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Nevada Governor 2026 Voter Information Website

Project Vision

A modern, polished public service website that helps Nevada voters understand the three gubernatorial candidates through layered information architecture: quick summaries for casual voters, deep analysis for engaged citizens. The site covers both the Democratic primary (Ford vs Hill) and the general election.

Editorial Approach: Analytical but fair. We provide context and help voters understand implications while presenting all perspectives honestly. Claims are sourced, contradictions are acknowledged, and complexity is respected.

The Three Candidates

Candidate Party Current Role Core Identity
Joe Lombardo Republican Governor (Incumbent) "The Veto Governor" - Former Sheriff, Law & Order, Corporate Statist
Aaron Ford Democrat Attorney General "The System Operator" - Trial lawyer ties, litigation-as-policy, Reid Machine inheritor
Alexis Hill Democrat Washoe County Commission Chair "The Technocratic Progressive" - Tax reformer, anti-corporate subsidies, institutionalist

Information Architecture

Layer 1: The Quick View (30 seconds)

  • Candidate photo, name, party
  • One-sentence description
  • 3 key positions (icons)
  • "Learn more" buttons

Layer 2: The Comparison (2-3 minutes)

  • Side-by-side issue comparison table
  • Key facts at a glance
  • Major endorsements
  • Quick contradiction summary

Layer 3: The Deep Dive (10+ minutes)

  • Full biography with context
  • Complete voting/veto record
  • Financial forensics
  • Source-linked claims
  • Timeline of positions

Site Structure

/
├── index.html                 # Landing page with all three candidates
├── candidates/
│   ├── lombardo.html          # Lombardo deep dive
│   ├── ford.html              # Ford deep dive
│   └── hill.html              # Hill deep dive
├── compare/
│   ├── index.html             # Interactive comparison tool
│   ├── primary.html           # Ford vs Hill comparison
│   └── issues/
│       ├── housing.html
│       ├── economy.html
│       ├── crime.html
│       ├── education.html
│       ├── healthcare.html
│       ├── taxes.html
│       ├── immigration.html
│       ├── guns.html
│       ├── environment.html
│       ├── transparency.html
│       └── abortion.html
├── money/
│   └── index.html             # Campaign finance explorer
├── about.html                 # Methodology, sources, team
└── assets/
    ├── css/
    ├── js/
    └── images/

Issue Framework

For each policy domain, we present:

1. The Stakes

What's the Nevada-specific context? Why does this issue matter here more than elsewhere?

2. The Positions (Side-by-Side)

Aspect Lombardo Ford Hill
Stated Position Quote/platform Quote/platform Quote/platform
Actual Record Votes/vetoes Legislation/litigation Votes/actions
Key Actions Specific examples Specific examples Specific examples
Who Benefits Analysis Analysis Analysis

3. The Contradictions

For each candidate, honestly present:

  • Where their actions diverge from rhetoric
  • Where they've changed positions (with context for why)
  • What their opponents say vs. what evidence shows

4. The Sources

Every claim linked to primary documentation

The 11 Issue Domains

1. Housing & Rent

Nevada Context: Highest eviction rates in nation, Las Vegas housing crisis, corporate landlord consolidation

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Free market, no rent control Vetoed SB335, AB486, AB44 Chief of Staff is former corporate housing lobbyist; $25M+ from Bigelow (Budget Suites)
Ford Anti-price fixing, sued algorithmic rent software AB44 vetoed by Lombardo Trial lawyer donors benefit from housing litigation
Hill Supports rent caps Votes for developer projects Takes realtor PAC money; developers Locus/Lepori fund her

2. Economy & Jobs

Nevada Context: Highest unemployment rate in nation (5.3-5.6%), tourism dependency, diversification attempts

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo "The Nevada Way" - business friendly $380M A's stadium, $330M Tesla abatement "Free market" rhetoric vs. massive corporate subsidies
Ford Diversification, worker protections Commerce Tax support Corporate defense attorney background at Weil Gotshal
Hill End corporate subsidies, margin tax Anti-Tesla tax breaks Local developer relationships

3. Crime & Public Safety

Nevada Context: AB 236 criminal justice reform debate, Strip safety, 1 October legacy

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Repeal AB 236, law & order Resort Corridor Court, crime bill $19M in civil rights settlements under his LVMPD tenure
Ford Justice reinvestment, reform AB 236 architect Pivoting to "support law enforcement" messaging
Hill Administrative efficiency Voted FOR camping ban (with Republican dissent) "Progressive" but criminalizes homelessness

