2026 state elections: Idaho, Nevada and Oklahoma governor's races take shape

Several 2026 state gubernatorial races are underway across Idaho, Nevada, and Oklahoma, all culminating in general elections on November 3, 2026, except Oklahoma, which anticipates a runoff on August 25, 2026, if no candidate wins a majority in the primary. In Idaho, incumbent Republican Governor Brad Little won his party's May 19 primary with 59 percent of the vote, securing a bid for a third term, while Terri Pickens won the Democratic nomination with over 61 percent. In Nevada, Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford won his party's primary and will challenge Republican incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo, who is seeking a second term, in a race characterized as a high priority target for Democrats. In Oklahoma, the 2026 gubernatorial field includes Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Democratic House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, and Chip Keating, among other candidates. Nevada's government remains divided, with Democrats holding a 13-8 majority in the state Senate and a 27-15 majority in the Assembly, while Republicans hold the governorship under Lombardo; no party holds a veto-proof supermajority. The state legislature did not hold a regular session in 2026, as Nevada's legislature meets biennially, with current members having taken office after the 2024 elections. Ford's campaign has focused on consumer protection, housing enforcement, and litigation opposing federal policy rollbacks. Separately, Republican Jim Marchant won his primary for Nevada secretary of state; one commentator, Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston, suggested this result could benefit Democratic incumbent Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar in the general election due to Marchant's past election-fraud claims, though this assessment has not been independently corroborated by other sources. All three states' general election outcomes remain pending as of the reporting dates. Oklahoma's runoff, if necessary, is scheduled for August 25, 2026, with the ultimate Democratic and Republican nominees to be determined based on primary results. The competitiveness of the Nevada secretary of state race and its potential implications remain a matter of interpretation rather than confirmed fact. No results have been reported yet for the November 2026 general elections in Idaho, Nevada, or Oklahoma.