The pro-Lombardo group says the money will run from August through Election Day, and that's on top of millions already spent.
Money talks in politics. And right now, Better Nevada PAC is talking loud.
The group has reserved more than $20 million in television, radio, streaming and cable ads to help re-elect Governor Joe Lombardo, according to a Politico Playbook scoop.
The ads will run from August all the way through Election Day in November. That reservation comes on top of at least $6 million the PAC has already spent on ads this cycle.
Think of it like a family that already put a down payment on a house and just wrote the check for the rest of the mortgage. Better Nevada PAC isn't dipping a toe in this race. It's diving in headfirst, months before many voters start paying attention.
Lil ad spending scooplet in this AM’s @playbookdc: Better Nevada PAC, which is supporting Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo’s reelection bid, is reserving more than $20m across broadcast, cable, radio, streaming, etc. That’s on top of at least $6 million the PAC has already spent on ads. pic.twitter.com/mh5lcYZtm4
— Megan Messerly (@meganmesserly) July 29, 2026
Why This Race Matters So Much
This isn't just any governor's race. Nevada's contest between Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford is one of the most competitive in the country this year.
National forecasters like the Cook Political Report call it a toss-up. A mid-July poll had the two candidates tied at 41 percent apiece.
For conservatives, that makes every dollar and every ad matter. Better Nevada PAC spokesman John Burke laid out the stakes plainly.
“Governor Joe Lombardo's results speak for themselves: over 100,000 new jobs, expanded school choice, massive investments in attainable housing, and less crime on our streets,” Burke said.
“Nevadans won't allow Gavin Newsom's puppet, Aaron Ford, to undo the progress Nevada has made over the last four years with his woke tax-and-spend agenda.
We will hold him accountable and ensure Nevada keeps moving forward with Joe Lombardo leading our state as we work to turn out every voter to re-elect him this November.”
That message is built around a simple idea. Conservatives believe government works best when it stays out of people's way, keeps taxes low, and lets families and businesses make their own choices.
Burke's comparison to California Governor Gavin Newsom is meant to remind voters what happens when government goes the other direction. High taxes. More regulation. People packing up and leaving the state.
What The Other Side Says
Ford's campaign sees things differently. He has leaned into what he calls the “Lombardo-Trump economy,” pointing to grocery prices and housing costs.
Ford just launched his first television ad of the campaign yesterday, a spot in which he brings up his background as a middle school math teacher to argue the numbers under Lombardo don't add up.
Read our prior coverage:
Aaron Ford's New Ad Raises Questions On Cost, Ethics, And Music Rights
Ford's team also notes he has been outspent badly so far. Independent ad tracking has shown Lombardo and his allies with a massive financial edge over Democrats since last December.
What Happens Next
Expect the ad war to heat up fast now that both sides are on the air.
Watch for new campaign finance reports due in October, right before early voting starts. Those reports will show whether Ford can close the gap or whether Lombardo's massive early advantage holds through the fall.
What Conservatives Can Do
Money buys airtime, but it doesn't cast votes. If you want to see Lombardo re-elected, the best thing you can do is make sure you're registered and that your family and neighbors are too.
Nevada's governor's race will be decided in the details. Keep watching the ad reservations, keep watching the polls, and keep showing up.
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.
