Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford took to X today with a post that sounded more like a campaign ad than an honest update on Nevada’s economy.
In it, Ford claimed that under Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, Nevada’s economy is “suffering,” unemployment is “up,” consumer spending is “down,” tourism and state revenue are falling, and Lombardo wants Nevadans to “feel pain.”
Here’s the truth: Nevada’s economy is suffering under @JoeLombardoNV.
Unemployment has increased.
Consumer spending is down.
Tourism and state revenue are down.
And Lombardo thinks that Nevadans need to feel “pain”.https://t.co/SmhNYGjDQu
— Aaron D. Ford (@AaronDFordNV) August 19, 2025
The problem? The facts don’t back him up.
Claim One: “Nevada’s economy is suffering under Gov. Lombardo”
This is the kind of sweeping statement politicians like to make when they don’t have much data to stand on.
Nevada, like the rest of the country, has been dealing with high inflation, lingering effects of the pandemic, and national policies out of Washington.
Lombardo, who took office in January 2023, has actually been working to grow the state’s economy.
His administration has focused on streamlining licensing, lowering red tape, and encouraging business growth in places like the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.
That’s the same hub where Tesla, Google, and other companies have invested billions. Hardly the picture of a “suffering” economy.
Claim Two: “Unemployment has increased”
According to USAFacts, Nevada’s unemployment rate in June 2025 was 5.4 percent. That’s actually a small drop from the year before, not an increase.
Yes, it’s true Nevada still has one of the higher unemployment rates in the country, especially in Clark County, where it’s 5.8 percent.
But blaming Lombardo ignores the bigger picture.
Nevada’s economy depends heavily on tourism, which is influenced by national trends and global travel, not just the governor’s policies.
Claim Three: “Consumer spending is down”
This is cherry-picking.
Some categories of spending in Clark County have dipped, like food services, clothing, and car sales.
But general merchandise stores – think Costco, Walmart, and Target – actually saw spending go up by almost half a billion dollars.
That tells a very different story: Nevadans are still shopping, just shifting where they spend. Families might be eating out less, but they’re stocking up at big-box stores.
That’s a sign of belt-tightening due to national inflation, not proof that Lombardo is running the economy into the ground.
Claim Four: “Tourism and state revenue are down”
Tourism is down, no question.
Las Vegas visitor numbers dropped about 7 percent in the first half of 2025, and June saw an even steeper decline.
But again, that has more to do with national economic jitters than with who sits in the governor’s office.
Ford also claims state revenue is falling, but he provides no numbers.
Nevada’s state budget has always been tied heavily to tourism and sales taxes. That’s exactly why Lombardo has pushed to diversify the economy into areas like manufacturing and logistics.
Critics don’t want to admit it, but that’s a smart long-term plan.
Claim Five: “Lombardo thinks Nevadans need to feel pain”
This one is pure political spin.
Ford doesn’t cite a single source for this claim, and no public record shows Lombardo ever said such a thing.
It looks like a made-up talking point designed to scare voters. Conservatives would call this what it is: fearmongering.
Aaron Ford is a Democrat, and his post reads less like an honest economic update and more like partisan messaging ahead of the next election cycle.
He leaves out key context, ignores positive developments, and twists Lombardo’s record to fit a narrative.
Nevadans deserve better than soundbites and spin.
Yes, the state faces challenges. Tourism is down. Inflation is eating into paychecks. But those are national problems, not the fault of one governor.
Meanwhile, Lombardo has been laying the groundwork for long-term economic strength by cutting red tape, attracting businesses, and diversifying the economy.
In the end, Ford’s post says more about his political ambitions than it does about Nevada’s economic health.
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.
