As predicted by Nevada’s leading political commentators, Attorney General Aaron Ford (D), this is the case confirmed his intention Ford is known for his progressive stance on criminal justice reform, which differs significantly from the policies of current Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), who previously served as Clark County sheriff before defeating Democrat Steve Sisolak in the last gubernatorial election.
Ford has been Nevada’s attorney general since 2019. Previously, he was a state senator, where he held leadership positions including majority and minority leader.
Ford told this Las Vegas Review Journal:
I plan to seek higher office and have had informal conversations with people across the state to better understand what they think Nevada needs from its next governor. These conversations are an vital part of deciding how I can best serve our state.
As news of Ford’s intended candidacy broke, he announced Thursday that he was resigning from office filed new criminal charges against six Republicans referred to as “false voters”. The first case, filed last year, was dismissed by a Las Vegas judge for inappropriate venue. The new charges have now been filed in Carson City, the state capital, where voters met in 2020.
Ford said in a statement:
While we disagree with the improper venue finding and will continue to seek to overturn it, we are upholding our legal rights to ensure that these imitation voters do not escape justice.
Ironically, some of the Republicans who have been impeached for their roles as “fake voters” in 2020 since President-elect Donald Trump won this year’s Nevada election will cast official electoral votes for Trump on Tuesday as part of the Electoral College process.
Ford and Lombardo’s campaigns are promising different approaches not only to criminal justice and public safety, but also to their perspectives on working with the new Trump administration.
After Trump’s re-election, Ford released a statement opposing the new Trump administration’s mass deportation plan:
I hope the next four years pass peacefully; that these concerns are unfounded; and that Trump leads an administration that does not denigrate communities that are targets of hateful hostility. But make no mistake, my office is ready for the alternative, and we will be a bulwark against any attempts to impose unconstitutional mandates, override our system of separation of powers, or interfere with the rights of all Nevadans.
Attorney General @AaronDFordNV makes a post-election statement for Nevada. pic.twitter.com/JhY2p54uhZ
– NV Attorney General (@NevadaAG) November 18, 2024
Alternatively, Governor Lombardo signed a letter with 25 other Republican governors They pledge to support Trump’s plans to mass deport illegal immigrants:
Republican governors continue to fully support the Trump administration’s efforts to deport threatening criminals, gang members and terrorists who are in this country illegally. We understand the direct threat these criminal illegal immigrants pose to public safety and our national security, and we will do everything in our power to assist remove these illegal immigrants from our communities.
Together, we will continue to defend the American people, uphold the rule of law, and ensure our nation remains secure and secure for future generations. We stand ready to apply every tool at our disposal – whether through government law enforcement or the National Guard – to support President Trump in this vital mission.
Read more:
Lombardo calls for electoral reform in Nevada, calls overdue results a ‘national embarrassment’
A Question of Safety and Fairness: NV Governor Supports Women’s Boycott of Transgender Volleyball Players
The 2026 gubernatorial election is a brilliant spot in the Silver State, offering Nevada voters a real choice between opposing policies and candidates. This election will not only determine Nevada’s immediate future, but also set a precedent for how the state addresses critical issues such as criminal justice, public safety and state-federal relations during Trump’s return to the White House.
