Gavin Newsom is heading back to Nevada this week. He's not here for the buffets or the sunshine. He's here to raise money for Aaron Ford.
That's worth sitting with for a second. Nevada families have been paying some of the highest gas prices in the country. Nevada's own Republican Attorney General candidate has publicly demanded that Ford sue Newsom over it.
And Ford's response? He's teaming up with Newsom on a fundraising tour.
A Three-Day Trip With Bigger Ambitions
Newsom's swing kicks off Thursday and runs three days.
According to POLITICO, the trip includes a stop at a Democratic Party canvassing kickoff in Las Vegas, a fundraiser for Ford, and meetings with Nevada Democratic leaders like Congressman Steven Horsford.
A spokesperson for Newsom, Izzy Gardon, framed the trip as part of a bigger push, saying Newsom:
“will campaign across California and the country to protect democracy and voting rights, elect Democrats, flip seats, and end Donald Trump's unchecked power.”
Most people watching this understand what's really going on. Newsom is widely expected to run for president in 2028, and Nevada is an early voting state in the Democratic primary.
This is his third visit to Nevada since last year. Only Congressman Ro Khanna has visited more.
Why Nevadans Are Paying More At The Pump
Here's the part that should bother conservatives most. Nevada doesn't refine its own gasoline. Nearly everything Nevada drivers pump into their tanks comes from California refineries. When California shuts refineries down, Nevada feels it fast.
And California has been shutting refineries down. Phillips 66 closed its Los Angeles-area refinery in late 2025. Valero idled its Benicia refinery in the Bay Area. Together, those closures wiped out a meaningful chunk of the fuel supply the entire western United States depends on.
As of early July, AAA reported Nevada's average price for a gallon of regular gas at $4.61, well above the national average of roughly $3.83. Nevada prices had climbed as high as $4.71 in June before easing slightly.
Governor Lombardo has tried working the problem through normal channels.
He wrote to Newsom directly, warning that:
“any major policy change that could alter refinery economics in California must account for the real-world consequences to neighboring states that depend on that infrastructure.”
Lombardo also created a Fuel Resiliency Committee to look for ways to reduce Nevada's dependence on California fuel altogether.
The Lawsuit Nobody's Filing
Back in March, Republican Attorney General candidate Adriana Guzmán Fralick sent Ford a formal demand letter. Her message was blunt: sue California and Newsom, or explain to Nevada voters why you won't.
“What is needed now is a lawsuit,” she wrote.
“California does not have the right to strangle Nevada's fuel pipeline and leave our families with no recourse.”
That was four months ago. Ford hasn't filed suit. He hasn't even publicly responded to the letter. Instead, he's fundraising with the very governor whose policies triggered the crisis.
To conservatives, this isn't complicated. Limited government means officials answer to the people who elected them, not to political allies who write checks. When an Attorney General won't hold a neighboring state accountable because that state's governor is helping fund his campaign, that's a conflict of interest playing out in plain view.
What Democrats Would Say
To be fair, Ford's defenders would argue a lawsuit isn't a slam dunk. States generally have wide authority to regulate industries within their own borders, even when neighboring states feel the effects.
They'd also point out that California's refinery closures stem from environmental and safety concerns, not an intentional effort to hurt Nevada. Newsom's team would likely say the same.
Still, intent doesn't change the bill Nevada families are paying every time they fill up.
What Happens Next
Expect Ford's ties to Newsom to become a bigger campaign issue as November approaches, especially if gas prices spike again. Nevada voters looking for accountability might ask Ford directly, at town halls or campaign stops, why he hasn't acted.
Backing Lombardo's Fuel Resiliency Committee and supporting candidates who'll pursue Nevada's energy independence are two concrete ways conservatives can respond. Nevada's fuel supply shouldn't hinge on political friendships in Sacramento.
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.
