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Nevada Republicans Target Gavin Newsom in 2028 Bid Against Ford
Confirmed
In Short: Nevada Republicans are using Gavin Newsom's endorsement of Attorney General Danna Ford as a key campaign issue, framing it as a warning against his policies.
California Republicans are leveraging Gavin Newsom's endorsement of Danna Ford, the Nevada Attorney General, as a central theme in their campaign against her. According to reports, Ford's campaign has emphasized the connection, with billboards across Las Vegas featuring Newsom and Ford together, and the message that Newsom's policies could be imported to Nevada.
Newsom's support for Ford was formalized early in the cycle and included a summer swing in Las Vegas to raise funds and rally volunteers. This support has been a significant factor in Ford's campaign, with the Better Nevada PAC, which supports Ford, spending months highlighting the connection. Newsom introduced Ford at a North Las Vegas field office, treating the visit as a 2028 preview.
Joe Lombardo, the Republican nominee, has made the contrast with Newsom explicit, framing his campaign as a referendum on whether Nevadans want a governor who treats Newsom as a role model or a warning. Lombardo has emphasized the financial implications of Newsom's policies, particularly a measure to increase pensions for public safety workers, which could cost state and local budgets billions.
California Globe reports indicate that the Better Nevada PAC has spent considerable time making sure voters see the connection between Newsom and Ford. The campaign has leaned on the same coastal network that funds Newsom-aligned politics, and according to internal polling, Newsom's endorsement is now the second-most-known fact about Ford's campaign.
Jerry Brown's reforms in 2011, when he addressed the pension fund and worker compensation system, are often cited as a contrast to Newsom's policies. Republicans argue that Newsom's agenda could lead to financial instability in Nevada, similar to what happened in California under Newsom's watch.
What's confirmed
- Lombardo has made the contrast explicit: he says he is fighting Newsom’s agenda while Ford is trying to import it.
What's still developing
- PAC officials have said Newsom is among the least popular elected officials in Nevada and that Ford invited the association by bringing him into the state.
- Globe reporting in July identified maximum contributions from Soros family members to Ford’s gubernatorial account after Newsom’s public endorsement.
- A new Politico report describes Newsom’s endorsement as one of the most widely recognized facts about Ford’s campaign.
- A person familiar with the PAC’s internal polling, granted anonymity to discuss private data, said it shows Newsom ’s endorsement is now the second-most-known datapoint about the attorney general.