Election 2026

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Candidate record

Joseph Lombardo

Governor of Nevada since January 2023. Former Clark County sheriff. Campaign affiliation: Republican.

Voter guide

Background, stated goals, record, and money

Goals come from the campaign's own platform. Record lines are official actions.

How this guide is built

Background comes from official records, and from the campaign's own biography where the bullet says so; goals are summarized from the campaign's own platform and stay attributed; the record lines are official actions with the government source attached; money is shown as filed, with the filings it covers in the note under the table, and is not evidence of why any position was taken.

Joseph Lombardo

Background

  • Governor of Nevada since January 2023.
  • Clark County sheriff, elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.
  • Spent 26 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department before that.
  • Served in the U.S. Army and the Nevada National Guard.

What they say they want to do

  • Every child reading at grade level by third grade, and higher per-pupil funding tied to results.
  • More down payment help for nurses, teachers, military families and first responders.
  • No new taxes, and a yearly back-to-school sales tax holiday.
  • No rate increases for Nevada homes and businesses to pay for data centers.
  • Lower the amount of fentanyl it takes to be charged with trafficking.

What the official record shows

  • Signed SB 503, the 2023-25 school funding bill.
  • Signed SB 35, which made 28 grams of illegally made fentanyl a trafficking crime.
  • Finished vetoing bills from the 2023 session: 75 in all, the Legislature's list shows.
  • Signed AB 540, a housing bill with $133 million for a new housing account and up to $50 million in bonds.
  • Finished vetoing bills from the 2025 session: 87 in all, counting SB 99, which the Legislature's list leaves out.

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Governor candidates file with the Nevada Secretary of State. We have not added those filings yet.

Source: Nevada Secretary of State

Words and record

What they say, and what the record shows

Each card gets one label from a fixed list and states its own limit.

Joseph Lombardo

Veto record

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says he has issued over 160 vetoes, a state record.

What the record shows ·

He vetoed 75 bills in 2023 and 87 in 2025, 162 in all, and no earlier governor in records back to 1899 vetoed more than 56.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says he has issued over 160 vetoes, a state record.

“with over 160 vetoes - a state record”

What the record shows ·

The Legislature lists 75 bills he vetoed from the 2023 session and 86 from 2025. Its 2025 list leaves out SB 99, which he vetoed on June 2, 2025, so 2025 had 87, as his office said: 162 in all. The Legislature's veto history shows no governor with more than 56 from 1899 through 2015, and no later session with more than 41.

Limit: The Legislature's veto history starts in 1899.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says he championed and signed the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, investing $183 million in new housing.

What the record shows ·

AB 540, which he signed in June 2025, puts $133 million into a housing account and allows up to $50 million in state bonds, $183 million at most.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says he championed and signed the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, investing $183 million in new housing.

“Championed and signed the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, investing $183 million”

What the record shows ·

He signed Assembly Bill 540 on June 9, 2025. It puts $133 million from the state general fund into a new housing account and calls for up to $50 million in state bonds for housing loans: $183 million together.

Limit: The $50 million in bonds is a ceiling, not a set amount. The Act's name comes from his office; the bill text does not use it.

Joseph Lombardo

Corporate home buyers

Not comparable yet

What they say

His platform says families buying a home should compete with each other, not with out-of-state investors and corporate buyers.

What the record shows ·

In 2023 he vetoed a bill to cap home purchases by corporations at 1,000 a year, calling the cap arbitrary; a spokesperson now says he backs efforts to stop such buyers.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says families buying a home should compete with each other, not with out-of-state investors and corporate buyers.

“when a home comes up for sale, they compete with each other, not with out-of-state investors and corporate buyers”

What the record shows ·

On June 16, 2023, he vetoed Senate Bill 395. It would have capped home purchases by corporations and LLCs at 1,000 units a year statewide and made them register. His veto message called the cap arbitrary and said it would cut tax revenue, reduce new construction and discourage landlords when renters need more homes.

Limit: The veto was in 2023; the platform is from his 2026 campaign. A spokesperson now says he backs President Trump's efforts to stop corporate investors buying single-family homes.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says he increased penalties on fentanyl traffickers.

