Nevada’s Attorney General Was Out of State More Than 4 Months in 2024: Is This a Part-Time Job?

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Imagine if your neighbor told you they spent more than four months last year traveling out of state while still collecting their full paycheck. You’d probably raise an eyebrow, right?

That’s exactly what Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford did in 2024. A Las Vegas Review-Journal investigation found that Ford spent about 137 days away from Nevada last year. That’s more than one out of every three days.

Ford is now running for governor. But critics say his travel record raises serious questions about whether he’s been doing the job Nevada voters elected him to do.

Where Did He Go?

Ford’s travels took him around the world. He visited France during the Paris Olympics. He went to Singapore, Taiwan, and Mexico. He spent time at fancy resorts and exclusive conferences.

The year before, in 2023, Ford traveled to South Africa, Poland, Israel, and South Korea on trips valued at $45,000, paid for by the Attorney General Alliance. The Israel trip was to “study antisemitism” and “Palestinian issues,” according to his disclosure form.

In August alone, Ford spent just four days in Nevada. The rest of the month he was traveling.

One trip took him to Martha’s Vineyard, a wealthy island vacation spot off Massachusetts. He stayed at a boutique hotel called The Richard and spent nearly $12,000 in campaign money on the hotel alone. He spent another $2,000 on restaurants and a rental car.

Ford also traveled to conferences for Black leaders and Democratic political events. He campaigned for Kamala Harris in Detroit and Phoenix. He attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Who Paid for All This?

Here’s where it gets interesting for people who believe in limited government and careful spending.

Nevada taxpayers didn’t directly pay for most of these trips. Ford’s campaign or outside groups covered the costs.

But Ford spent $82,100 in campaign money on travel in 2024. That included $30,200 just on flights. He raised $514,100 in campaign contributions that year.

Nevada law lets candidates use campaign money for travel. But conservatives who believe in transparency and accountability might ask: Is this really what donors thought their money would be used for?

Ford’s team says the trips were important work. They involved meetings about crime, drugs, and other issues that cross state lines.

What About the Current Governor?

Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, spent about 30 days out of state in 2024. That’s less than one-fourth of Ford’s travel time.

Lombardo went to governors’ conferences and took a tour of a high-speed train system coming to Las Vegas. He spent about a week on vacation.

The difference is striking. One official traveled 30 days. The other traveled 137 days.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

For people who believe in limited government and public accountability, this story touches on several key principles.

First, there’s the question of what public service means. Did voters elect Ford to do a job in Nevada or to travel the world? When you take a government salary, you owe taxpayers your time and attention.

Second, there’s transparency. Ford’s office wouldn’t release his 2025 calendar when the newspaper asked for it in August. If there’s nothing to hide, why not show the public where their attorney general spends his time?

Third, there’s the issue of priorities. While Ford was at luxury resorts and exclusive conferences, who was handling Nevada’s legal business back home?

What Critics Are Saying

John Burke speaks for Better Nevada PAC, a group that supports Governor Lombardo. He told the Review-Journal that Ford has:

“treated the attorney general’s office as a part-time job and a way to vacation around the world on someone else’s dime.”

Burke added:

“In any private sector job, he would have been fired long ago.”

Ford’s campaign fired back. They said his travel included important work fighting drug trafficking, protecting children, and bringing money back to Nevada through legal settlements.

His spokesman said Ford has been:

“laser-focused on protecting Nevadans.”

What Happens Next?

Ford is running for governor in 2026. Governor Lombardo is running for re-election. This travel issue will likely become a major campaign topic.

Voters will have to decide whether Ford’s extensive travel shows he’s a connected leader who can work on big problems across the country. Or whether it shows he’s more interested in his own career than in serving Nevada.

What Can You Do?

If you’re concerned about government accountability, you have options. You can contact your state legislators and ask them to require more transparency about how elected officials spend their time. You can support candidates who promise to focus on the job voters give them. And you can simply pay attention and ask questions when something doesn’t look right.

In a free society, sunshine is the best disinfectant. When elected officials travel on campaign money or sponsored trips, voters deserve to know where they’re going and why.

The 2026 election will give Nevada voters a chance to decide whether Ford’s travel record matters. That’s democracy in action.

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 consest additional sources as needed.