Democratic bloodbath: Aaron Ford’s plan to avoid primary battle backfires in Nevada

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Grab your coffee and settle in. Aaron Ford thought he had this thing locked up. The Democratic Attorney General wanted to clear the field for his 2026 governor’s run. Instead, he’s got a fight on his hands.

Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill just announced she’s jumping into the race. Ford’s team had to be hoping other Democrats would step aside and hand him the nomination. That’s not happening.

As Better Nevada PAC spokesman John Burke put it: “Aaron Ford wanted a coronation; instead, he’s going to have to fight it out with Alexis Hill — and perhaps others — to win over his party’s faithful as both of them try to out-radical one another.”

This is great news for conservatives. When Democrats fight each other, they spend money and time attacking their own instead of focusing on our candidate, Governor Joe Lombardo.

Burke continued: “No matter which candidate Democrats choose, neither is fit to lead our state. Nevadans are proud of Governor Joe Lombardo’s bipartisan, results-driven leadership, and they will re-elect him in 2026.”

That tells you everything you need to know. Even Ford’s opponents can see this primary is going to be a mess. Both Hill and Ford represent the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Their policies would take Nevada in a direction that goes against everything limited government conservatives believe in.

Ford’s Failed Strategy

Ford thought his name recognition and war chest would scare off other Democrats. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill will run for the Democrat nomination in 2026. Ford, who declared his candidacy late last year, has struggled for months to gain traction as he has adopted increasingly extreme stances on issues from immigration to public safety.

The Attorney General expected other Democrats to fall in line behind his candidacy. Instead, Hill’s entry shows that Ford hasn’t locked up party support the way he hoped. While Ford is expected to launch his campaign in a matter of days formally, he will now face a contested nomination fight against Hill.

Making matters worse for Ford, rumors have been circulating that former Governor Steve Sisolak and Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager may also enter the race. If that happens, Ford goes from expecting a coronation to facing a brutal multi-way primary.

Who Is Alexis Hill?

Hill represents Washoe County Commission District 1, which includes Incline Village and Crystal Bay at Lake Tahoe. She was first elected to the county commission in 2020.

Here’s what should worry conservatives about Hill’s record. Hill is passionate about conservation and smart growth policies, fighting climate change on a local level. That’s code for bigger government programs and more regulations on businesses.

She supports community-building initiatives like youth services, mental illness support, and homelessness programs. Translation: more government spending that taxpayers will pay for.

Hill said in an interview: “Now, more than ever, people are struggling, and I want to deliver for our workers and our families.”

But her idea of “delivering” means more government spending, more regulations, and higher taxes.

Who Is Aaron Ford?

Ford has been Nevada’s Attorney General since 2019. He previously served in the Nevada Senate from 2013 to 2018 as both majority and minority leader.

Ford’s record should alarm any conservative. In his first two years as attorney general, Ford tangled with President Trump 33 times. He joined lawsuits challenging Trump’s border wall declaration and other key policies.

Think about that. While President Trump was trying to secure our border, Ford was fighting him in court using Nevada taxpayer dollars.

Here’s something else conservatives should know. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Ford “has a history of failing to fully pay his taxes.” The IRS filed three tax liens against Ford for more than $185,000 in unpaid taxes from 2010-2013.

Ford wants to run your state government, but he couldn’t manage his own tax bills? He bought a new home for $468,138 in 2013, the same year he failed to fully pay his income taxes.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

This Democratic primary shows us what the left wants for Nevada. Both candidates represent big government solutions to every problem.

Ford says Nevada should be “sovereign” when it comes to immigration enforcement. That’s political doublespeak for opposing federal immigration enforcement.

Recent reports show Ford’s office has been selective about which laws to follow. Nevada law requires the attorney general to defend judges in civil actions. But Ford’s office is playing word games to avoid their legal duty.

Hill talks about “smart growth” and “fighting climate change.” Those are code words for restricting property rights and making energy more expensive for working families.

The Money Race

Here’s where things get interesting. Hill’s latest campaign finance filing shows a balance of $110,000 while Ford’s shows $440,000 and Lombardo’s $5.5 million.

Ford starts with a big advantage in name recognition and money. But Hill represents the newer, more activist wing of the Democratic Party. This could get expensive for Democrats.

Remember, every dollar they spend fighting each other is a dollar not being used against Lombardo.

What Comes Next

Former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is considering running for governor against Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2026. If Sisolak jumps in, that makes three Democrats fighting for the nomination.

The Democratic primary will force all candidates to move left to win progressive voters. That’s good news for conservatives because it makes the eventual nominee less appealing to moderate voters in the general election.

The Cook Political Report lists the 2026 race in Nevada as a toss-up. But toss-up races can be won with the right strategy and turnout.

Nevada conservatives have their work cut out for them. But with the right candidate and the right message, we can keep Nevada moving in the right direction.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.