Current Governor
Jim Gibbons (R)
Summary
Governor Jim Gibbons has come under fire for spending little time in the office. He been involved in several prominent scandals, including allegations of sexual assault and a federal investigation into allegations that he took money and other gifts in exchange for earmarks. While Nevada is a Republican-leaning state, it has been favoring Democrats in recent years.
Recap
Gibbons was narrowly elected to the governorship in 2006, defeating Democrat Dina Titus by about 20,000 votes.
State of Play
- According to a recent Research 2000 poll, Gibbons’s job approval is at 25 percent approval and 69 percent disapproval.
- While Al Gore and John Kerry both narrowly lost in 2000 and 2004, Barack Obama’s performance was a significant improvement for Democrats; he won Nevada with 55 percent of the vote.
- Nevada also elected Democrats to four of its five elected constitutional offices in 2006.
Lineup
- Democrat Rory Reid, Clark County Commissioner
- Republican Brian Sandoval, former U.S. Judge