What the record shows ·

He signed the 2023 law that made 28 grams of illegal fentanyl a trafficking crime; it was filed before he took office, on behalf of the attorney general.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says he increased penalties on fentanyl traffickers.

“Increased penalties on fentanyl traffickers to crack down on drug crimes”

What the record shows ·

He signed Senate Bill 35 on June 14, 2023. It made 28 grams or more of illegally made fentanyl a trafficking crime; other drug trafficking starts at 100 grams.

Limit: The bill was filed in November 2022, before he took office, on behalf of the attorney general. His part was signing it.

Record does not bear out the claim

What they say

His campaign says he lowered the Modified Business Tax rate by 15%.

“lowered the Modified Business Tax rate by 15%”

What the record shows ·

The rate did fall about 15%, from 1.378% to 1.17%, on July 1, 2023. But a 2015 state law cut it automatically because tax collections ran high. The Department of Taxation made that finding on September 30, 2022, before he took office.

Limit: The cut took effect in his first year as governor. We found no bill he signed that changed the rate.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

His campaign says he delivered the largest education investment in state history, $2 billion in new funding.

What the record shows ·

He signed the 2023-25 school funding bill, which the state Education Department called the largest K-12 increase in state history, at $2.6 billion over two years.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His campaign says he delivered the largest education investment in state history, $2 billion in new funding.

“Delivered the single largest education investment in state history - $2 billion in new funding”

What the record shows ·

He signed Senate Bill 503, the 2023-25 school funding bill, on May 31, 2023. The state Education Department called it the largest K-12 increase in state history: $2.6 billion more over two years.

Limit: The Legislature passed the budget and he signed it. The Education Department's figure is higher than the campaign's.

Not comparable yet

What they say

His platform says he will keep his commitment to no new taxes.

What the record shows ·

He vetoed no-public-vote fuel-tax indexing in 2023, then signed a 2025 law allowing a two-thirds commission vote until 2036, after which voters decide. Neither created a tax.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says he will keep his commitment to no new taxes.

“Maintain commitment to No New Taxes”

What the record shows ·

On June 1, 2023, he vetoed AB 359, which would have let Clark County keep raising its fuel taxes each year after 2026 by a county commission vote instead of the public vote the law called for. His veto letter said voters should decide. On May 19, 2025, he signed AB 530, which also replaces the 2026 public vote: the increases continue if two-thirds of the county commission approve them by the end of 2026. Increases after 2036 need voter approval.

Limit: Neither bill created a new tax. Both were about whether an existing fuel tax can keep rising each year without a public vote.

Matches stated direction

What they say

His platform says Nevada should train more doctors, nurses and other health workers, and give them reasons to stay.

What the record shows ·

He signed a 2025 bill giving colleges $10 million a year for two years to expand nursing programs; it does not fund doctor training or include incentives to stay.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

His platform says Nevada should train more doctors, nurses and other health workers, and give them reasons to stay.

“Train more doctors, nurses, and health professionals in Nevada, and give them real incentives to stay.”

What the record shows ·

On June 9, 2025, he signed SB 498, which gives the state's colleges $10 million a year for two years to expand nursing programs. The money was in his proposed budget, and both chambers passed the bill with no votes against.

Limit: The bill pays for nursing programs, not doctor training. It does not include any incentive to stay in Nevada.

Issues in this record

Follow the evidence by issue.

Schools and school fundingHousing costsPower bills and data centersTaxesHealth care costs

Evidence timeline

Dated records, with sources attached.

  1. race event

    Clark County posts the ballot order

    Clark County's ballot order lists three candidates for governor: Aaron D. Ford (Democratic), Danielle Ford (no party) and Joseph Lombardo (Republican), plus "None of these candidates."

  2. race event

    Housing bill signed

    Joseph Lombardo signs AB 540, with $133 million for a new housing account and up to $50 million in bonds.

  3. race event

    Fentanyl trafficking law signed

    Joseph Lombardo signs SB 35, filed on behalf of Aaron D. Ford's office. Trafficking in illegally made fentanyl now starts at 28 grams.

See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.

