White House hopefuls are sending money and showing up in person for Aaron Ford, and Nevada voters should ask why.
A Crowded Guest List
Democrats who may run for president in 2028 are lining up to help Attorney General Aaron Ford. Ford is trying to unseat Gov. Joe Lombardo on November 3. Politico Playbook reports that together they have given or raised more than $1 million for Ford, much of it in the past month.
The biggest check came from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. He gave $400,000 in late August to a PAC tied to the Democratic Governors Association. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s PAC added $250,000. California Gov. Gavin Newsom raised more than $160,000.
The list keeps going. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pledged to raise $100,000. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pledged up to $100,000 for the state Democratic Party. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have chipped in too.\
Some scoopy Nevada 2028 tidbits in today’s @playbookdc —
Prospective Dem 2028ers are pouring money into Nevada (more than $1 million collectively) and making the trek themselves to boost Aaron Ford’s gubernatorial campaign in the final stretch.
Those pouring in cash /… pic.twitter.com/QY2Us26K9t
— Megan Messerly (@meganmesserly) September 30, 2026
Coming Soon to a Town Near You
Moore spent last weekend in Las Vegas. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin will headline a Reno fundraiser on October 7. Pete Buttigieg is due that same week.
When early voting opens October 17, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to be in Las Vegas. Beshear, Emanuel, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and California Rep. Ro Khanna will join her.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will host a Ford fundraiser next week. It will be held in Santa Monica.
Why All the Attention?
Think of it like a job fair. Nevada votes second on the Democrats’ presidential calendar and will be a key battleground in 2028. If you want to be president, you want friends here. Helping Ford now earns a favor later.
That should give us pause. The people writing these checks don’t live here. They won’t sit in our traffic or pay our property taxes. When a Nevada race raises money in Santa Monica, you have to wonder who the winner will answer to.
Where in the World Is Aaron Ford?
Lombardo is pressing that point hard. On Wednesday, his campaign said Ford has spent more than 420 days outside Nevada and was in Texas that day.
Lombardo posted:
“Another day, another flight, another reminder that Aaron Ford puts out-of-state donors ahead of Nevadans.”
He added:
“Nevadans deserve someone who puts his job here first.”
The 420-day count comes from reporting by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which reviewed Ford’s official calendars and campaign reports. In 2024 alone, the Review-Journal found Ford was out of state about 137 days. Lombardo was gone about 30.
Another day, another flight, another reminder that Aaron Ford puts out-of-state donors ahead of Nevadans.
After spending 420+ days (and counting) out of Nevada, today Ford is in Texas. Nevadans deserve someone who puts his job here first. pic.twitter.com/F9WTRN7MKm
— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) September 30, 2026
Ford’s side says no state money paid for the trips, and much of the travel was for conferences run by attorneys general groups he belongs to. But some of those trips are now under review.
In February, a state ethics panel advanced a case against Ford over more than $35,000 in luxury trips from the Attorney General Alliance. That group is funded by corporations, and some of them face regulation or lawsuits from his office. Ford’s office says he followed all ethics rules.
Still, Ford already has a full-time job. Who is minding the store while he is on the road?
Close Race, Heavy Baggage
This race is close, and nobody should get comfortable. Public polls have shown it anywhere from tied to slightly in Lombardo’s favor. A poll from the Republican firm Tarrance Group, released by a pro-Lombardo PAC, shows the governor ahead 53% to 47%.
Voters like the governor more. Forty-nine percent view Lombardo favorably, while Ford sits at 41%.
For a guy who travels this much, Ford sure packs a lot of baggage. He sponsored a pardon board application for a man convicted of killing a pregnant woman, though he says he would have voted against clemency.
Read our prior reporting:
Aaron Ford’s Story on a Killer’s Clemency Bid Keeps Changing
Even Democrats admit it won’t be easy. Emmy Ruiz, a former Biden White House political director, told Playbook:
“Nevada is an incredibly difficult state that you have to fight for.”
What You Can Do
Make sure you are registered and your address is current. Nevada mails ballots to active voters, so check where yours is headed.
Early voting starts October 17. Folks in Sacramento, Springfield and Annapolis have made their choice about Nevada. Now it is your turn.
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.
