Aaron Ford

Ford received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M. He received a law degree and a doctorate in educational administration from The Ohio State University. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice.[1]

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Campaign websiteFord's campaign website stated the following:HousingAs Governor, Aaron Ford will work hand-in-hand with communities and municipalities across Nevada to tackle the affordable housing crisis and help make housing more accessible for all renters and homebuyers. Attorney General Ford plans to confront the crisis from every angle. He’ll stand up to tariffs that threaten to drive up housing costs even further, crack down on Wall Street firms coming into Nevada and pricing working families out of their neighborhoods, and encourage new construction by working with municipalities to ease the permitting process and use vacant land.Health CareAs Attorney General, Ford has held big drug companies accountable for poisoning our communities, winning more than $1.2 billion in opioid settlements. As Governor, Ford will address predatory practices by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who pocket profits from prescription drug discounts and rebates instead of passing those savings on to help Nevadans afford their medications. Ford will also work to relieve medical debt and address causal factors by implementing a debt relief program and by cracking down on price gouging and fraudulent medical billing.EnergyAs Attorney General, Aaron Ford fought back against NV Energy’s unlawful mandatory demand charge, and as Governor, Ford will remain focused on preventing any arbitrary efforts to raise household costs on Nevadans.As Governor, Aaron Ford will prioritize delivering clean and affordable energy to Nevada and building Nevada’s energy workforce. He will stand up to the utility companies that are currently raising costs on residents through demand charges and support the jobs that data centers bring to our state while requiring them to pay their fair share for their increased energy demand and commit to conserving water. By facilitating residential solar installation and energy efficiency incentives, Ford will balance affordability and sustainability to lower costs for all Nevadans.Economic DevelopmentAaron Ford grew up in a working-class family where his parents struggled to make ends meet — and through grit and determination he overcame early adversity, earning five college degrees. He became a teacher, built a family with his wife Berna, and brought his family to Nevada. Ford’s story is the Nevada story: coming to the Silver State in search of a better life.But Ford's path to achieving his version of the American Dream is slipping further and further out of reach for working Nevadans in the Lombardo-Trump economy. Nevada has one of the highest unemployment rates of any state in the country. Tourism has cratered thanks to the Trump tariffs that Lombardo supports, with Las Vegas losing 3.1 million tourists in just 2025 alone. EducationAs a former public school math teacher, Aaron Ford saw that talent was universal, but access was not. Students’ potential was often constrained by circumstances beyond their control. That experience instilled in Ford a lasting belief that good policy should widen the circle of opportunity, and that leadership means ensuring every student has a fair chance to succeed.As Nevada’s Attorney General, Ford sued the Trump administration for attempting to eliminate the Department of Education and with it the $1 billion Nevada receives each year. He sued a major national student loan servicer and won, delivering millions of dollars of student loan relief for Nevadans that had been harmed by deceptive and predatory lending practices. Ford fought the federal government’s efforts to cut support for Nevada schools and will continue to fight for Nevada in the Governor’s office.— Aaron Ford's campaign website (June 25, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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Campaign website

Ford's campaign website stated the following:

Ending Gun Violence

Throughout his career, Attorney General Aaron Ford has been undeterred in his fight to keep Nevada’s families safe from gun violence. As both a state legislator and now as attorney general, he has consistently taken critical steps to strengthen Nevada’s gun laws and to bolster public safety.

Since Attorney General Ford rose to his current rank in 2019, he has led the charge to keep Nevadans safe by working to close the state’s gun show loophole. He has also led the fight to keep unserialized, untraceable ghost guns off the street and to enact bans on bump stocks and silencers like the ones used in the 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas. Attorney General Ford knows that unchecked guns can cause a serious threat to members of law enforcement, and he has worked with Governor Sisolak to expand Nevada’s background checks to include private party sales. He also supports increasing funding for lifesaving research into the root causes and impacts of gun violence.

Supporting Law Enforcement

Attorney General Ford has fought hard to rebuild trust between police and Nevada’s communities and work with law enforcement to expand programs that support victims of crime. His office has expanded programs that bring community leaders and law enforcement together to stop violence before it causes tragedy. And they were able to unanimously pass two criminal justice bills in 2021 – one that reforms the use of “no knock” warrants, and another that allows his office to investigate police departments who are alleged to be engaging in patterns of unlawful policing.