Sources33 source records

How we use sources

  1. Governor Joe Lombardohttps://www.gov.nv.gov/about/governor-joe-lombardo/

    Office of the Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Official biography.

    official office record

    For: Current role; Background, goals, record and campaign money

  2. Governor Lombardo's visionhttps://www.endorse.joelombardofornv.com/vision/

    Lombardo for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Platform page, signed 'Paid For By Lombardo for Governor'.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Corporate home buyers; Clark County fuel tax increases; Money to train more nurses

  3. SB 503 (2023), K-12 funding for 2023-2025https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=10613

    Nevada Legislature · Published May 31, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: approved by the Governor May 31, 2023, Chapter 147.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; School funding increase

  4. SB 35 (2023), fentanyl traffickinghttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=9588

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 14, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history and digest: prefiled November 16, 2022; approved by the Governor June 14, 2023. Sets trafficking in illegally made fentanyl at 28 grams; other schedule I and II trafficking starts at 100 grams.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Tougher fentanyl trafficking penalties; Fentanyl trafficking law signed

  5. Bills vetoed by the Governor, 2023 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bills/Vetoed

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists 75 bills, vetoed May 17 to June 16, 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Veto record

  6. AB 540 (2025), housinghttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=12839

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 9, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: approved by the Governor June 9, 2025, Chapter 432.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money in his housing bill; Housing bill signed

  7. AB 540 (2025), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 9, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Section 50 appropriates $133,000,000 to the Nevada Attainable Housing Account. Section 49.7 calls for not more than $50,000,000 in state general obligation bonds for housing loans.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money in his housing bill; Housing bill signed

  8. Bills vetoed by the Governor, 2025 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bills/Vetoed

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists 86 bills, vetoed May 22 to June 12, 2025. It leaves out SB 99, which he vetoed on June 2, 2025.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Veto record

  9. Veto letter for SB 99 (2025) (document)

    Office of the Governor · Published Jun 2, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    His signed letter of June 2, 2025 vetoing SB 99, a bill on housing fees for developers.

    official office record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Veto record

  10. Statement from Governor Lombardo following completion of bill signingshttps://www.gov.nv.gov/press-releases/statement-from-governor-lombardo-following-completion-of-bill-signings/

    Office of the Governor · Published Jun 13, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Says he signed 518 bills and vetoed 87 from the 2025 session, and names AB 540 the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act.

    official office record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Veto record; Money in his housing bill

  11. AURORA campaign finance searchhttps://www.nvsos.gov/SOSCandidateServices/AnonymousAccess/CEFDSearchUU/Search.aspx

    Nevada Secretary of State · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Where governor candidates' contribution and expense reports are filed. It sits behind a security check, so this desk did not read it.

    official election record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  12. NRS chapter 294A, campaign practiceshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-294A.html

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    State law requiring candidates to report contributions and expenses to the Secretary of State.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  13. Delivering Results for Nevadahttps://www.joelombardofornv.com/results

    Lombardo for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The campaign's list of what it says he has done as governor.

    candidate statement

    For: Veto record; Money in his housing bill; Tougher fentanyl trafficking penalties; Cutting the Modified Business Tax; School funding increase

  14. Bills in the Governor's office, 2025 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Nelis/REL/83rd2025/Bills/Passed/InGovernorsOffice

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Still shows SB 99 as waiting in the governor's office, which is why the vetoed list has 86.

    official legislative record

    For: Veto record

  15. Vetoed Bills of the Nevada Legislature, 1899-2015 (document)

    Legislative Counsel Bureau Research Library · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Table 4 shows the most vetoes by one governor through 2015 was 56 (Gibbons); Table 2 shows the most in one session was 48 (2009). It does not cover sessions before 1899. Compiled July 2015.

    official legislative record

    For: Veto record

  16. Bills vetoed by the Governor, 2017 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/79th2017/Bills/Vetoed

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists 41 bills, the most in any session from 2017 to 2021.

    official legislative record

    For: Veto record

  17. Bills vetoed by the Governor, 2019 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bills/Vetoed

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists 3 bills.

    official legislative record

    For: Veto record

  18. Bills vetoed by the Governor, 2021 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bills/Vetoed

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists 4 bills.

