Nevada held its general election on November 3, 2020, deciding 52 legislative seats. No chamber changed party control.
Highlights
- Democrats kept the trifecta that would redraw Nevada's districts after the census, but even as Joe Biden carried the state, Republicans broke the Democrats' Assembly supermajority and narrowed their Senate majority, so any tax increase in the 2021 session would need Republican votes in both chambers.
- Republicans picked up three Assembly seats, all by unseating Democratic incumbents. Former Assemblyman Richard McArthur (R) won back his seat in Assembly District 4 from Assemblywoman Connie Munk (D) by about 2,100 votes; former Assemblywoman Jill Dickman (R) beat Assemblyman Skip Daly (D) in District 31 by about 1,400; and Andy Matthews (R) unseated Assemblywoman Shea Backus (D) in District 37 by fewer than 700 votes in the last legislative race to be called.
- In the Senate, Carrie Buck (R) pulled off the biggest upset, overtaking Kristee Watson (D) in the open Senate District 5 by about 330 votes once Clark County's provisional ballots were counted, even though both Assembly districts inside her Senate district voted Democratic. Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D) held District 6 by about 630 votes over April Becker (R). Becker sued for a new election alleging voter fraud, then withdrew a follow-up election contest in February 2021.
- Every one of the 4 seats that changed hands went from Democrats to Republicans. Another 14 legislative races drew only one candidate.
- Voters approved 4 of 5 statewide questions. Question 2 made Nevada the first state to enshrine same-sex marriage in its constitution, and Question 6 gave the required second approval to a 50 percent renewable-energy standard by 2030. Question 3 revised the duties of the Board of Pardons Commissioners and Question 4 wrote certain voting rights into the constitution. Question 1, which would have removed the Board of Regents from the constitution, narrowly failed.
Legislature
- Assembly (42 seats): 29 D, 13 R before the election, 26 D, 16 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
- Senate (21 seats): 13 D, 8 R before the election, 12 D, 9 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
Legislative races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Removes the constitutional status of the Board of Regents | Failed (49.85% yes) |
| Question 2 | Recognizes the marriage of couples regardless of gender | Passed (62.43% yes) |
| Question 3 | Revises duties of the State Board of Pardons Commissioners | Passed (61.18% yes) |
| Question 4 | Creates a constitutional right to certain voting procedures and policies | Passed (64.12% yes) |
| Question 6 | Requires utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030 | Passed (57.94% yes) |