NV AG Aaron Ford Accused of Deceptive Gubernatorial Ad Using 2018 Law Enforcement Footage

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, faces sharp criticism for a campaign advertisement that allegedly misleads voters about current law enforcement support by recycling outdated footage from his 2018 attorney general race.

According to Team Lombardo and statements amplified by campaign aides, the ad incorporates old clips featuring figures associated with the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA) in a manner that implies endorsement for Ford’s 2026 gubernatorial bid. 

Dave Kallas, a former Las Vegas police detective and past LVPPA president, has publicly clarified the record in a video released by the Lombardo campaign.“He’s using footage from years ago for a different race,” Kallas states in the clip, emphasizing that neither he nor the LVPPA endorse Ford for governor. Instead, they “proudly support Governor Joe Lombardo for re-election.” 

Kallas questions Ford’s credibility: “If he’s willing to mislead Nevadans about a campaign endorsement, what else is he willing to mislead us about?” 

Aaron Ford is not endorsed by Nevada law enforcement. His solution? Use footage from his 2018 AG race to make it seem like he is.

Rightfully, @LVPPA has submitted a cease-and-desist to the Ford campaign.

This flagrant lie will not be tolerated. https://t.co/e1H5ssWocB

— Elizabeth Ray (@elizabethrray) August 9, 2026

Elizabeth Ray, a Team Lombardo communications figure, highlighted the issue on X: “Aaron Ford is not endorsed by Nevada law enforcement. His solution? Use footage from his 2018 AG race to make it seem like he is. Rightfully, @LVPPA has submitted a cease-and-desist to the Ford campaign. This flagrant lie will not be tolerated.”

Gov. Lombardo himself weighed in, posting that Ford is “lying about his support from law enforcement and went so far as to use 2018 campaign footage to mislead Nevadans. Neither the LVPPA nor NAPSO authorized the use of their names for the ad. Aaron Ford knows he would not receive support from law enforcement due to his soft-on-crime track record so he desperately decided to recycle old footage instead.”

ICYMI- Aaron Ford is lying about his support from law enforcement and went so far as to use 2018 campaign footage to mislead Nevadans.

Neither the LVPPA nor NAPSO authorized the use of their names for the ad.

Aaron Ford knows he would not receive support from law enforcement… https://t.co/6f7smneTyA

— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) August 10, 2026

The LVPPA, Nevada’s largest single police association representing thousands of officers, has previously endorsed Lombardo. In January 2026, the group formally backed the governor’s re-election, with officials citing his public safety commitments. Endorsement lists and statements from the association and allied groups like the Public Safety Alliance of Nevada confirm support for Lombardo over Ford in the governor’s race.

This controversy fits a broader pattern of scrutiny over Ford’s record and campaign practices, as previously detailed in California Globe reporting.

In a July 23, 2026, investigation, the Globe documented maximum contributions from members of the Soros family to Ford’s gubernatorial effort while noting his role as a key architect of Assembly Bill 236. That 2019 criminal justice reform measure, which Ford’s office described him as “intimately involved” in crafting and which he personally supported, raised felony theft thresholds and reduced penalties for certain drug and property offenses—changes critics, including Lombardo (a former Clark County sheriff), have called a failed progressive experiment that weakened accountability and increased crime. Lombardo has made rolling back elements of those reforms a priority through tougher retail theft and fentanyl measures.

This episode comes amid broader signs of cross-party support for the incumbent. As reported by the California Globe, Lombardo’s campaign in early July launched “Democrats for Lombardo,” a bipartisan coalition of more than 120 registered Democrats from across Nevada who are endorsing his reelection. Chaired by longtime Nevada business leader David Goldwater and co-chaired by figures including veteran labor leader Danny Thompson (former Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO). The group includes business leaders, community advocates, educators, public servants, and rank-and-file Nevadans who cite Lombardo’s record on economic growth, education, public safety, housing, healthcare, and energy. Lombardo stated at the time: “From day one, I’ve worked to serve all Nevadans, regardless of party.”

Ford’s campaign has not issued an immediate public response to the LVPPA cease-and-desist or the specific allegations of recycled footage as of this writing.