4. Education

Nevada Context: 48th in per-pupil funding, school choice debates, teacher shortages

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo School choice, charter expansion $2B K-12 increase, $38M charter raises "Schools Over Stadiums" - $380M for stadium instead
Ford Public school funding, sued DOE Ph.D. in Educational Administration SB555 scholarship tax credits (Republican priority)
Hill Fund public schools Supports tax reform for education Library tax failed at ballot

5. Healthcare

Nevada Context: Opioid crisis devastation, rural access gaps, Medicaid expansion

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Defended Medicaid work requirements Vetoed gender-affirming care protections Signed SB131 abortion protections
Ford Opioid settlement champion ($1.1B) Defended ACA Outside counsel fees to donor firms
Hill Healthcare access County-level health initiatives Limited state-level record

6. Taxes & Revenue

Nevada Context: No income tax, gaming-dependent, structural underfunding

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Low tax, no new revenue Massive corporate tax breaks Not "low tax" for billionaires
Ford Maintain Commerce Tax Film/scholarship tax credits Supports targeted breaks
Hill Margin tax proposal Explicit tax reform platform 2014 margin tax failed 79-21

7. Immigration

Nevada Context: Sanctuary city debates, workforce needs, federal friction

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Anti-sanctuary, federal cooperation Blamed Ford for sanctuary designation Soft MAGA approach
Ford 2017: Co-sponsored sanctuary legislation; 2025: "I do not support sanctuary policies" Model immigration policies Complete position reversal
Hill Democratic platform alignment Limited local authority No major controversy

8. Guns

Nevada Context: 1 October mass shooting, tourism safety, 70% support for some regulations

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo 2A defender Vetoed AB105, AB245, SB89 Was Sheriff during 1 October
Ford Gun safety, background checks Supports regulations No major contradiction
Hill Gun safety Democratic platform Limited record

9. Water & Environment

Nevada Context: Colorado River crisis, Lake Mead, lithium mining

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Development-friendly Tesla/mining support Environmental regulations vetoed
Ford Climate litigation Joined climate lawsuits No major record
Hill Tahoe preservation Environmental background Supports density that impacts environment

10. Transparency & Ethics

Nevada Context: Dark money growth, open records battles, ethics commission

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo Claims transparency Service First Fund dark money, sued to hide emails, vetoed SB60 Badge Gate ethics violation
Ford Anti-corruption Consumer protection focus AGA trips ($140K+), CFJ donor loop
Hill Open government Election certification Restricted public comment

11. Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Nevada Context: Codified in state constitution, but national pressures

Candidate Position Key Action Contradiction
Lombardo "Pro-life" personally, signed protections Signed SB131 Rhetoric vs. action
Ford Pro-choice Consistent No contradiction
Hill Pro-choice Democratic platform No contradiction

The Contradictions Framework

For each candidate, we present a balanced "Steelman vs. Challenge" section:

Template

## [Candidate Name]: The Full Picture

### The Strongest Case FOR [Candidate]
[Present the best arguments for this candidate, fairly stated]

### The Strongest Case AGAINST [Candidate]
[Present the most legitimate criticisms, fairly stated]

### The Key Contradictions
1. [Says X, but did Y]
2. [Claims to be X, but funded by Y]
3. [Position changed from X to Y because...]

### What Their Opponents Say (vs. Evidence)
| Attack | Evidence Level | Context |
|--------|---------------|---------|
| "[Attack claim]" | Strong/Weak/Mixed | [Reality check] |

Candidate Deep Dive Structure

1. At a Glance

  • Photo, basic bio
  • Key stats
  • Quick summary

2. The Origin Story

  • Where they came from
  • Formative experiences
  • What shaped their worldview

3. The Career Path

  • Timeline visualization
  • Key positions held
  • Major accomplishments

4. The Policy Record

  • Issue-by-issue breakdown
  • Votes/vetoes/litigation
  • Linked to sources

5. The Money Trail

  • Top donor visualization
  • Industry breakdown
  • Conflict analysis
  • Dark money where applicable

6. The Influence Network

  • Key allies
  • Institutional support
  • Political machine connections
  • Notable adversaries

