Democrats’ decisive sweep of the U.S. House and Senate in Tuesday’s elections will reshape the direction of federal health policy — setting the stage for oversight investigations, a legislative push to reverse cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, and a focus on lowering costs such as insurance premiums and drug prices. The conclusive

WASHINGTON — As the monumental midterm victories set in, Democrats began to talk strategy Wednesday on how to deliver what voters want: lower prices, attainable health care and an end to a stagnant and expensive conflict in the Middle East. Starting in January, the party will control both chambers of Congress, giving them the upper hand over much

(Illustration: Nicholas Carballo for Nevada Current) Key Events Nov. 4, 2026 1:34 pm Boulder City among dozens of communities nationwide voting to reject data centers Nov. 4, 2026 1:25 pm With few exceptions, incumbent judges skate to victory in Clark County Nov. 4, 2026 1:19 pm Voters make it official, give second approval to state voter ID constitutional amendment Nov. 4, 2026 12:10 pm Democratic wave washes over incumbent Republican state controller Nov. 4, 2026 11:58 am Henderson mayor reelected; Democrat leads in race for Clark County commission Nov. 4, 2026 11:48 am Democrat Mathis-Coleman wins state treasurer race Nov. 4, 2026 2:26 am Democrats will keep attorney general, secretary of state jobs Nov. 4, 2026 1:42 am Democrat unseats Republican lieutenant governor Nov. 4, 2026 1:32 am Democrat leads in normally solidly Republican NV CD2 Nov. 4, 2026 12:53 am Nevada’s three Democratic U.S. representatives all sail to reelection Nov. 4, 2026 12:18 am Nevadans enshrine abortion rights in state constitution Nov. 3, 2026 10:11 pm As Republicans get pummeled nationwide, Lombardo urges supporters to remain upbeat Nov. 3, 2026 8:29 pm Election Day marked by long wait times, resulting in delayed results Nov. 3, 2026 9:00 am 14 state legislators secure victories in uncontested races Boulder City among dozens of communities nationwide voting to reject data centers By Jeniffer Solis - Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:34 pm Boulder City joined dozens of communities across the U.S. in rebuking large-scale data center development in a series of ballot measures targeting the buildout of artificial intelligence. Voters overwhelmingly opposed a ballot measure that would allow data center development within the Eldorado Valley Transfer Area — a massive 100,000 acre tract southwest of Boulder City that includes the popular recreation area Dry Lake Bed. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 71% of Boulder City voters opposed Ballot Question No. 1, a higher victory margin than than any other ballot measure in the state, including statewide questions.  And Boulder City was not alone.  Measures to restrict or prohibit data center development prevailed in 40 contests across California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, and Wisconsin, according to preliminary results tracked by Data Center Resistance (DCR).  Data Center Resistance estimates that interest groups supporting pro-data center measures outspent opposition campaigns by roughly 100 to 1 nationwide. Ballot measures restricting data centers received on average 77% support from voters in contests across the nation, according to the election-night tracker. “This is nothing short of a political earthquake,” said Ed FitzGerald, Director of Data Center Resistance. “Some of the richest corporations in the history of the world spent enormous sums trying to convince Americans to surrender control over their communities. They had the money, but we had the people. The results speak for themselves.” Despite the large rebuke, the Clark County Education Association said they plan to push their “eight-point data center agenda” to fund education in a statement following the defeat of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who supports data center development. The Clark County Education Association endorsed Lombardo and touted his CCEA-approved plan to support local schools by collecting certain taxes from data centers, which are eligible for massive tax breaks thanks to a 2015 law.  Democrat Attorney General Aaron Ford, who defeated Lombardo in the blue wave election, has said he supports a pause on all data center tax breaks. CCEA has called on Nevada lawmakers to support data centers and focus on ensuring revenue from the data center boom benefits public education. Representatives for CCEA defended their support for Lombardo in a statement Wednesday, saying the organization “sticks with those who keep their promises and deliver, until they don’t. Some take issue with that. We don’t. That’s politics.” “Joe Lombardo delivered on every issue we asked him to address as Governor. We did not endorse him when he first ran for office, but he earned our endorsement when he ran for reelection,” CCEA said in a statement.  