With Better America PAC launching a new ad claiming Joe Lombardo won’t defund the police as Governor, Lombardo is once again trying to have it both ways. While he claims to oppose defunding the police as candidate for Governor, he’s been vocal about his support of the effort multiple times as Sheriff.

In the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, he admitted he “can support some aspects” of defunding the police. And during a meeting with activists at the time, he agreed with them that some of his budget should be reinvested into community programs. Just last month, he doubled down on his stance, saying “I’m on the record saying if you want to defund me, I have no problem with that as long as it’s used appropriately.” 

Even Lombardo’s former undersheriff–who he endorsed in the race to replace him as sheriff–has said defunding the police “makes a lot of sense.”

“Sheriff Lombardo and Candidate Lombardo are at odds once again, invoking far-right buzzwords as he tries to win over the Republican base in a competitive primary,” said Nevada Democratic Victory spokesperson Mallory Payne. “No matter the issue, Lombardo has consistently shown he’ll do or say anything to win–he’s as craven as they come.”

###