A dozen law enforcement groups support Attorney General Ford’s re-election because, as Nevada’s Top Prosecutor, he has been committed to public safety and to justice.

Protecting Workers’ Rights

Nevada workers are the backbone of our economy, and Attorney General Ford has been proud to stand up for them and ensure that they receive all the protections they are entitled to under Nevada law.

Attorney General Ford believes that “workers’ rights” isn’t complicated: It’s the belief that basic protections – like the 40 hour workweek, paid leave, health care protections, and a voice in your workplace – should be strengthened, not eroded. That’s why he has vigorously defended the right to organize, the ability to receive fair wages and benefits, and the right of union members to do their jobs in safe working conditions. It’s also why he has worked with the labor commissioner to fight wage theft and worker misclassification and to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

Throughout Attorney General Ford’s career in public service, he has been a staunch supporter of unions. That’s why Nevada’s biggest unions are supporting his re-election campaign, just as they’ve always supported him before. As long as Attorney General Ford is in office, Nevada working families can rest easy knowing they have an advocate in office, boosting workers’ protections.

Supporting our economy by expanding consumer protections

Attorney General Ford is committed to protecting your pocket and identity from fraudsters and believes that every Nevadan’s first line of defense is education. Every day, members of his Bureau of Consumer Protection work hard to protect your rights and keep you safe from fraudsters. They alert Nevadans about the latest scams, they fight data breaches, they work with individuals and businesses to protect your rights, they work with other states to protect shared interests, and so much more.

Attorney General Ford has already secured over $100-million in recoveries on behalf of consumers – not to mention over $330-million in settlements with opioid companies.

Cracking down on those responsible for the opioid crisis

The opioid crisis arose through a combination of well-intentioned efforts to improve pain management by doctors and aggressive – even fraudulent – marketing by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Nevada was hit harder than nearly any other state, and Attorney General Ford’s office is making sure that it never happens again. He’s holding those responsible for the epidemic responsible for their actions.

Already, Attorney General Ford has secured over $330-million for the state by suing opioid manufacturers and distributors and getting federal grants to fight the epidemic. That includes Nevaa’s part of a $26-billion opioid settlement with the three largest opioid distributors. With this money, Nevada will establish programs and services that are needed right now – and will force the drug companies to change their behaviors to ensure this never happens again.

Stopping illegal trafficking and organized criminal organizations

One of the most important causes of our time is ending human trafficking. Nevada has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the world – and Attorney General Ford’s office has made fighting this horrible crime a top priority by taking on transnational criminal organizations that traffic in guns, drugs, and people.

Illegal trafficking often disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable members of our society, compounding on other systemic injustices. That’s why Attorney General Ford’s office has been relentless in pursuing anti-trafficking efforts, holding perpetrators accountable, and enacting proactive anti-trafficking responses. He’s working with law enforcement to expand programs that support victims of crime, and he’s committed to finding bipartisan solutions rooted in interstate and international collaboration in order to tackle criminal trends.

In Nevada, Attorney General Ford is doing the work to build a strong foundation to fight this crime. With continued bipartisan support, he is confident that Nevada will continue to be a leader in the effort to rid the world of the exploitation of human beings for profit.

Protecting reproductive freedom and access to health care

In June 2022, the Supreme Court attacked the essential freedoms of millions of Nevadans and Americans by taking away the constitutional right to abortion. But Attorney General Ford has been clear about his stance: Abortion is health care – and Americans have gone from the freedom to choose to government-mandated pregnancies. Now, Attorneys General like Aaron Ford in purple states like Nevada have become one of the last lines of defense in protecting abortion access.

Attorney General Ford will always uphold the fullest scope of Nevada’s state statute protecting access to abortion – but an anti-abortion Attorney General could severely limit the statute’s scope. A federal ban on abortion could supersede Nevada’s state law; and across the country, states have already passxed bills restricting choice.

Attorney General Ford is the only candidate in his race who has always stood up for and defended the right to choose – and he’s not backing down now.

Enacting environmental protections

Attorney General Ford has fought to ensure that Nevadans continue to be protected from the brunt of climate change, and will continue to partner with other states to ensure that Nevada can implement the standards necessary to combat the climate crisis.

