Compare Candidates | Nevada Governor 2026

Republican Primary

👨‍✈️

Joe Lombardo

Republican · Incumbent

Core Identity Veto Governor

Top Donor Bigelow ($25M+)

Key Liability Housing vetoes

💼

Irina Hansen

Republican · Challenger

Core Identity Outsider

2024 Mayoral 1.2% (849 votes)

Key Liability No experience

🎤

Matthew Winterhawk

Republican · Challenger

Core Identity Populist

Alt. Career Hip-hop artist

Key Liability Explicit music

Democratic Primary

⚖️

Aaron Ford

Democrat · AG

Core Identity System Operator

Top Donors Trial lawyers

Key Liability AB 236 / Crime

📋

Alexis Hill

Democrat · County Chair

Core Identity Technocrat

Top Donors Developers

Key Liability Margin tax history

Issue-by-Issue Comparison

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Housing & Rent

Deep Dive →

Nevada has highest eviction rates in nation

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	Free market	Anti-price fixing	Rent caps
Key Action	Vetoed SB335, AB486, AB44	Pushed AB44 (vetoed)	Supports rent control legislation
Who Benefits	Corporate landlords, Bigelow	Renters (if passed)	Renters (if passed)
Contradiction	Chief of Staff is housing lobbyist	Trial lawyer fees from housing litigation	Takes realtor PAC money

💼

Economy & Jobs

Deep Dive →

Nevada has highest unemployment rate in nation (5.4%)

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	"Nevada Way"	Diversification	End subsidies
Corporate Subsidies	$380M A's + $330M Tesla = $710M+	Supported Commerce Tax	Opposes Tesla breaks
Tax Reform	No new taxes	Maintain current structure	Proposes margin tax
Contradiction	"Free market" + massive subsidies	Corporate defense background	Takes developer money locally

💵

Cost of Living

Deep Dive →

Utilities, childcare, and minimum wage pressures

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Utilities	Signed refund bill	AG vs NV Energy	Limited record
Childcare	Proposed tax credits (failed); vetoed HOA bill	2017 champion; limited 2026 specifics	Universal pre-K supporter
Minimum Wage	No statements	Led effort to $12	"Livable wages" rhetoric
Key Gap	Industry-connected appointees	No current childcare specifics	No utility rate positions

🏗️

Labor Relations & Unions

Deep Dive →

Culinary Union, Building Trades, and the fractured coalition

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	Strategic splits	Pro-union	Service focus
Culinary Union	Signed SB441 gutting room cleaning	Strong alignment	Endorsed, rent control ally
Building Trades	A's stadium PLAs	Film tax credit support	Opposes film tax credits
Contradiction	Vetoed police AND state worker raises	Killed taxi union's anti-Uber bill	Approved non-union donor contract

🚔

Crime & Public Safety

Deep Dive →

AB 236 criminal justice reform central to debate

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	Law & Order	Justice reform	Pragmatic
AB 236	Tried to repeal	Architect of reform	No direct role
Key Action	Resort Corridor Court revival	Raised theft threshold to $1,200	Voted FOR camping ban
Contradiction	$19M civil rights settlements as Sheriff	Now pivots to "support police"	"Progressive" but criminalizes homelessness

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Taxes & Revenue

Deep Dive →

Nevada has no state income tax

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
New Taxes	Opposed	Maintain current	Margin tax
Corporate Breaks	Approves major subsidies	Supported targeted credits	Opposes "billionaire subsidies"
Risk	Structural underfunding continues	No new revenue	Margin tax failed 79-21 in 2014

🔍

Transparency & Ethics

Dark money and disclosure battles

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Donor Disclosure	Vetoed SB60; dark money fund	Standard disclosure	Standard disclosure
Ethics Issues	"Badge Gate" violation	$140K+ corporate travel	Beadles lawsuits (dismissed)
Public Records	Sued to hide emails	Bodycam sealed	Restricted public comment

🌎

Immigration

Deep Dive →

Sanctuary city debates

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Sanctuary Policies	Opposes	Complex	Democratic platform
Ford's Flip	Blames Ford for fed designation	2017: Co-sponsored sanctuary bill 2025: "I do not support sanctuary"	No major controversy

🔫

Gun Control & Safety

Deep Dive →

6 vetoed bills, 77% support for reforms, Route 91 legacy

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	2A defender	Gun safety advocate	Gun safety (inferred)
Key Actions	Vetoed 6 gun bills (2023 & 2025)	Red flag training, defended ghost gun ban	No gun policy record (preemption)
Age 21 for Semi-Auto	Vetoed twice	Supports	Supports (inferred)
Guns at Polls Ban	Vetoed twice	Supports	Supports (inferred)
Contradiction	Vetoes policies 69% of GOP supports	AG Laxalt delayed background checks	No documented positions

⚕️

Reproductive Rights

Abortion codified in Nevada but national pressures remain

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	"Pro-life" but signed protections	Pro-choice	Pro-choice
Key Action	Signed SB131 codifying abortion	Consistent support	Consistent support
Gender-Affirming Care	Vetoed shield law	Supports protections	Supports protections

🎓

Education

Deep Dive →

Ranked 50th in K-12 achievement, $4K below adequate funding

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Position	School choice	Public schools	Tax & invest
Key Action	Pushed ESAs/vouchers (blocked)	Suing to protect DOE	Margin tax for schools
Teacher Pay	Signed $8K retention bonuses	Pro-union, increase pay	Fund via margin tax
Contradiction	Vouchers divert public funds	Co-sponsored SB 555 (2017)	Margin tax failed 79-21%

🏥

Healthcare

Deep Dive →

29% of state budget is Medicaid; $1.2B in opioid settlements

	Lombardo	Ford	Hill
Medicaid	Defended expansion	Legal defender	Limited record
Opioid Policy	Enforcement focus	$1.2B settlements	Harm reduction
Rural Healthcare	$200M proposal	No platform	No platform
Mental Health	988 infrastructure	Youth litigation	$23M facility
Contradiction	Vetoed mental health bills	Fentanyl policy flip	No Medicaid position