LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Nevada’s 2026 election landscape is taking shape after primary results that set up high-stakes general election matchups for governor and the state’s U.S. House delegation. Political strategist Tal Eslick said the central question will be where voters focus.

“The question will be: If Nevada voters are willing to judge Governor Lombardo on his performance as governor or if they are going to really allow this election to be a referendum on President Trump,” said Eslick, a public affairs strategist with Vista Consulting.

Lombardo won his Republican primary handily with around 90 percent of the vote. Democratic challenger Aaron Ford won the Democratic primary with around 63 percent of the vote.

Eslick said Ford’s strategy may be to nationalize the contest. “A national question about the direction of the country under President Trump. And to a certain extent under Republican rule both in the Senate and the House,” Eslick said.

Nevadans will not have a U.S. Senate race this cycle, but all three U.S. House seats in southern Nevada are on the ballot. Candidates endorsed by Trump won their primaries and are set to face Democratic incumbents Susie Lee and Dina Titus. Republican Cody Whipple won the District 4 primary and will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Steven Horsford. Trump did not endorse a candidate in District 4.

“The ability to win a primary is very different than the ability to win in a general election,” Eslick said.

Eslick said both parties could face challenges appealing to voters in the political middle, with Democrats confronting the dynamics of being longtime incumbents and Republicans having to answer for current policy. He pointed to independent voters as a key bloc in November.

“You have independent voters. Voters who do not associate with either party. And they are going to be the deciding factor in this race beyond that obvious enthusiasm gap, and that is why you might see the messages coming from both candidates tacked towards the middle,” Eslick said.

In Clark County, a contentious Republican primary for county commissioner also appeared to be settled, with Heidi Kasama defeating fellow Republican Albert Mack in District F.

“It certainly makes it tough when you have a nasty primary to then go back to voters and say, ‘Hey, we can appreciate your perspective,’” Eslick said. “Because in a general election, obviously, you want some support from any majority; whether it is of your party or otherwise.”

Groups supporting Kasama circulated an AI or photoshopped image of a sign showing Mack supposedly next to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, suggesting Mack supported Clinton—an allegation Mack denies.

Eslick said attacks involving AI may be less effective in the general election, given public concerns about the technology and its broader impacts.

“There is a real underlying question, and certainly in Nevada, about what AI means for American workers, what AI means for developing energy, what it means for the cleanliness of water,” Eslick said. “That is going to be a debate that, again, people are going to be talking about at their kitchen tables as they are deciding who they are going to support in the election.”

The general election for all races is set for November 3, 2026.

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First team

P: Hudson Ciulla, Bishop Gorman – The senior went 7-0 with a 2.61 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 59 innings and two saves. He is committed to Gonzaga.

P: Liam Radke, Faith Lutheran – The junior was the 5A pitcher of the year going 6-3 with a 2.11 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 56⅓ innings. He is committed to TCU.

P: Jack Stoner, Bishop Gorman – The senior went 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 54⅓ innings. He is committed to East Carolina.

P: Dominic Tiberi, Centennial – The senior went 7-2 with a 2.03 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 65⅔ innings pitched. He is committed to Cochise College (Arizona).

P: Johnny Villarreal, Basic – The senior went 6-0 with a 2.48 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 42⅓ innings pitched. He is committed to St. Mary’s (California).

C: Gavin Gottschall, Foothill – The junior hit .396 with 30 hits and 17 RBIs.

C: T.J. Otis, Centennial – The sophomore hit .404 with 42 hits and 36 RBIs.

IF: Brody Griffith, Desert Oasis – The senior hit .468 with five home runs, 44 hits and 23 RBIs. He is committed to Air Force.

IF: Hogan Hawkins, Silverado – The senior hit .438 with 42 hits and 34 RBIs, and went 5-2 on the mound with a 0.56 ERA and 53 strikeouts. He is committed to BYU.

IF: Kingston Kela, Faith Lutheran – The senior hit .462 with six home runs, 42 hits and 34 RBIs. He is committed to TCU.

IF: Matthew Kelley, Basic – The senior hit .463 with four home runs, 28 hits and 26 RBIs. He is committed to Texas A&M.

IF: Devin Martin, Arbor View — The senior was a first-team 5A Southern Nevada selection by the coaches to help Arbor View finish 30-8. He is committed to CSN.

IF: Justin Rodrigues, Bishop Gorman – The junior hit .430 with eight home runs, 52 hits and 42 RBIs for the 5A state champion.

IF: Rookie Shepard, Faith Lutheran – The senior led 5A with a .511 batting average, with 47 hits and 31 RBIs. He is committed to Miami (Florida).

OF: Stone Amsden, Palo Verde – The junior was fourth in 5A with a .477 batting average, with 42 hits and 19 RBIs.

OF: Colton Christman, Arbor View – The senior was a first-team 5A Southern Nevada selection by the coaches to help Arbor View finish 30-8. He is committed to LSU.

OF: Andruw Giles, Basic – The senior was the 5A player of the year and hit .494 with five home runs, 38 hits and 23 RBIs. He is committed to Oregon.

OF: DaMari Hall, Bishop Gorman – The senior hit .442 with five home runs, 42 hits and 43 RBIs. He is committed to play college football at Washington State.

OF: Jet McNelis, Green Valley – The senior hit .391 with four home runs, 36 hits and 25 RBIs, and as a pitcher went 4-1 in 43⅓ innings and 45 strikeouts. He is committed to CSN.

OF: Jake Turner, Centennial – The junior hit .392 with 10 home runs, 38 hits and 38 RBIs, and was 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. He is committed to TCU.