Attorney General Ford, along with other attorneys general, sued the Trump Administration in the summer of 2020 for their unlawful rule curtailing requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that federal agencies review and assess the impact of their actions on the environment. He argued that environmental rollbacks of these critical protections endanger our environment now and for future generations. He also joined a coalition in the spring of 2021 to urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider effects on climate and environmental justice for communities when certifying new natural gas pipeline projects. Attorney General Ford argued that FERC should perform more thorough evaluations of pipeline projects and noted that end uses for gas will evolve as states work to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

[21]

—Aaron D. Ford's campaign website (2022)[22]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

A top priority for me will be keeping Nevadans safe, whether they are at home, at work or out in their communities. I will combat workplace sexual harassment, including ensuring that taxpayers won’t foot the bill to defend harassers. I will work to find a solution and begin enforcing the voter-approved background checks on gun sales to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from getting guns. I believe we can make our state safer by being both tough and smart on crime by focusing on going after violent criminals and drug dealers, supporting victims of crime, and reducing recidivism through diversion courts and re-entry programs. I also will make sure our brave law enforcement officers have the tools and resources necessary to go after anyone trying to harm Nevada families. I will also be focused on consumer protection and stopping those who try to take advantage of Nevada consumers and small businesses. For example, I’ll take on the scammers who prey on our seniors and the polluters who poison our water, as well as cybersecurity threats. In addition, I’ll fight to protect Nevadans’ privacy and protect Nevada workers by taking on wage theft. We must work on improving Nevada’s mental health and substance abuse programs, as well as crack down on prescription drug companies who profit off of dangerous addictions. I have visited the Washoe County Crossroads Program and other rehabilitation centers in Nevada, and not only do these programs help people to transition out of a life of drug addiction but they also save our taxpayers millions every year. We must find ways to support these programs that help people get back on track. We should also utilize diversion courts, so that those with mental health and addiction issues get the treatment that they need and become productive members of society. Here’s the bottom line: As Nevada attorney general, there is no criminal too ruthless and no corporation too powerful that I won’t take on if they are hurting Nevadans. I will be an Attorney General who always puts Nevada families first.[24][21]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Currently, I serve as Majority Leader in the State Senate, where I was fortunate enough to work on many policy areas that are important to Nevada families. I passed laws to reduce and ultimately end the rape kit backlog, toughen penalties for elder abuse, essentially make targeting law enforcement and first responders while on duty a hate crime, protect our families on the internet and require that financial advisers look out for your money first and not just their bottom line. I also helped pass the strongest drug company transparency law in the nation as well, as well as bills to strengthen cybersecurity and toughen background checks for childcare workers to keep sexual predators away from our kids. In addition, I was proud to help bring rooftop solar back to Nevada which has already created good jobs across the state. I also focused on reducing recidivism through funding for diversion courts and the development of programs to help with reintegration after incarceration.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[21]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Aaron Ford answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?

Without a doubt, my hero is my mother. As a kid, things were tough, and even though my mother worked tirelessly at several jobs, we didn’t always know if the lights would come on the next day. Yet my mom always made sure I got the education I needed to succeed. She signed me up for Project Upward Bound, a program for low-income families and kids whose parents didn’t go to college. Thanks to her example and support, I became the first in my family to graduate from college, and I went on to earn two master’s degrees, a law degree and a Ph.D. Without her, I would not be the husband, father and public servant I am today.[21]

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Politicians do a lot of talking, but I think the most important thing a public servant can do is listen. I know that I don’t know everything about every issue, so I seek out information and viewpoints from experts, other elected officials and members of the community. Ultimately, we serve the public, so I prioritize hearing from the community.[21]

What legacy would you like to leave?

Growing up, my parents worked incredibly hard but never seemed to get ahead. I want to do everything in my power to help hardworking Nevada families succeed. Families should be able to raise their kids without worrying about the safety of their neighborhoods and schools. Our seniors should be able to retire with dignity, not worry about scammers preying on their savings. Nevadans should be able to enjoy our beautiful state without worrying about the quality of the air and water. Those battling drug addiction and mental illness should be able to get the help they need so they can become productive members of society. As a father, these are the issues that concern me, and I want to make sure that my family and all Nevada families can be safe and have an opportunity to live the American dream.[21]

