Alexis Hill

Alexis Hill was born in Reno, Nevada. Hill earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Texas A&M University in 2005 and her graduate degree in public administration from the University of Nevada in 2011. Her professional experience includes working in public policy and city planning. Hill is affiliated with the Sierra Arts Foundation, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow Foundation, and EDAWN Foundation.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a fed-up mom who is running for Governor because I love Nevada and believe we deserve better.

I was born and grew up in Nevada, and my sister and I were raised in civically engaged home. My parents were always at a community meeting or volunteering for local projects. When I was growing up here, neighborhoods were filled with homes that regular families could afford. We invested in schools, and built roads to keep pace with growth.

I completed my master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of Nevada and spent over a decade in municipal service. In 2020, I was elected to the Washoe County Commission, where I served as chair of the five-person board. I was honored that, in 2024, my friends, neighbors, and constituents re-elected me.

I now live in Reno with my husband, Matthew Tuma, and our two daughters. We love riding bikes, camping, all things arts and culture, and Eleanore Roosevelt, our Boston Terrier.

Since I was born here, our population has more than tripled, while per capita tax revenue adjusted for inflation has actually gone down. Better leadership at the state level has far-reaching consequences, because local governments are hamstrung by state decisions.

I am proud of my home and all I have accomplished to strengthen our communities. But I realize that there is still much work to do across the state. Now is the time for real action — and leaders who are not afraid of figuring out the details.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We must modernize revenue in Nevada by implementing taxes that require corporations and billionaires to pay their fair share. On day one, I will freeze tax abatements for corporations, including data centers. The top priority for the legislature will be to pass my new Fair Share Tax Package for Billionaires & Corporations, which raises rates on corporate and hedge-fund landlords, taxes commercial EVs for road use, and implements a corporate capital gains excise tax.We can put Nevadans first by freezing rent raises, supplementing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, moving towards universal childcare, and requiring corporations that receive tax abatements to raise their minimum wages. And we can treat small businesses as well as we do big ones — including ending the payroll tax for small companies.We need change in Nevada. We can do better. But we cannot hope to achieve these things alone or by doing the same things that got us here, even as Democrats. I’m fed up with how things are going in our state and believe you deserve a choice in who you vote for.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am the best candidate to win and address our state’s structural failures by investing in Nevadans. The fact that we are not keeping up with inflation is setting up our citizens to fail; I think we can do better. Nevada has studied and talked about comprehensive tax reform for decades, but state leaders have been scared to address the root problems.

The bottom line is that all levels of our governments are underfunded and incapable of meeting the needs and expectations of Nevadans. Nevada has been piece-mealing our problems since the Great Recession, and the status quo is just not working. I am running to change that.

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

The Roosevelts believed in public service. They understood the benefits of well-regulated capitalism, a lesson that I think is especially important given the many parallels between their era and ours. I also greatly admire Gretchen Whitmer.

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

Honesty. Reliability. Ethics.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

You’re the people’s lobbyist. You’re the executive of the state. Your job is to make sure that the state is run well, but in doing that you also need to be supporting the counties and cities in the state. Your job is to make sure that the state is ready for the challenges of the future — modernizing the revenue and structure — and to work with legislators and other elected officials to get the work done. At the same time, you must stay connected to community members about emergent issues and what needs to be changed or supported.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A better Nevada for my daughters.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a babysitter and then Sparks YMCA camp counselor for several years.

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

I’m dyslexic and was diagnosed when I was in elementary school. I am also an ovarian cancer survivor who then struggled with fertility issues — but that struggle led my husband and me to begin the journey to become foster parents, which in the midst of this campaign has brought us a beautiful foster daughter.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

Chief Revenue Officer. Talking about money is always difficult, but without a clear plan to pay for essential services and keep up with growth, we cannot thrive as a state.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

N/A - Nevada does not have line-item vetoes.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

The governor should follow the Nevada constitution when exercising emergency powers.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Action Fund, Chris Giunchigliani, Bob “B” Fulkerson, Sheila Leslie, and Beverly Rogers. (Currently in progress.)

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

I remember the first Gulf War and Saddam Hussein. As a child at the time, I knew other kids whose parents were serving.