Trump’s Push to โEnd Mail-Inโ Voting Puts Nevada’s Lombardo, Other โGOP Candidates in a Bind
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Formerโข President Donald Trump’s renewed calls to eliminate mail-inโข voting are creating a โขpolitical challenge for Republican candidates, including Nevada Governor joe Lombardo, โฃwho have previously benefited from โthe practice and now face pressure to align with the party’s base while navigating the realities of โmodern elections.
Lombardo, endorsed by Trump in 2022, has publicly rejected trump’sโ false claims of a stolen โค2020 election. Though, he has โalso previously expressed reservations about widespread mail-in voting, calling for an end to “global mail-in ballots” โand supporting a halt โฃto mail ballot countingโ after Election Day. This positions him, and other Republicans, in a โdifficult spotโค as Trump intensifies his attacks on mail voting โahead of the 2024โ election cycle.
The dilemma stems from the increasing prevalence of mail-in voting across the country. While all states allow some form of mail voting, Nevadaโ is among eight states and the District of Columbia that conduct almost allโ elections by โmail. In three of the last four statewide elections, more Nevadans voted by mail than in person, โa trend โฃthat contributed to Lombardo’s own narrow victory inโค 2022, whichโ was drawn out in โpartโข due to a 2020 law allowing ballotsโ postmarked by Election day to โbe counted if received up to four days later.
During his reelection campaignโฃ launch Monday, Lombardo โfocused on “common sense electionโข reforms, like voter ID,” without specifically addressing mail voting. โHe did not respond to requests for โcomment regardingโฃ his current stance on โTrump’sโข call toโ eliminate mail-in voting altogether.
The situation highlights a broader โขtension within โฃthe Republican party. While Trump continuesโฃ to cast doubt on โขtheโ integrity of mail-in voting, many GOP candidates recognize its importance for reaching voters and maximizing turnout. The 2024 โgeneral election saw 45% of Nevada voters cast ballotsโฃ by mail, demonstrating its continued importance in the state’s electorate.
Associated Press journalistโ Maya Sweedler in Washington contributed to this report.
Originally published: September 17, 2025 โขat 9:43 AM PDT
