A New Ad, A Real Investigation
If you've turned on the TV lately in Nevada, you may have already seen it. The Better Nevada PAC, which supports Governor Joe Lombardo's re-election, just dropped a major statewide ad targeting Attorney General Aaron Ford.
The PAC reportedly spent over a million dollars to get this message in front of voters across the state.
The ad hits Ford on something that has been quietly building for months. It says Ford's:
“high-flying travel has caught the attention of nonpartisan investigators on the Nevada Ethics Commission.”
Ethics officials are examining $35,000 in luxury trips taken by Ford, largely paid for by corporations his office regulates. The ad calls the trips high-flying. It calls them special interest perks.
It goes further, alleging Ford:
“leveraged his position for personal gain, accepting gifts, and improperly used government resources.”
The ad's verdict is delivered without hesitation:
“High-flying Aaron Ford. Luxury travel. Special interest perks. Too much baggage to be governor.”
What the Ethics Commission Actually Found
This isn't just political mudslinging. A Nevada Commission on Ethics panel has determined there is credible evidence to support moving forward with consolidated ethics complaints involving Attorney General Ford. The panel unanimously found enough cause to proceed,;taking a significant step.
The trips included international travel to South Korea, Poland, Israel, Macau, Singapore, and Tulum, Mexico. They were paid for by the Attorney General Alliance, a group that brings state attorneys general together. The complaint describes the Alliance as a nonprofit funded largely by corporations, some of which are subject to regulation or litigation before his office.
In plain English, companies that Ford is supposed to be watching over helped pay for his travel. That's a problem whether you're a Republican, a Democrat, or just a regular Nevadan trying to pay the bills.
The ethics complaint alleges violations of four subsections of Nevada's ethics laws, covering unwarranted privileges, leveraging the office for personal gain, use of government resources, and self-benefit.
And the travel is only part of it. Former Clark County Republican Party chairman Bernard Zadrowski counted 154 posts on the official Nevada attorney general account on X that linked to Ford's personal, campaign-heavy account.
Using a taxpayer-funded government account to drum up campaign donations is not a gray area. The commission has warned about exactly this behavior before.
Why This Matters to Limited-Government Conservatives
Here's the thing. When you believe in limited government, you believe that public officials have a short leash. They work for the people. They don't use public office as a springboard for personal gain. They show up. They do the job.
A Las Vegas Review-Journal investigation found that Ford spent 137 days out of state in 2024 alone. That's more than four months. And he collected his $160,000 salary the whole time.
Most Nevadans can't do that. Most Nevadans who skip four months of work don't get a paycheck, and they don't get a promotion either. Ford is asking voters to give him one.
This is exactly the kind of behavior that makes people distrust government:
One set of rules for politicians. A different set for everyone else.
What Comes Next
The full Nevada Commission on Ethics has 60 days to issue an opinion. If they find Ford willfully violated state law, he could face serious fines. The next commission meeting is scheduled for March 18.
That ruling lands right in the middle of Ford's 2026 gubernatorial campaign. He already faces a Democratic primary challenge. If the commission rules against him, that's a heavy weight to carry into a general election against Lombardo.
What You Can Do
Stay informed. Watch the Ethics Commission's proceedings. Share this story with neighbors who may not have heard about it. Ask Ford's campaign tough questions.
And when November comes around, remember who was in Nevada doing the job they were elected to do, and who was busy collecting frequent flyer miles on the corporate dime.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
