Nevada voters went to the polls Tuesday for closed primaries to select party nominees for governor, two competitive U.S. House seats, and other state and local offices, according to the Associated Press.
Only registered Democrats and Republicans were eligible to vote in the party contests after an effort to open the primaries to unaffiliated voters failed in 2024, the AP reported.
The primaries set the stage for a November general election in which the governor’s race is considered one of the most competitive in the nation. Democrats view holding the 3rd Congressional District as crucial to their hopes of retaking the U.S. House majority.
Several primaries feature matchups between candidates backed by party leaders and political outsiders promising change, the AP reported. The contests unfold as the state grapples with an affordable housing shortage, surging energy demand from data centers, and federal cuts to key state programs.
The 3rd Congressional District, currently held by Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, is a key battleground. The 2nd Congressional District, held by Republican Rep. Mark E. Amodei, is also on the ballot. The governor’s race pits Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo against a Democratic challenger to be determined by Tuesday’s primary results.
The AP reported that the primaries include candidates backed by party leaders and political outsiders. The general election contests are expected to be among the most closely watched in the country.