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I grew up in tough neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas. My father worked at a grocery store, and my mom did every job imaginable to put food on the table. After my parents divorced, my mother made it clear it was up to me to be the man of the house and help her raise my two brothers. I grew up wondering if the gas, the electricity or the water would be turned off. My mom was working so hard, yet we never seemed to be able to get ahead. But she always had dreams for me beyond my neighborhood and emphasized to me the importance of keeping my head in the books. She signed me up for “Project Upward Bound,” which helped me get into college. I received a scholarship to Texas A&M University and ultimately, became the first in my family to graduate from college. I went on to get a Master’s from George Washington University and a Ph.D., a second Master’s and a law degree from The Ohio State University. I worked hard, but I was also lucky to also have champions in my corner, from my mother to Project Upward Bound. Now, I want to be a champion for Nevadans who are struggling to pay their bills, battling addiction, growing up in unsafe neighborhoods or being taken advantage by unscrupulous scammers. I’m running for Attorney General to fight for the people who need someone in their corner.[21]

The attorney general often sets policy priorities for law enforcement. For example, a state's attorney general may decide to dedicate extra resources to combat human trafficking. Are there certain areas of law enforcement that you would emphasize?

As attorney general, I want to solidify strong interagency partnerships between the office and local law enforcement to ensure public safety for all Nevadans -- including our brave officers who put their lives on the line. I also want to ensure Nevada’s law enforcement agencies have every tool necessary to tackle violent crime. As someone who grew up around gang violence, I am aware of the dangers our families, and particularly our children, can face when dealing with these criminals. I will work closely with law enforcement to take on local gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and the individuals who want to inflict harm on Nevadans. The number of fatal heroin overdoses in Nevada has nearly tripled since 2010, and Nevada’s amphetamine death rate is the highest in the nation. It is clear we must work on improving Nevada’s mental health and substance abuse programs, as well as crack down on prescription drug companies who profit off of dangerous addictions. I have visited rehabilitation centers across Nevada, and not only do these programs help people to transition out of a life of drug addiction but they also save taxpayers millions of dollars every year. We must find ways to support and expand these programs that help people get back on track. We should also better utilize diversion courts, so that those with mental health and addiction issues get treatment and become productive members of society. In my visits to these diversion courts in northern Nevada, I found that they have had a very high rate of success in getting people the help that they need, and as attorney general, I will look at how we can better utilize and support diversion courts. In the 2017 legislative session, I was proud to co-sponsor a bill expanding the hours of mobile mental health units in Clark and Washoe counties. In this program, mental health counselors ride with law enforcement officers to provide crisis intervention services to those who need it, and in the process, this program increases the safety of the general public. Finding and supporting innovative programs like this that work to help increase public safety and help get people treatment will be a priority of mine if I am elected attorney general. Nevada’s families and business should also be protected from scams, fraud, and other threats. As a state senator, I have already worked with my colleagues to pass an internet privacy law, the strongest pharmaceutical transparency bill in the nation, a bill strengthening cybersecurity, and a bill requiring financial advisors look out for your money first and not just their bottom line. As attorney general, I will continued to be focused on consumer protection.[21]

Attorney's general can represent their states in legal conflicts with the federal government. Do you consider this an important part of an attorney general's responsibilities?

The Silver State is known for its independence, and we won’t tolerate federal government overreach. If the federal government is attacking our state and its people, I’ll take it on. Whether it’s protecting Nevadans’ health care, the thousands of DREAMers living and working in Nevada, or the 7,000 jobs in the marijuana industry and the millions of dollars generated for our state, I will fight the federal government tooth and nail if it tries to mess with Nevada.[21]

Campaign website

Ford’s campaign website stated the following:

WHERE I STAND

Fellow Nevadans,

I wanted to make sure you were among the first to know that I am running for Attorney General of Nevada. In the last few years, the Attorney General’s office in Nevada has become a vehicle to promote partisan politics and advance an extreme, ideological agenda that is far outside the mainstream. Nevadans deserve better from their top law enforcement officer. I will be an Attorney General who always puts your families first.

Our country is facing a more uncertain political climate than we’ve seen in decades. Partisan polarization has created an environment that lacks civil discourse and amplifies divisions. That’s why it’s more important than ever to have an Attorney General who will put politics aside and focus on using all the legal tools necessary to protect Nevada’s families -- many of whom rightly feel like the system is rigged against them.

