Lombardo Brands Ford as ‘Newsom’s Agenda’ in High-Stakes Nevada Governor Rematch

Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has made California Gov. Gavin Newsom a central target in his reelection bid, blaming Newsom-backed regulations and refinery decisions for higher gasoline prices and accusing Democratic challenger Attorney General Aaron Ford of trying to import California-style policies into Nevada.

"The contrast is simple: I'm fighting Gavin Newsom's agenda and Aaron Ford is trying to import it into Nevada," Lombardo told Politico, framing the race as a choice between his approach and what he calls the spread of California regulations across state lines.

Lombardo argues Nevada's heavy reliance on fuel sourced from California makes the state vulnerable to policy decisions and refinery actions taken there. "The policies coming from Gavin Newsom and California Democrats ... don't stop at their state line," he said. "Nevada and other states import a significant portion of our fuel from California, so when Governor Newsom shuts down refineries and imposes regulations that reduce supply and increase costs, Nevada families feel the consequences at the pump."

To amplify that message, the Lombardo-aligned Better Nevada PAC has deployed billboards and digital and streaming ads linking Ford to Newsom. One ad bluntly declares: "Newsom and Ford: Shared vision. Shared values." Jeremy Hughes, the GOP strategist who runs the PAC, told Politico that tying Ford to Newsom was an effective way to educate voters about the endorsement.

"Gavin Newsom is the singular most unpopular elected official in Nevada," Hughes said. "Aaron Ford brought him into the state. ... There's no better way to help [Lombardo] out than to put up these signs and run ads, letting people know that [Ford's] excited about being endorsed by Gavin Newsom."

Ford rejects Lombardo's claims, saying higher pump prices followed the outbreak of war in February and disputing the cause-and-effect argument. "Lombardo tries to cast blame elsewhere, but everyone knows that when the war started in February, that we saw our gas prices increase almost immediately," Ford told Politico. He has also tried to flip the script by casting President Donald Trump as a liability for Lombardo, criticizing the "Lombardo-Trump economy" for squeezing household budgets.

Newsom's July visit to Nevada added fuel to the political fight. At a Las Vegas field office, Ford introduced Newsom as "the governor of the great state of California," prompting an attendee to shout, "Our next president!" — a moment Republicans have used in their messaging. Newsom allies have pointed out that Republican spending to highlight his endorsement can raise his profile in a state that will be an early battleground in the 2028 Democratic nominating calendar.

With Nevada slated to hold the second contest on that calendar, the race is emerging as an early test of Newsom's influence beyond California — and of Lombardo's ability to localize national politics. For now, Lombardo's immediate objective is simple: keep the spotlight on Ford and paint his opponent as aligned with California policies that, according to Lombardo, drive up costs for Nevada families.