Last updated: 1:57 pm With few exceptions, incumbent judges skate to victory in Clark County By Dana Gentry - 1:25 pm Of the 58 races on the ballot in Clark County District Court, only 16 were contested. Of those, two races were for open seats.   As of Wednesday, incumbents were winning in all but two of the seats up for grabs, and female candidates were holding their historic edge in races against men.  Attorney Marilyn Caston was leading Family Court Judge Bill Henderson by 20 points.  Henderson was first elected to Department R in 2008.  In the race for Department 30, attorney Josh Santeramo, who represents injured workers. was ahead of longtime Judge Jerry Wiese by a little more than one percentage point. Wiese is seeking a fourth term.  Prosecutor Alex Quagge was behind Judge Jacob Reynolds by a little more than one percentage point in the race for Department 29. Reynolds was defeated in his first run for the bench in 2020. Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed him to the department in 2023, and he ran unopposed in a special election the following year.  In the two open seats, prosecutor Gwynneth Smith had a ten-point lead over attorney Patricia Marr in the race for Family Court Department D, and attorney Kristine Brewer was up 12 percentage points over Hearing Master Randall Forman in the race for Department. S.   Mail-in ballots may be counted for up to four days after the election.  Voters make it official, give second approval to state voter ID constitutional amendment By Michael Lyle - 1:19 pm Question 7, which had received 62% of the vote as of Wednesday afternoon, amends the state constitution to include a requirement that Nevadans present government-issued photo identification before voting in-person.  The initiative also requires voters using a mail ballot list the last four digits of their Nevada driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a number provided to them by their county clerk when they registered to vote. When it was on the ballot in 2024 the question received support from 73% of voters. It had to be approved by voters in two elections to be added to the state constitution. Prior to this week’s election,  36 states had laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls, according to  the National Conference of State Legislatures.  Arizona and North Carolina were among the states that also passed ballot measures requiring voter IDs at the polls. Californians rejected  its voter ID proposal on Tuesday.  Last updated: 1:21 pm Democratic wave washes over incumbent Republican state controller By Jeniffer Solis - 12:10 pm Republican Nevada State Controller Andy Matthews was carried away in the wave that washed over Republican candidates in Nevada and the nation, being defeated by Democrat Michael MacDougall. MacDougall, who was significantly outraised by Matthews, said he was counting on a blue wave to help him to victory — a hope that measured out.  As of Monday afternoon, MacDougall had received 54.5% of the vote, to Matthews’ 43.3%. “None of these candidates” received 2.2% of the vote, more than in any other statewide race.  MacDougall is social studies teacher at The Adelson School, a private Jewish community school in Las Vegas.  Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno congratulated MacDougall, even though the party did not endorse the Democrat in the race. “As an educator, MacDougall has spent his career preparing the next generation of Nevadans. As Controller, he will ensure responsible management of taxpayer dollars and protect our state’s financial future for that same generation of Nevadans and families across our state,” said Monroe-Moreno. The state controller is responsible for administering the state’s accounting system, conducting state audits, settling claims against the state, and collecting debts owed to the state. The controller also serves on the state’s transportation board and the executive branch committee, which oversees annual internal audits. Last updated: 12:10 pm Henderson mayor reelected; Democrat leads in race for Clark County commission By Michael Lyle - 11:58 am Incumbent Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero won her reelection after facing off against former Henderson police chief Hollie Chadwick. The Associated Press called the race in Romero’s favor early Wednesday morning. The race came amid a recent ethics complaint against Romero alleging a conflict of interest stemming from her consultant work and the businesses she has represented coming before the city council.  Romero, who ran her first election outright during the primary election, had received 61% of the vote as of Wednesday morning.  Incumbent Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who faced a flurry of scandals and a criminal investigation, is on track to lose her race against Jennifer Atlas, a nonprofit government affairs director. Atlas leads Cox 60% to 41%.  