Ford seeks to unseat ‘vulnerable’ Republican governor

If Attorney General Aaron Ford wins, he would be the first Black American elected as governor in Nevada.

Aaron Darnell Ford made history in 2019 when he became Nevada’s 34th Attorney General, the first Black American to hold a statewide constitutional office. If he defeats Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2026, he would bring the same honor to the governor’s office.

Ford, once a public school teacher, he hails from Texas and built his career around public service, justice reform, constitutional rights, and consumer protections. However, it’s his commitment to working families that he holds in the highest regard.

“Make no mistake about it,” he said in an interview with News 3. “My priorities are in what defines me as a husband and as a father.” 

While working as a private practice lawyer and partner at Snell & Wilmer LLP and Eglet Adams, he entered state politics in 2010 when he ran an unsuccessful bid for Nevada State Senate District 12 against Republican Joseph Hardy. Ford lost the race by 10 points and after moving he saw victory in the 2012 Nevada State Senate District 11 race against Republican John Drake, securing more than 62% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.

Before becoming Nevada’s top law enforcement official, in which he battled the first Trump administration on a string of successful lawsuits, he served in the Nevada Senate, where he served as both Majority and Minority leaders between 2015 and 2019.

According to the Nevada Attorney General website, the statesman’s legislative record includes spearheading a mandate for police body cameras and supporting the creation of a “Conviction Integrity Unit” to review wrongful conviction claims. Ford also championed a bill that would limit the use of no-knock warrants in Nevada following the death of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman killed by Louisville, Kentucky police in her home during a no-knock warrant. 

When he ran for Nevada Attorney General in 2018, his arrest record while a youth became a topic of discussion which resulted in an emotional public address during an interview with Channel 8. 

“Over the last 25 years, my wife and I’ve been able to raise three fantastic young men, and we’ve raised our nephew, and that’s what I hope the voters can understand,” he said.

Voters chose Ford for the position over Republican Wesley Duncan, whom he narrowly defeated by 4,533 votes, or less than one point, and he took over the seat in 2019.   

As attorney general, he “took on big drug companies, corporate landlords and insurance companies,” he wrote in an X post online. He was successful in a suite of legal battles, including a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that played a role in worsening the opioid crisis, which resulted in $1.2 billion in settlements. The prescription drug epidemic caused the deaths of over 500 Clark County residents in 2024.

Now termed out, he seeks higher office.

Ford officially launched his 2026 gubernatorial campaign positioning himself as a pro-family candidate. His candidacy declaration, long-expected, came after endorsements from Nevada Democratic US Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen.

“We are about to embark on a very important journey—one that many of you have been on [with me] since we began this thing called a political career,” Ford said inside Victory Missionary Baptist Church, on the Historic Westside when he launched his campaign.

The race to the governorship

Ford touted his run for governor as a pathway toward a better life for all Nevadans as he cast himself as a proponent of “humanity and dignity.” He aims to unseat the incumbent Lombardo and has taken to the media to fan tension between them.

Ford slammed Lombardo for his allegiance to President Donald Trump, calling him out for his comments regarding economic hardships created by increased tariffs. Speaking with Channel 8 News, Lombardo said, “I think we maybe need to feel a little pain in the short term.”

“Can you believe that our governor wants families to feel pain while he caters to power,” Ford said at the East Las Vegas community center last week. “Well, thanks to Joe Lombardo and Donald Trump, there’s plenty of pain to go around.”

Ford raised upwards of $500,000 last year compared to Lombardo’s $5.5 million reported in January. 

Money for the “Ford For Governor” campaign poured in from several states, including Texas, California, and Florida. One of the most notable local donors includes Kris Englestad, leader of the prominent Nevada donor group, the Englestad Foundation. She contributed $10,000 to the campaign. That was matched by Kevin Bernstein, a psychiatrist affiliated with North Las Vegas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and North Vista Hospital.

Despite having a Democratic challenger, Washoe County Commissioner Chair Alexis Hill, and the tremendous financial advantage Lombardo holds in the race, Ford remains confident.

“In 2022, I earned more votes than any other candidate in Nevada’s midterm history — including Gov. Joe Lombardo,” Ford said in a statement. “Lombardo is the most vulnerable Republican governor up for reelection next year.”