UTL: Giovanni Guariglia, Silverado – The senior was the MaxPreps state player of the year with a state-high 18 home runs while batting .323 with 44 RBIs and went 6-1 on the mound with a 1.38 ERA and 74 strikeouts. He is committed to TCU.

UTL: Lucas Jaggers, SECTA – The senior hit . 398 with five home runs, 35 hits and 27 RBIs for the 4A state champion. He is committed to Eastern Arizona College.

UTL: Austin Rodriguez, Liberty – The sophomore hit .467 with 42 hits and 22 RBIs.

UTL: Alex Scaggs, Arbor View – The junior was a first-team 5A Southern Nevada selection by the coaches to help Arbor View finish 30-8. He is committed to Cal State Bakersfield.

Coach of the year

Bill Stuber, SECTA – Guided the Roadrunners to the Class 4A state championship, the program’s first baseball state title in his 21st year leading the program.

Second team

P: Briggs Barlow, SETCA – The senior went 6-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 55 strikeouts, and batted.310 with 27 hits and 22 RBIs.

P: Lincoln Evans, Basic – The senior was 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA and 40 strikeouts. He is committed to CSN.

P: Shawn Mack, Liberty – The senior was a second-team 5A All-Southern Nevada pitcher by the coaches, going 5-3 with a 5.38 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

P: Connor McDonald, Palo Verde – The sophomore went 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched.

P: Crue Smith, Desert Oasis – The senior went 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 40 innings.

C: Spencer Aten, Boulder City – The junior hit .535 with seven home runs, 61 hits and 56 RBIs.

C: Tommy McDonald, Sierra Vista – The senior was a second-team 5A All-Southern Nevada catcher by the coaches, batting .373 with 15 RBIs.

IF: Michael Alvarado, Sierra Vista – The senior hit .473 with 44 hits and 15 RBIs.

IF: Kyle Johnson, Palo Verde – The senior hit .368 with five home runs, 32 hits and 24 RBIs.

IF: Noah Knudson, Palo Verde – The sophomore hit .388 with 40 hits and 26 RBIs.

IF: Connor Long, Bishop Gorman – The junior hit .382 with four home runs, 42 hits and 31 RBIs. He is committed to Oregon.

IF: Joseph Lusch, Green Valley – The senior hit .366 with six home runs, 30 hits and 29 RBIs, and went 4-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 10 appearances on the mound.

IF: Troy Southisene, Basic – The senior hit .349 with 30 hits and 20 RBIs. He is committed to Oregon State.

IF: Chase Wilk, Bishop Gorman – The senior batted .313 with five home runs, 31 hits and 31 RBIs. He is committed to Minnesota.

OF: Ethan Gordon, Faith Lutheran – The junior hit .425 with 31 hits and 25 runs scored.

OF: Logan Grubbs, Bishop Gorman – The junior hit .343 with 37 hits and 39 RBIs.

OF: Keimani Johnson, Palo Verde – The senior hit .360 with 40 hits and 29 RBIs.

OF: Tyson Lake, Legacy – The senior hit .375 with 36 hits and 13 RBIs.

OF: Karsen Smaka, Palo Verde – The junior hit .357 with four home runs, 41 hits and 33 RBIs.

UTL: Tucker Christman, Arbor View – The freshman was a second-team 5A All-Southern Nevada selection by the coaches who helped the Aggies finish 30-8.

UTL: Nick Collingbourne, SECTA – The senior hit .377 with 23 hits and 16 RBIs for the 4A state champion.

UTL: Macen Collura, Faith Lutheran – The senior hit .385 with four home runs, 37 hits and 22 RBIs.

UTL: Ashton Kidd, Desert Oasis – The senior hit .301 with 23 RBIs and 16 RBIs as a first team 5A designated hitter by the coaches.

UTL: Evan Noble, Shadow Ridge – The senior hit .386 with 39 hits and 34 RBIs. He is committed to San Francisco.

Honorable mention

Steve Alvarado, Foothill

Kane Barber, Centennial

Jaxon Burr, Centennial

Raymundo Chevalier, Cheyenne

Preston Clark, Silverado

Payton Conley-Cimini, Palo Verde

Tate Crine, Boulder City

Ian Denney, Mater East

James Durham, Foothill

David Edwards, SECTA

Olvin Espinoza, Legacy

Aiden Farrell, Durango

Edgar Garcia, Western

Jordan Goodsell, Virgin Valley

Ryland Gregorich, Clark

Lincoln Guillermo, Desert Oasis

Trevor Henson, Centennial

Ajay Hermosura, Bishop Gorman

Chase Hurley, Centennial

Damon Kodesko, Spring Valley

Easton Lake, Legacy

Brayden Leavitt, Shadow Ridge

Lyndon Lee, Basic

Brayden Lenahan, Spring Valley

Quinthus Mason, Foothill

Mickey Martinez, Las Vegas High

Nathan Mayorga, Sierra Vista

Ryder Metz, Coronado

Benson Ornelas, Mater East

Dylan Othick, Faith Lutheran

Dillon Owens, Bonanza

Vincent Perrone, Spring Valley

Caleb Piehler, Foothill

Adrian Ramos, Mater East

Johnny Ramos, Rancho

Adrian Ruiz, Laughlin

Lucas Salas, The Meadows

Carter Sekikawa, SECTA

Matthew Smoot, Coronado

Ryder Schuette, Lake Mead Academy

Aidan Smith, Desert Oasis

Rylan Swanbeck, Clark

Will Teeples, Boulder City

Colin Tocker, Mater East

Tony Whitney, Pahrump Valley

Danny Yeates, Lake Mead Academy

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.