As week two of filing begins, the pressure is on for Joe Lombardo to finally answer the tough questions, participate in debates, and give voters a clear picture of his positions on the issues that matter most. While we wait for that day to come, here’s everything you need to know about his campaign and record as sheriff.

Despite spending months building his campaign, Lombardo has clear vulnerabilities in his bid for the Republican nomination.

• New polling shows GOP primary voters dropping their support for Lombardo when they hear criticisms of his support for defunding the police and his record on immigration and guns. With his opponents already leaning into these attacks, Lombardo’s vulnerabilities are already being exposed to voters.

Jon Ralston: “It’s hard for even Lombardo’s advocates to argue that his support is anything but soft. He has never run statewide before, and he remains untested in this kind of high-profile contest.”

• The pro-Lombardo Better Nevada PAC has spent over $2.5 million on TV ads, yet most Republican primary voters are still undecided. And Lombardo hasn’t scared any candidates away…in fact, the field has only grown in the first week of the filing period.

Lombardo will do or say anything to win–whether it’s lying to Nevadans about his stances or avoiding tough issues altogether.

• According to Lombardo, he’s both for and against defunding the police, taxes, immigration, vaccine mandates, and the Big Lie.

• Lombardo has yet to give details on his “pro-life” stance. 

• Facing Nevadans means he’ll finally have to answer questions and give an explanation for taking both sides on a number of stances. No wonder he’s hiding…

Lombardo is a corrupt politician who has consistently abused his power and lied to Nevadas in order to benefit himself.

• Lombardo lied to the public about Metro’s immigration enforcement policies…and he’s still lying about it to this day. In 2019, Lombardo publicly touted the end of 287(g). Once he became a candidate for governor in a crowded Republican field, it was conveniently revealed that Lombardo instructed officers to help ICE seize immigrants jailed for nonviolent crimes. Then, he denied the story, making it impossible to know the truth.

• After a judge went public with concerns about Metro’s vice unit–while it was already under investigation by the FBI for alleged sexual relationships with prostitutes–Lombardo tried to have the judge removed from Metro cases…but instead of following Nevada statute and filing an affidavit, he met with the Chief Judge behind closed doors in an attempt to cover up Metro’s misconduct.

• After flooding his campaign materials with his uniform and badge, the Nevada Commission on Ethics is investigating Lombardo for violating NRS 281A.400(7), which states an officer shouldn’t use government property for personal gain. Despite being the subject of the investigation, Lombardo continues to blur the line between his campaign and his official office.

• Despite Metro’s recommendation that then-officer Kevin McMahill be terminated for alleged sexual misconduct, Lombardo allowed him to climb the ranks of Metro to become his right hand man and even endorsed him to take his place as Clark County Sheriff. After the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on the incident, Lombardo doubled down on his support.

Lombardo uses his role as sheriff as a top qualification for governor but his disastrous record tells us he’s unqualified. 

• Crime skyrocketed in 2021, with homicides up 44% while property crime was up 10%. Lombardo himself admitted that he didn’t have his “eye on the ball.”

• Under Lombardo’s leadership, the FBI launched an investigation into Metro’s corrupt vice unit for allegedly having sexual relationships with prostitutes.

• Misconduct under Lombardo’s watch has led to massive payouts, wasting millions of taxpayer dollars.

“Joe Lombardo may believe he’s the frontrunner but he is hobbling into week two of filing despite spending months and millions building his campaign,” said Nevada Democratic Victory spokesperson Mallory Payne. “Even when Nevadans only see Lombardo through glitzy, bought and paid for TV time, they still aren’t convinced he’s their best choice to be the nominee.”

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