Attorney General Aaron Ford’s Frequent Flyer Addiction Continues: Travel Extravaganza Totals Nearly $140K

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D), often dubbed the state’s “top cop,” continued his frequent travel habits into 2025, racking up $55,905.03 in campaign expenses for transportation, lodging, and meals, according to his latest filing with the Nevada Secretary of State.

The 2025 Contributions & Expenses Annual Filing, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025, details a pattern of cross-country trips that critics say raises questions about priorities for the Democratic official, who launched an early gubernatorial bid against Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Ford’s campaign spent heavily on air travel, with total airfare amounting to $26,980.89. Hotel stays totaled $16,174.64, with bookings spread across major U.S. cities frequently visited by Ford in prior years. Meals and restaurants came in at $1,807.45, featuring upscale dining in several destinations. Ground transportation relied heavily on rideshares, with Uber accounting for $9,750 across 374 line items and Lyft adding $807.05 over 33 entries, for a combined car travel total of $10,557.05.

In 2024, Ford spent a staggering 137 days out of state—roughly one-third of the year—according to an investigation by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. His campaign filings with the Nevada Secretary of State reveal a total of $82,100 in travel-related expenses, including campaign-funded trips and sponsored junkets that critics argue prioritize national ambition over local responsibilities. Ford’s 2024 campaign expenses are part of a total $284,100 spent that year.

Adding to the tally, Ford accepted four sponsored trips totaling $35,000, paid by organizations like the bipartisan Attorney General Alliance and the National Association of Attorneys General. These included international jaunts to Normandy, France; Macau and Singapore; Tulum, Mexico; and Taipei, Taiwan. Ford served as AGA chairman in 2024, which his team has cited as justification for the travel.

As Ford gears up for a 2026 gubernatorial run, these figures have intensified scrutiny from opponents who accuse him of running a “part-time” office.

Critics, including the Better Nevada PAC aligned with Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, have lambasted Ford for what they call a “jet-set” lifestyle funded by donors. “Frequent Flyer Ford is more interested in hobnobbing with elites than fighting for Nevadans,” the PAC stated.

Ford’s office has not directly responded to recent inquiries, but past statements emphasize that no state funds were used for out-of-state travel, and trips were for official or campaign purposes. 

While Ford’s filings show heavy reliance on campaign funds for frequent, often luxurious out-of-state trips, Lombardo’s reports reveal a more restrained approach focused on in-state governance and massive fundraising without comparable travel extravagance.

Public reports show Lombardo’s campaign travel far more modest. A Review-Journal investigation found Lombardo out of state for only about 30 days in 2024—less than a quarter of Ford’s absences—while prioritizing Nevada duties as governor. No detailed breakdowns of luxury hotels, upscale dining, or heavy rideshare use appear in Lombardo’s filings comparable to Ford’s. 

His campaign finance reports emphasize broad fundraising rather than itemized travel splurges: In 2024, Lombardo raised over $3.2–3.4 million (with $5.5 million cash on hand by year-end), building a war chest supported by PACs like Nevada Way and Better Nevada. By early 2026, his official campaign held over $9 million in cash, with affiliated PACs adding millions more—totaling around $15 million in resources—without reports of equivalent “jet-setting” costs. Attorney General Aaron Ford has approximately $2 million in cash on hand.

Ford’s travel has drawn sharp criticism from Republican-aligned groups like Better Nevada PAC, which has branded him “Frequent Flyer Ford” for prioritizing national networking, conferences, and Democratic events over state law enforcement. Critics point to stays at resorts like Secrets Puerto Los Cabos and high-end dining as evidence of donor-funded perks. Lombardo, meanwhile, has focused on in-state priorities like economic diversification, education funding, and vetoing California-like legislation, with his campaign portraying him as grounded in Nevada issues rather than national ambitions.

This disparity fuels ongoing attacks in the race: Ford’s team defends the trips as essential for official duties, such as opioid litigation and AG conferences, while opponents argue they reflect a “part-time” approach. Lombardo’s fundraising dominance—often 5–10 times Ford’s in recent cycles—gives him a structural edge, but Ford’s travel record remains a key vulnerability as voters will weigh who is truly focused on the Silver State.