A Familiar Face Returns to the Campaign Trail
Picture this: You have a neighbor who always keeps track of where the neighborhood association money goes. That’s Andy Matthews. The Nevada State Controller just announced he’s running for re-election in 2026.
He wants to keep doing what he’s been doing for the past two years: watching how the state spends your tax dollars.
Matthews was elected Controller in 2022, garnering more votes than any other Nevada Republican on the ballot that year. He’s the guy who sits in Carson City and manages Nevada’s checkbook. Think of him as the state’s accountant-in-chief.
What He’s Done So Far
Matthews has kept busy during his first term. His biggest win? He launched Nevada’s new online checkbook, checkbook.nv.gov, within his first year as Controller. The platform offers taxpayers detailed, real-time data on state spending.
This online checkbook is like having a window into the state’s bank account. You can see where every dollar goes. Want to know how much the state spent on office supplies last month? You can look it up. It’s that simple.
Matthews didn’t stop there. He’s been helping local cities and counties set up their own online spending trackers. It’s like teaching your neighbors how to balance their own books.
The Big Fight
Here’s where things get interesting for conservatives who care about government accountability. Matthews tried to create something called an Inspector General’s office. It’s the fifth session in a row with an inspector general bill failing to pass the Legislature.
What would this office do? Think of it as having a professional detective whose only job is to find waste and fraud in government spending. Matthews says while Nevada has the capability of auditing agencies that receive state funds, there is no forensic auditing.
The bill would have let this Inspector General look at any group that gets state money. That includes state agencies, local governments, school districts, and even private nonprofits that receive taxpayer funds.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For folks who believe government should be limited and efficient, this is huge. Right now, billions of tax dollars flow through Nevada’s government every year. Some of it gets wasted. Some might even get stolen. But there’s no dedicated person whose full-time job is hunting down these problems.
Matthews told the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs that 35 other states have inspectors general. Nevada is behind the curve on this basic accountability measure.
The appointment process Matthews proposed shows he understands conservative concerns about political games. Under the bill, after the state controller puts forward a list of candidates, one has to be unanimously agreed upon by the other three elected officials. This means Democrats and Republicans would have to agree on the person.
What’s Next
Matthews promises to bring back the Inspector General bill in 2027 if he wins re-election. He’s also committed to expanding the online transparency tools to more local governments.
For limited government conservatives, this represents a key choice. Do you want someone who’s proven he can shine a light on government spending? Or do you trust that the current system is working just fine?
“I look forward to earning the trust of Nevada voters again and continuing the fight for transparent, efficient, and responsible government,” Matthews said.
Every dollar the government wastes is a dollar that came out of your pocket. Every fraudulent contract is money that could have fixed roads or lowered taxes. And every time politicians block accountability measures, they’re telling you they’d rather operate in the dark.
Nevada conservatives have a choice coming up. They can stick with someone who’s already proven he’ll fight for transparency. Or they can roll the dice on someone who might not.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