Many local elections have yet to be called as votes are still being counted.  Minja Yan, a progressive political newcomer, is leading in the race to replace outgoing Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, with nearly 54% of the vote.  Yan faced Republican Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama, who had 39% of the vote, and former Republican state legislator turned independent candidate Becky Harris, who had 7% of the vote. Democratic Assemblymember Danielle Monroe-Moreno, who also serves as the chair of Nevada Democratic Party, is on track to win against long-time North Las Vegas City Councilman Scott Black.  Monroe-Moreno received 58% of the vote as of Wednesday while Black had 42%.  Democrat Mathis-Coleman wins state treasurer race By Jeniffer Solis - 11:48 am Democrat Tya Mathis-Coleman will be the first Black woman ever elected to statewide office in Nevada after defeating Republican Drew Johnson to become the next state treasurer.  Mathis-Coleman, who served as the Deputy Treasurer for more than six years, is set to take over the job from term-limited Treasurer Zach Conine. Her victory was part of a Democratic sweep of every state constitutional office in this week’s election. As of Wednesday morning, Mathis-Coleman has received 55.2% of the vote. Johnson — who founded the conservative think tank Beacon Center of Tennessee — received about 42.9% of the vote, continuing a losing streak of failed campaigns. Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno congratulated Mathis-Coleman on her election victory and highlighted the historic significance of her election.  “Her achievement is a remarkable milestone for our state and a testament to the importance of representation in public service. She has opened the door for future Black women leaders in our state,” Monroe-Moreno said. “I look forward to her work to protect Nevada’s financial future, promote responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and ensure our state’s resources are invested in ways that benefit Nevadans for generations to come.” Democrats will keep attorney general, secretary of state jobs By Hugh Jackson - 2:26 am Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, a Democrat, will be the state’s next attorney general, and Democratic Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar has won reelection. Cannizzaro defeated President Donald Trump-endorsed Adriana Guzmán Fralick. Aguilar defeated Republican Jim Marchant, an ardent Trump supporter and Nevada’s foremost election denier and election-related conspiracy enthusiast. The Associated Press called both races early Wednesday. It was the second consecutive time Marchant lost the race. Aguilar defeated Marchant in 2022. And as the incumbent secretary of state, Aguilar defeated Marchant again this year. Aguilar and his office have been forced to spend a considerable amount of time defending the state’s election system and procedures from Trump’s efforts to undermine, discredit and assert control over the voting process. Aguilar has  has described Trump as having a “deranged obsession with the 2020 election” despite the fact that election was “litigated over 70 times in the courts and not once did they ever present any evidence of fraud or lack of security of the elections.”  Marchant was one of the nearly 200 election deniers nationwide estimated to be on the ballot in this year’s general election. Cannizzaro, like Democrats up and down the ballot, campaigned on her experience fighting Trump administration policies as a state legislator. Cannizarro’s campaign also ran ads in heavy rotation slamming Guzmán Fralick as a supporter of data centers. The Nevada attorney general’s office has been a springboard for higher office. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, was a former AG who would become governor. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, went from AG to the U.S. Senate. Republican Adam Laxalt served one term as AG then ran for governor and U.S. Senate, though he failed in both efforts. The current attorney general, Democrat Aaron Ford, ran for governor this year. Last updated: 2:27 am Democrat unseats Republican lieutenant governor By Hugh Jackson - 1:42 am If the governor of Nevada can not fulfill their duties for whatever reason, Sandra Jauregui will become governor. Jauregui defeated Republican incumbent Stavros Anthony in the lieutenant governor’s race. The Associated Press called the race at 1:20 a.m Wednesday. In Nevada, the lieutenant governor post is part-time and largely ceremonial, with little statutory authority. Apart from replacing the governor if necessary, the job’s most consequential responsibility is breaking a tie in the state Senate, which has an odd number of members. Last updated: 1:42 am Democrat leads in normally solidly Republican NV CD2 By Hugh Jackson - 1:32 am As of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday with an estimated 86% of the vote counted, Democratic former state legislator Theresa Benitez-Thompson was leading Republican David Flippo by nearly seven points, 50.6% to 44.2%, in the race for Nevada’s second congressional district. No Republican has ever lost the district since it was created after the 1980 Census.  