Attorney General Aaron Ford (D-NV) has officially announced his candidacy for governor of Nevada. Ford made this announcement on Monday, July 28 at the East Las Vegas Community Center, a significant location in that it is considered the epicenter of the city’s Hispanic and Latino population.
Within the state, Latinos comprise approximately 20 percent of the population although they have been divided between the two parties on critical issues such as the economy, housing and the job market. In Las Vegas, the massive hospitality industry represents billions in revenue along with thousands of employees manifested by the Culinary Workers Union.
A native of Dallas, Tex. Ford was once on Medicaid and food stamps as a single father attending college, an experience that inspired his decision to helm the state.
A scholarship graduate from Texas A&M University, he in turn received a master’s degree from George Washington University, and an additional masters, Juris Doctor, and PhD. degrees from the Ohio State University.
He is married to Berna Rhodes-Ford, who is also an attorney. They are the parents of four childrens, along with a nephew they are raising.
Prior to embarking on a political career, he taught math at the public school level. In due course, he progressed through private practice to reach the Nevada State Senate, becoming Minority and Majority Leader before election to his current posting. As chief legal official he has focused on the opioid epidemic, securing over $ billion from private industry to address overdose and healthcare damages on behalf of taxpayers.
Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo
Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo is pinpointed as the cause of voter dissatisfaction centered around the cost of living in Nevada, which like much of the country has experienced difficulty in rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently this summer, various numeration services including the digitally based nonprofit Nevada Independent conducted a poll which revealed him as among the most vulnerable of GOP candidates seeking reelection.
Lombardo, who has described himself as a moderate Republican, may be flexible regarding the hardline platform represented by President Donald J. Trump.
In a sign indicating a possible political shift, Lombardo was one of a select few Republican governors who did not support the recent highly publicized “Big Beautiful Bill” Trump signed on July 4. which will reduce food and nutrition assistance to low income families, Medicaid and other health programs, while increasing funding for immigration and law enforcement along the border.