The 2026 governor’s race just got a lot more interesting. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford rolled out his healthcare platform this week, and the centerpiece is a plan to cancel medical debt for tens of thousands of Nevadans.
Governor Joe Lombardo’s campaign fired back almost immediately by pointing to a long list of things they say he’s actually done.
So what’s going on here, and why does it matter to you?
Ford’s Pitch: Cancel the Debt
Ford wants to use a nonprofit partnership model to wipe out medical debt for Nevadans who owe more than five percent of their annual income in medical bills. Anyone earning under about $62,600 a year could potentially qualify.
He pointed to a local example. The Latino advocacy group Somos Votantes cancelled $133.8 million in medical debt for more than 128,000 Nevadans last year. Ford says other states have done it too.
“We know that folks with medical debt are more likely to skip or to even delay care, and that makes us a less healthy state,” Ford said.
“We’ve seen Arizona do it, North Carolina do it … Michigan has done it, and we’re going to find a way to get it done as well.”
That sounds nice. But here’s the problem. When pressed on the details, Ford admitted the plan still has a lot of blanks to fill in. Would it erase all the debt?
“We’ll see,” he said.
Would Nevadans need to apply? He wasn’t sure.
“It’s going to be a work in progress,” he acknowledged.
A 2024 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper found that medical debt relief programs reduced payment of existing medical bills but did not improve “mental and physical health, healthcare utilization, and financial wellness.” In other words, the research says erasing the debt doesn’t actually make people healthier or financially better off in the long run.
Conservatives know what this really is. It’s a vote-buying promise built on someone else’s dime. It’s vague on the details, heavy on the feel-good. It doesn’t fix the reason healthcare costs so much in the first place.
Ford’s plan also includes drug price caps and new regulations on insurance companies. Governor Lombardo has vetoed similar bills before, warning that price caps would ultimately drive costs up for everyone. He was right to do so.
Lombardo’s Response: Here’s What We Actually Did
The Lombardo campaign didn’t wait around. Their response came fast, and it came with receipts.
“From expanding affordable care to strengthening our medical workforce, we are building a stronger, more resilient health care system in Nevada under Governor Joe Lombardo,” said Halee Dobbins, spokeswoman for the Lombardo campaign.
“Governor Lombardo’s focus is simple: improve access, lower costs, and ensure that every Nevadan has the opportunity to receive quality care close to home.”
Here’s what the governor has actually accomplished.
- He created the Nevada Health Authority to streamline state programs and leverage buying power.
- He secured $180 million through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to expand care in rural and underserved communities.
- He signed legislation establishing the Statewide Health Care Access and Recruitment Program.
- He put $4.5 million into Graduate Medical Education to grow Nevada’s doctor pipeline.
- He signed Senate Bill 262 to expand in-state residency opportunities for medical graduates — helping address the state’s ongoing physician shortage.
- He also secured emergency funding to keep the Women, Infants, and Children program running when federal disruption threatened it.
- And he backed Nevada’s first stand-alone children’s hospital through Intermountain Healthcare — a genuine, brick-and-mortar investment in the future of pediatric care here.
That’s not a wish list. That’s a record.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
Lombardo is focused on growing the supply of healthcare: more doctors, more training programs, more infrastructure, more competition. That’s how you actually bring costs down over time. It’s the free market doing what it does best.
Ford’s approach starts with government managing prices, erasing debts, and expanding the role of the state in healthcare decisions. History tells us that road leads to less innovation, fewer providers willing to work in Nevada, and higher costs for everyone who doesn’t qualify for the relief program.
Healthcare is going to be a major issue in November. The contrast here couldn’t be cleaner: One candidate has a track record. The other has a work in progress.
What You Can Do
Stay informed and stay engaged. Follow the Lombardo campaign’s updates at joelombardofornv.com. Share his record with friends and neighbors who might only be hearing Ford’s talking points.
And when Ford’s team comes knocking with promises, ask the question Ford himself couldn’t answer: What exactly is the plan?
Results beat promises every time.
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.