Flippo started the year running in Nevada’s fourth congressional district, hoping to unseat Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford. But when Republican incumbent Rep. Mark Amodei announced in February that he was retiring, Flippo flipped to compete in the much more Republican-friendly CD2. Both Amodei and Gov. Joe Lombardo had endorsed James Settelmeyer in the Republican primary. But Trump endorsed Flippo, and Flippo won. Multiple Democrats had filed in the CD2 primary. After Trump’s endorsement of Flippo, Democrats, entertaining the prospect that a Democrat might actually win the district, coalesced around Benitez-Thompson. Flippo’s candidacy almost immediately started to make news, and not in a positive way. He was hammered as an opportunist for switching districts. He came under fire for what critics called shoddy finance reports. And most damagingly, his campaign materials said he had been awarded a Bronze Star with valor while in the Air Force. Flippo was awarded a Bronze Star for merit, but not valor, and critics accused him of “stolen valor.” Amodei, who barely hid his apprehension of Flippo and his relative unfamiliarity with the district immediately after the primary, would ultimately announce that he couldn’t support the nominee. Amodei said he had instead voted for the Independent American Party candidate. Last updated: 1:38 am Nevada’s three Democratic U.S. representatives all sail to reelection By Hugh Jackson - 12:53 am Nevada’s three Democratic congressional incumbents each easily defeated their Republican challengers early Wednesday morning. Dina Titus, the dean of Nevada’s congressional delegation, was seeking her seventh term as the representative for Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Las Vegas Strip. She was running against Republican state Sen. Carrie Buck. Susie Lee was reelected to a fifth term in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Since the district, which covers Henderson and edges of the Las Vegas metro area up to Summerlin, was formed following the 2000 Census, it has been perennially viewed as the most competitive House district in the state. But a Republican hasn’t won it since 2014. She defeated Republican video game composer Marty O’Donnell. Steven Horsford was reelected to his fifth consecutive term in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District. The lion’s share of registered voters in the district live in northern portions of Clark County, including Mesquite. The district also covers Nye, Esmaralda, and Mineral counties, along with portions of Churchill, Lyon, and Lincoln counties. Horsford also served as the district’s congressman after the 2012 election, the first since the district was created after the 2010 Census. He was defeated in 2014, but won the seat back in 2018. Horsford defeated Republican Lincoln County businessman and rancher Cody Whipple. The Associated Press called the races for Horsford, Titus, and Lee around 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Last updated: 1:42 am Nevadans enshrine abortion rights in state constitution By April Corbin Girnus - 12:18 am Nevadans once again voted to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution. Nevadans For Reproductive Freedom declared victory on election night, shortly after polls closed. Early returns showed Question 6 at around 63%, about the same percentage of support it saw two years ago when it was first approved by voters. It had to pass the second time to be adopted in the state constitution. Abortion in Nevada is currently legal up to 24 weeks after the start of the pregnancy and after 24 weeks if a physician believes the pregnant person’s life or health is at risk. Those protections were put in place via a citizen-driven referendum passed by voters in 1990 and would require a direct vote of the people to change. That is a fairly high bar to overcome, but given the onslaught of attacks on reproductive rights across the nation under the Trump administration, advocates want the bar to be even higher. As Republicans get pummeled nationwide, Lombardo urges supporters to remain upbeat By Jeniffer Solis - Tuesday November 3, 2026 10:11 pm As Democrats swept gubernatorial races across the country and Nevada waited for results, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo struck a positive note at his Election Night watch party. Long lines in Washoe and Clark counties meant no election results had been released in Nevada more than three hours after polls closed, but Lombardo reassured Republican voters that Nevada would buck the national blue wave. “I want everybody to stay upbeat. I want everybody to stay positive,” Lombardo said in brief remarks at the election party in Las Vegas.  