Gov. Joe Lombardo remained the top fundraiser in his re-election bid, according to first quarter campaign contribution reports on the April 15 filing deadline.
The reports are the last look at state candidates’ fundraising and spending before the June 9 primary.
Lombardo had a very good three months with his campaign raising $2.2 million from January through March. His affiliated Nevada Way PAC added another $1.5 million for a total of $3.7 million in the first quarter.
Total cash on hand for Lombardo heading into the rest of the year: more than $14 million.
Lombardo has a commanding fundraising advantage over his likely Democratic opponent, Attorney General Aaron Ford.
Ford reported direct contributions totaling $1.23 million and including his affiliated Forward Nevada PAC raised nearly $1.5 million in the first quarter.
Ford has combined cash on hand of roughly $2.7 million. Lombardo has more than a five-fold cash advantage over Ford.
Lombardo’s major cash edge matters. He can advertise early, fully respond to attacks, and have plenty left over in the fall.
Notable donations to Lombardo’s Nevada Way PAC included $1 million from the Las Vegas Sands and $500,000 from Nevada Gold Mines.
Noteworthy contributions received by Ford’s Forward Nevada PAC include $100,000 from billionaire personal injury lawyer John Morgan and $50,000 from a New York-based PAC affiliated with the company that operates Resorts World Casino NYC.
Underdog Democratic primary challenger Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill raised $171,000 in the quarter. Most of that—$126,000— were loans from her and her husband. Hill reported $91,000 cash on hand.
Ford has lapped Hill in fundraising and has effectively ignored her in the primary.
Ford is the “Reid machine” choice. He’s a two-term attorney general and former state lawmaker endorsed by all five Democrats in Nevada’s congressional delegation and 33 state lawmakers.
A two-term county commissioner, Hill focuses on growing frustration with the existing Democratic Party and emphasizes her candidacy as an alternative to the status quo.
Hill has tried to get Ford to debate her for months but has been spurned. She’s asked privately, publicly and through media outlets. Hill set a specific date—May 14—and said she would show up whether Ford does or not.
So far this cycle, ad tracking service AdImpact reports Republican-aligned groups have spent more than $5.3 million in campaign ads for the gubernatorial election. Democrats and aligned groups have spent only $32,000.
In February, a pro-Lombardo PAC launched the first major advertising campaign in the governor’s race, attacking Ford for his “high-flying” out-of-state “luxury” travel. Early spending on the 30-second advertisement underscores Republicans’ belief that Ford’s trips are a significant liability.
The ads attack ‘Airfare Aaron’ Ford’s absence from Nevada citing a Las Vegas Review-Journal analysis that Ford spent approximately 137 days out of state in 2024 alone— more than a third of the year.
Meanwhile, Governor Lombardo traveled out of state about 30 days that same year.
Ford’s international trips in 2023 and 2024 included travel to France, South Korea, Singapore, Macau, Taiwan, Israel, Poland and the Yucatan and had a combined value of more than $35,000.
A review panel from the Nevada Commission on Ethics agreed to advance a complaint against Ford, accusing him of using his position to benefit his private interests for travel largely funded by corporations subject to regulation or litigation before his office.
Those junkets reportedly continued over a period of four years, totaling about $110,000.
The gubernatorial race remains a key target for Democrats in a favorable midterm environment.
The current aggregate polling average in the race has Lombardo with a 1.5% margin over Ford.
University of Virginia Professor Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball ranks the contest as “Leans Republican”, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales has it “Tilts Republican”, and the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter calls the race a “Tossup”.
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