    official legislative record

    For: Veto record

  19. SB 395 (2023), corporate home purchaseshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=10378

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 16, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history and digest: would have capped home purchases by corporations and LLCs at 1,000 units a year statewide and set up a registry. Vetoed by the Governor.

    official legislative record

    For: Corporate home buyers

  20. SB 395 (2023), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 8, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The version sent to the governor. Keeps the 1,000-unit yearly cap.

    official legislative record

    For: Corporate home buyers

  21. Veto message for SB 395 (2023) (document)

    Office of the Governor (filed with the Nevada Legislature) · Published Jun 16, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    His letter of June 16, 2023 giving his reasons for the veto. A scanned image; read by OCR.

    official office record

    For: Corporate home buyers

  22. 2026 Nevada Election Guidehttps://thenevadaindependent.com/article/2026-nevada-election-guide

    The Nevada Independent · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Candidate positions as reported by the paper. Used for Aaron D. Ford's stated position on taxes and for what Joseph Lombardo's spokesperson said about corporate home buyers.

    original reporting

    For: Corporate home buyers

  23. Revenue Reference Manual, 2025 (document)

    Legislative Counsel Bureau, Fiscal Analysis Division · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Explains that the Department of Taxation's September 30, 2022 finding triggered the 2015 law (SB 483, NRS 360.203) that cut the Modified Business Tax rate on July 1, 2023. Dated January 2025.

    official legislative record

    For: Cutting the Modified Business Tax

  24. Modified Business Taxhttps://tax.nv.gov/tax-types/modified-business-tax/

    Nevada Department of Taxation · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Rate history: 1.378% cut to 1.17% on July 1, 2023.

    official office record

    For: Cutting the Modified Business Tax

  25. Nevada Department of Education celebrates historic education funding billhttps://doe.nv.gov/news-media/2023-press-releases/nevada-department-of-education-celebrates-historic-education-funding-bill-and-legislative-achievements

    Nevada Department of Education · Published Jun 26, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Describes the 2023 K-12 budget as almost $12 billion, a $2.6 billion increase over the biennium.

    official office record

    For: School funding increase

  26. AB 359 (2023), Clark County fuel tax increaseshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=10263

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 1, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Bill digest: would have let Clark County keep its yearly fuel tax increases after 2026 by commission vote instead of a public vote. Vetoed June 1, 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: Clark County fuel tax increases

  27. Veto message for AB 359 (2023) (document)

    Office of the Governor (filed with the Nevada Legislature) · Published Jun 1, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    His letter of June 1, 2023 giving his reasons for the veto. A scanned image; read by OCR.

    official office record

    For: Clark County fuel tax increases

  28. AB 530 (2025), Clark County fuel tax increaseshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=12821

    Nevada Legislature · Published May 19, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Bill history: filed by the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure; approved by the Governor May 19, 2025, Chapter 6.

    official legislative record

    For: Clark County fuel tax increases

  29. AB 530 (2025), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    The version sent to the governor. Its digest says the yearly increases can continue if two-thirds of the county commission approve them by December 31, 2026, in place of the 2026 public vote.

    official legislative record

    For: Clark County fuel tax increases

  30. SB 498 (2025), money for nursing programshttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=12946

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 9, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Bill history: filed by the Senate Committee on Finance; fiscal note says the money was in the Executive Budget. Passed 21 to 0 and 41 to 0; approved by the Governor June 9, 2025, Chapter 412.

    official legislative record

    For: Money to train more nurses

  31. SB 498 (2025), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Section 1 gives $10,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to expand undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

    official legislative record

    For: Money to train more nurses

  32. 2026 general election ballot order (document)

    Clark County Election Department · Published Aug 24, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated August 24, 2026. Lists the three candidates for governor and the separate 'None of these candidates' line. NPP means No Political Party. The county says the order may still change.

    official election record

    For: Clark County posts the ballot order

  33. SB 35 (2023), as introduced (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Published Nov 16, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The first page reads 'On behalf of the Attorney General', prefiled November 16, 2022.

    official legislative record

    For: Fentanyl trafficking law signed