Lombardo recalled his 2022 victory, when his race against former Gov. Steve Sisolak was not called until three days after the election.  “I don’t want anybody in this room to have their head down currently, okay? Because we have no idea what’s going to happen,” Lombardo said. “If you remember, four years ago, we had our heads down, and what happened? We won, right? We won.” Lombardo acknowledged the blue wave across the country, but said he believed Nevada would buck the national trend. “We are going to be the unique state in this national picture because we’re going to be successful here in a couple hours,” Lombardo said.  “There’s a lot of things going on in the world, right, out of our control,” Lombardo said. “Who gives a crap what’s going on in the rest of the world? We are worried about Nevada, right? I think we’ve done a great job. I think we’ve done a fantastic job.” Lombardo told voters not to be discouraged by early vote counts in Nevada, noting that Republicans turn out in larger numbers on Election Day which are counted later.  “I don’t want anybody to lose any enthusiasm when the first dump comes…and it doesn’t look good, right? It doesn’t matter. Republicans come late to the process. They come late to the process, and we still have no idea what the nonpartisans are going to do in this endeavor, and I anticipate success. I anticipate success, and I want everybody to remain upbeat,” Lombardo said.  By 10:45 p.m., Lombardo had left the building. Dr. Tony Alamo announced that Lombardo left because there was nothing to report Tuesday night and results likely would not be known until Wednesday or later. This post was updated to note Lombardo leaving the party. Last updated: 10:49 pm Election Day marked by long wait times, resulting in delayed results By April Corbin Girnus - 8:29 pm Nevada had yet to release any election results as of 8:30 p.m. on Election Day as voters remained in line waiting to cast ballots. According to media reports and election observers, dozens of polling places across the state had lines at 7 p.m. when polls were set to close. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. are permitted to cast ballots. Lines included an estimated 350 voters at the University of Nevada Reno, according to the The Institute for a Progressive Nevada. Election results in Nevada are not released until the last voter has cast a ballot. Clark County warned early in the day that the public could experience longer wait times “as the voting process has changed this year and turnout is expected to be significant.” Last updated: 8:34 pm 14 state legislators secure victories in uncontested races By April Corbin Girnus - 9:00 am A fourth of the Nevada State Legislature seats up this election cycle featured uncontested races — 3 of 11 in the state Senate and 11 of 42 in the state Assembly. Each district heavily favors one political party, which dissuades many in the minority party from entering. The uncontested winners are: Nevada State Senate District 2, Democratic incumbent Edgar Flores District 10, Democratic incumbent Fabian Donate District 14, Republican incumbent Ira Hansen Nevada State Assembly District 1, Democrat Alexis Esparza District 10, Democratic incumbent Venise Karris District 11, Democratic incumbent Cinthia Moore District 14, Democratic incumbent Erica Mosca District 15, Democrat Miguel Davila District 17, Democratic incumbent Linda Hunt District 24, Democratic incumbent Erica Roth District 28, Democratic incumbent Reuben D’Silva District 32, Republican incumbent Alexis Hansen District 33, Republican incumbent Bert Gurr District 38, Republican incumbent Gregory Koenig Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to correct the Assembly District of Assemblymember-elect Reuben D’Silva. He represents AD28. Last updated: 7:12 pm

In a development that was unthinkable at the start of the year — and that stands as testament to how deep the nation’s rejection of Donald Trump and his policies was in the midterm elections — Democratic former state legislator Teresa Benitez-Thompson defeated Republican David Flippo in Nevada’s second congressional district. No Democrat has ever

Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford squashed the reelection bid of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, part of a drubbing suffered by Republicans nationwide. The Associated Press called the governor’s race for Ford shorty before 2 a.m. Wednesday. The Lombardo camp’s massive fundraising edge combined with incumbency gave the appearance early that Ford might have trouble