Lombardo, the sheriff of Clark County, was up by a little more than 21,000 votes after the state released its latest batch of votes on Friday night. While the results narrowed the Republican’s advantage somewhat, Sisolak conceded after concluding that he could not pull ahead with the remaining ballots,
“It appears we will fall a percentage point or so short of winning,” Sisolak said in a statement shared on Twitter. “Obviously, that is not the outcome I want, but I believe in our election system, in democracy and honoring the will of Nevada voters.
“Whether you voted for me or Sheriff Lombardo, it is important that we now come together to continue moving the state forward,” he continued. “That is why I reached out to the sheriff to wish him success.”
Sisolak also said that he was “proud” of “the tough decisions” he made in enacting politically controversial public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was one of the central issues of the campaign.
The outgoing governor said that he would “continue working hard on behalf of Nevada” for the remainder of his term.
Shortly after Sisolak conceded defeat, news outlets, including NBC News and Fox, News projected a narrow victory for Lombardo.
Lombardo said in a statement that he was “honored” to be elected and looked forward to “the opportunity to protect and serve our entire state as your next governor.”
“Our victory is a victory for all Nevadans who want our state to get back on track,” Lombardo said. “It’s a victory for small-business owners, for parents, for students, and for law enforcement.
“It’s a victory for all Nevadans who believe that our best and brightest days are ahead of us,” he continued. “Nevada, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the great trust you have placed in me.”
While conceding defeat, Sisolak also expressed optimism that Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto would retain her seat and help Democrats keep control of the Senate. Cortez Masto was trailing Republican challenger Adam Laxalt by less than 1,000 votes in the latest count Friday night.
“While it seems I will come up short at the polls, I am excited that Senator Cortez Masto is on a path to win,” Sisolak said. “We need her strong voice on behalf of our state in Washington.”
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, co-chairs of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), congratulated Lombardo on his win shortly after the race was called.
“Governor-elect Lombardo’s unique perspective as a seasoned law enforcement officer and fiscal conservative will get the state moving in the right direction on behalf of all Nevada families,” Ducey and Ricketts said in a statement to Fox News.
“The RGA was proud to be a crucial partner in this race to elect Joe and fire Steve Sisolak,” they continued. “Our independent expenditure effort in Nevada was the largest in RGA history and we’re excited to have Joe joining our ranks.”
Lombardo’s win will likely have major implications for the future of education in Nevada over the next four years. He campaigned on a platform that advocated for school voucher programs, while Sisolak sided with teachers unions in opposing them.
Update 11/11/22, 10:23 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include additional background and information.