When I was a kid, the dream of going to college or buying a home seemed out of reach. My father Larry was a produce worker at a Safeway grocery store until the chain withdrew from Texas in the mid-1980s. My mother Denise worked various jobs throughout my childhood. Our family spent many nights wondering if the gas, electricity and water would turn on the next day. I didn’t understand how we could all be working so hard, yet couldn’t seem to get ahead.

When my parents divorced, my mom told me I would have to be the “man of the house,” which required me to look after my siblings and make sure our house was in order while she worked nights. Despite these added responsibilities, she insisted that I never fall back on my studies and always keep my “head in the books!”

I might not have realized my full potential, but I had a mom whose dreams for me expanded beyond the neighborhood block I grew up on. She signed me up for “Project Upward Bound,” a Saturday-school and summer program dedicated to helping students who could be the first in their family to graduate from college. With encouragement and guidance, I received a scholarship to Texas A&M University, and ultimately became the first in my family to graduate from college.

After graduating, I moved to Austin, Texas, with my wife Berna and our son Avery, where I worked as a middle school math teacher while Berna finished her law degree. A year later, we moved to Washington, D.C., so that I could continue my education at George Washington University, where I worked as a high school teacher while earning a master’s degree in international education.

My mother’s constant reminder to keep my “head in the books” must have really worked, because our next journey as a family took us to Columbus, Ohio, where I pursued and received a master’s degree in educational administration, a law degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University.

To provide for our family during that time, I held five jobs: teaching high school math; waiting tables at Outback Steakhouse; working at a local law firm; and performing research for two different professors. Berna held four jobs of her own. She clerked for a judge, sold clothes at Marshall Field's, served as a mediator and edited articles for a legal publication. Berna and I reflect on these days often, because they taught us so much about hard work and perseverance.

It could have been easy for a kid like me in the neighborhood I grew up in to fall through the cracks, to become just another statistic. The commitment of my mother, the endless support of my wife, and programs like “Project Upward Bound” helped me manage to seize opportunities that came my way. It also made me realize the importance of having champions in my corner.

Across our state, there are Nevadans who are struggling to pay the bills, trying to juggle work while raising a family, battling addiction, growing up in unsafe neighborhoods, or being taken advantage of by unscrupulous scammers and lenders. These Nevadans deserve a champion in their corner too -- someone who will finally stick up for them. That’s why I became a legislator in the first place, and that’s why I’m running for Attorney General.

My mom taught me there is no challenge too big that can’t be overcome through hard work and a commitment to doing what’s right. It’s that same attitude that we need guiding our Attorney General’s office. There is no criminal too ruthless and no corporation too powerful that I won’t take on if they are hurting Nevadans.

You’ll be able to rely on me to uphold the rule of law and act as the last line of defense against anyone who tries to take an unconstitutional action or threaten the principles and rights of Nevadans.

As a state Senator, I fought to protect Nevadans and help them keep the money they worked hard for and earned. I pushed to pass paid sick leave, cracked down on payday lenders, and passed the strongest pharmaceutical transparency bill in the nation. I helped lead the effort to bring rooftop solar energy back to Nevada, which has already created countless good-paying jobs across our state.

I’ve also worked to reform our justice system by being both tough and smart on crime. I believe Nevada’s Attorney General should take the same approach -- focusing on going after violent criminals and drug dealers, supporting victims of crime, reducing recidivism and improving mental health and substance abuse programs. I will also ensure that our justice system is efficient and effective by increasing transparency and analyzing data to see what’s working and what’s not.

To the brave law enforcement officers and first responders keeping Nevada safe: I will fight to ensure you have the resources necessary to combat crime and the protections in place to stay safe on the job. In Carson City, I worked to increase penalties for criminals who attack our law enforcement officers, because anyone who targets those who put their lives on the line to protect our communities should be punished to the full extent of the law.

As Attorney General, I’ll keep Nevadans safe and work to help strengthen the middle class by standing up to anyone who tries to take advantage of them. I’ll take on scammers who rip off our seniors, insurance companies who deny care, polluters who poison our air and water, and criminals and drug dealers who prey on our families. I’ll also fight for vulnerable communities who are being targeted by the federal government, including the 13,000 DACA recipients living and working in Nevada. I will be the people’s Attorney General.

Critics will look at my goals an