Can Nevada Democrats defy their 21st century duodecennial disintegration?

Las Vegas: So, it looks like Nevada Democrats are in a bit of a pickle. Remember how Kenny Guinn and Brian Sandoval didn’t even bother to campaign hard? Well, it seems like Joe Lombardo is in a pretty comfy spot right now.

Back in 2002, there wasn’t a Senate seat up for grabs, and it wasn’t a presidential election year. The only big race was for governor, and honestly, it was a snooze fest. The big money and power players were all backing Guinn, while the Democrats were just kind of… absent.

Joe Neal was the Democratic nominee, and he had this wild idea about raising the gaming tax. Spoiler alert: that didn’t go over well. The party didn’t really support him, and Guinn won by a landslide.

Fast forward to 2014, and guess what? No Senate seat again, and it was another boring governor’s race. Sandoval was the incumbent, and the Democrats were still nowhere to be found. By then, the Reid machine was supposed to be this powerhouse, but they didn’t back anyone either.

Harry Reid figured there was no way to beat Sandoval, so he thought maybe a Democrat could snag the lieutenant governor spot. But, surprise, surprise, no one cared about that race either, and the Republicans swept the board.

Reid didn’t run for reelection in 2016, and Sandoval was all set to let Joe Heck take a shot at the Senate seat. Heck ended up losing to Catherine Cortez Masto, the Democratic nominee.

Now, looking ahead to 2026, it’s déjà vu all over again. No Senate seat, no presidential election, and the only race that might catch anyone’s eye is for governor. And guess what? A Republican incumbent is running for reelection again.

Joe Lombardo must be feeling pretty good about all this. But here’s the twist: things might be different this time around. Unlike Guinn and Sandoval, who faced weak opponents, Lombardo might actually have a challenge.

Aaron Ford, the Democratic Attorney General, is gearing up to run against Lombardo. He’s got a solid track record and has won statewide elections before. But let’s hope he doesn’t scare off other potential candidates from jumping into the race.

Just because the Nevada Democratic Party hasn’t shown much interest in the past doesn’t mean voters shouldn’t have options. Whether it’s Ford or someone else, Lombardo will likely face a real contender this time.

Looking back, the political landscape was pretty wild in 2002 and 2014. The Democrats were kind of floundering, and the Republicans were riding high. But with Trump in the White House in 2026, things could shake out differently.

Who knows what will be on voters’ minds by then? It’s a crazy world, and Nevada Democrats might just find themselves in a tough spot again. It’s almost like there’s some cosmic force at play that makes them disappear every 12 years.

And hey, I get it if you’re thinking, “Why are we talking about 2026 when it’s barely 2025?” But here’s the kicker: the Nevada Legislature is about to kick off its last session before the election, and that means the campaign season is about to heat up.

So, while you might not be thinking about 2026 yet, trust me, Lombardo is. And Nevada Democrats better hope they don’t turn into jelly when the time comes.