7. The Contradictions

  • Steelman + challenges
  • Position evolution
  • Evidence-based analysis

8. The Electoral Math

  • Path to victory
  • Key demographics
  • Vulnerabilities

Design Specifications

Visual Identity

Color Palette:

  • Primary: Deep navy (#1a365d) - trustworthy, serious
  • Accent: Nevada gold (#d69e2e) - state pride
  • Neutral: Warm grays for readability
  • Candidate colors (optional, subtle):
    • Lombardo: Muted red
    • Ford: Muted blue
    • Hill: Muted teal

Typography:

  • Headlines: Modern serif (e.g., Merriweather, Playfair Display)
  • Body: Clean sans-serif (e.g., Inter, Source Sans Pro)
  • Data: Monospace for numbers

Design Principles:

  • Mobile-first responsive
  • High contrast for accessibility
  • Clear visual hierarchy
  • Generous whitespace
  • Source links always visible

Interactive Elements

  1. Comparison Tool

    • Select 2-3 candidates
    • Choose issues to compare
    • Side-by-side cards

  2. Issue Explorer

    • Filter by domain
    • See all three positions
    • Link to sources

  3. Money Flow Visualization

    • Donor categories
    • Contribution amounts
    • Potential conflicts

  4. Timeline View

    • Career milestones
    • Position changes
    • Key votes/actions

Technical Stack

Recommended Approach

Option A: Static Site (Recommended)

  • Next.js or Astro for static generation
  • Tailwind CSS for styling
  • Simple hosting (Vercel, Netlify)
  • Markdown/MDX for content
  • Lightweight interactivity with vanilla JS or Alpine.js

Option B: Pure HTML/CSS/JS

  • No build process
  • Easier to maintain long-term
  • Can still be polished and modern
  • Good for archival purposes

Performance Requirements

  • < 3 second load time
  • Works without JavaScript for core content
  • Accessible (WCAG 2.1 AA)
  • Print-friendly candidate pages

Content Priorities

Phase 1: Foundation

  1. Homepage with all three candidates
  2. Individual candidate pages with biography and key positions
  3. Basic issue comparison page
  4. Mobile-responsive design

Phase 2: Depth

  1. Full issue breakdown pages (11 issues)
  2. Campaign finance visualization
  3. Contradiction analysis sections
  4. Primary comparison (Ford vs Hill)

Phase 3: Polish

  1. Interactive comparison tool
  2. Timeline visualizations
  3. Source explorer
  4. Share/embed functionality

Methodology & Transparency

Our Standards

  1. Sourcing

    • Every factual claim linked to primary source
    • Preference for official records, court documents, financial disclosures
    • News sources used for context, not sole evidence
    • Partisan sources clearly labeled

  2. Fairness

    • Each candidate gets same structural treatment
    • Contradictions identified for all, not selectively
    • Steelman arguments presented honestly
    • Updates applied equally

  3. Analysis

    • Clearly labeled as analysis vs. fact
    • Multiple interpretations acknowledged
    • Methodology explained
    • Open to correction

What This Site Is NOT

  • An endorsement
  • A prediction
  • A complete record (we link to fuller sources)
  • Immune to bias (we try to be transparent about limitations)

Primary Election Considerations

Ford vs Hill: The Democratic Choice

The site should help Democratic primary voters understand:

Dimension Ford Hill
Experience Statewide (AG, State Senate) Local (County Commission)
Electability Polls tied with Lombardo Untested statewide
Economic Platform Moderate/transactional Bold/risky (margin tax)
Machine Support Reid Machine, unions, trial lawyers Insurgent, limited backing
Vulnerability IRS liens, donor conflicts, AB 236 Developer ties, tax history

Success Metrics

  1. Information Quality

    • Accuracy of claims
    • Depth of sourcing
    • Balanced coverage

  2. User Engagement

    • Time on site
    • Pages per session
    • Return visits

  3. Public Service

    • Shared by voters
    • Cited by journalists
    • Useful for civic education

Next Steps

  1. Set up project structure and build system
  2. Create design system (colors, typography, components)
  3. Build homepage with candidate cards
  4. Create individual candidate page template
  5. Populate Lombardo page (most data available)
  6. Populate Ford page
  7. Populate Hill page
  8. Build issue comparison framework
  9. Create first 3 issue deep-dives (Housing, Crime, Economy)
  10. Build campaign finance visualization
  11. Complete remaining issue pages
  12. Build interactive comparison tool
  13. Add primary comparison section
  14. Polish, test, deploy