When politicians can’t win with ideas, they often play games with numbers.
That’s exactly what Nevada Democrats are doing with their latest attack on Gov. Joe Lombardo.
Their recent press release paints a gloomy picture of life in Nevada, but much of it leaves out key facts and context. Let’s take a closer look.
Claim: Nevada is one of the “worst states” to live in under Lombardo
This sounds dramatic, but the truth is more complicated.
These “best and worst state” rankings depend on who’s making them and what criteria they cherry-pick.
Safety, housing, and quality of life are influenced by dozens of factors, many outside the governor’s control.
Housing costs, for example, have been a problem for decades.
Nevada’s challenge is unique: nearly 85% of our land is controlled by the federal government, limiting space for development.
Add in a surge of Californians moving here, plus supply chain issues from COVID, and you get skyrocketing prices.
Lombardo hasn’t ignored the problem.
He signed Assembly Bill 540, putting $250 million into housing projects that will unlock over $1 billion in private investment and house more than 16,000 people.
That’s a real solution, not just talking points.
Claim: Nevada’s ranking dropped from 39th to 45th in the nation
Democrats point to a mysterious “new reporting” but don’t cite the actual study.
Different rankings use different measures, and the swing of just a few spots doesn’t prove anything about Lombardo.
Keep in mind, Lombardo only took office in January 2023.
Many problems Nevada faces – like inflation and high housing demand – were years in the making and tied directly to national policies.
Joe Biden’s inflation crisis has hit Nevada hard, from the gas pump to the grocery store.
To blame a single governor for every dip in a ranking is pure spin.
Claim: Housing costs and unemployment have “skyrocketed” under Lombardo
Yes, housing is expensive.
In Las Vegas, the median home price has climbed from $345,000 in 2020 to nearly $480,000 in 2024.
But that climb started long before Lombardo became governor. The causes are national inflation, federal land restrictions, and out-of-state buyers driving up demand.
Unemployment is another misleading point.
Nevada’s jobless rate was about 5.7% in January 2025 – the highest in the country, but far lower than the 30% during the COVID shutdowns.
Lombardo has pushed policies to encourage work, like tax credits for childcare to help parents rejoin the workforce. That’s progress, not failure.
Claim: Lombardo vetoed “affordable housing” bills while foreclosures and evictions hit records
This one leaves out important details.
Lombardo vetoed bills that would have imposed strict rent controls and made it harder for landlords to operate.
Economists warn those kinds of laws often backfire, leading to fewer rental units and even higher costs.
Instead, Lombardo backed AB540 and other initiatives that focus on building more housing. More supply is the real long-term answer.
He’s also championed a $200 million “Campus for Hope” project to fight homelessness head-on. That’s a proactive, market-driven approach – not government micromanagement that discourages investment.
Claim: One in three Nevadans want to leave the state because of housing costs
The problem with this claim is there’s no clear source.
Surveys do show that many Nevadans are worried about affordability. But that’s true in almost every state. Rising home and rent costs are a nationwide crisis.
Lombardo has called on Washington to release more land in Clark County for housing development.
That would give Nevada room to grow and ease the squeeze.
Again, the governor is addressing the root issue, not ignoring it.
Claim: Lombardo backs Trump’s “erratic” trade agenda
This one borders on fiction.
Democrats claim Lombardo said Nevadans need to “feel a little pain” from tariffs, but no such quote can be verified.
What Lombardo has actually said is that Nevada will “make adjustments on the fly” and focus on housing as a priority.
That’s called being practical.
As for Trump’s tariffs, critics like to ignore that they’re part of a larger plan to protect American industries from unfair foreign competition.
For Nevada, that means more opportunity to diversify our economy beyond just casinos and tourism.
Claim: Lombardo is helping corporations exploit middle-class families
This is the laziest attack of all. Democrats don’t cite a single example.
Lombardo’s housing plan specifically prioritizes first responders, teachers, and nurses.
AB540 encourages private investment in housing because, like it or not, we need the private sector to build homes.
That’s not “corporate exploitation.” That’s common sense.
The Real Story
Nevada Democrats want you to believe life is falling apart under Lombardo.
The truth is our challenges – housing costs, inflation, unemployment – were baked in long before he took office.
What Lombardo has done is bring market-driven solutions, cut red tape, and push Washington to release land that belongs in Nevada’s hands.
Instead of scare tactics, Nevadans deserve facts.
The facts show Lombardo is working to solve tough problems, while Democrats are playing politics with misleading statistics.
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.
