County Commission, led Laxalt by about 5 percentage points.

With Sisolak's victory, Democrats cut into the GOP dominance in governorships — Democrats also unseated Republicans in Wisconsin, Kansas, Maine, Illinois, Michigan, and New Mexico — but Republicans held on to contested seats in Ohio and Florida. Republicans went into Tuesday's elections controlling two-thirds of governorships, and they will still have a slim majority.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.