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August 11th Len’s Political Note #745 Aaron Ford Nevada Governor
2026 General Election
Aaron Ford
First. A reminder of what I am trying to do. I write these pieces to elect Democrats. I began writing after Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017. He is a dangerous man and the Republicans have become a dangerous party. Donald Trump is more focused on himself and on his personal goals than even most politicians. More important, after a failed first term, he identified goals, a road map to achieve those goals plus some of his own. Along the way, he has destroyed norms and ignored the constitution. Worse, he has been able to persuade the Supreme Court to bend rules in his favor. And his goals and his means to achieving those goals have been marked by cruelty.
We can stop him and his acolytes through the ballot box. There is hardly a political race between a Democrat and a Republican that is unimportant. I have identified what seem like the most important races; the races where we know the Democrat to support. These are in the House of Representatives, in the US Senate, in governorships, in state supreme court races, in other down ballot races such Lt. Governor or Attorney General or Secretary of state, in municipal races like mayoralty or county executive races.
I do not expect you to volunteer or donate for every one of the races I write about. I donate for most of them – through donations that are within my means. I urge you to pick the ones you are interested in. Write and ask me questions, if you like. Remember the goal. Protect vulnerable Democrats. Flip vulnerable Republicans.
When I choose a Democrat to write about, it is rarely because I prefer that candidate’s ideology to another Democrat. I do not even choose the candidate I think is most likely to defeat the Republican – that can be a fool’s task. I attempt to select the Democrat most likely to be the Democratic nominee. The more support that candidate gets early, the more he or she is on the way to defeating the Republican opponent.
Now. Today’s work:
Aaron Ford is running for Governor of Nevada. He is trying to defeat one term Republican governor Joe Lombardo. The Note about Aaron Ford is Len’s Political Note #745. Most of you will have read Len’s Political Note #744. Consider the similarities between Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Aaron Ford of Nevada. And the differences. And what those similarities and differences tell us about America and about the Democratic Party to which they both belong.
Running for the US Senate, Roy Cooper is a 68 year old white man. His father was an advisor to a four-term Democratic governor. Roy Cooper was awarded a scholarship for future leaders that made his college experience at the University of North Carolina particularly interesting. As stable as you can get, he went the UNC law school, joined his father’s firm, became a partner, served on commissions, was elected to the legislature, was named the outstanding first year legislator, served as the State Senate Majority Leader, was elected four times as Attorney General, and twice as governor.
Aaron Ford is a 53 year old, bow-tie wearing Black man. His father worked in the produce section of a supermarket who lost his job when the market decided to abandon Texas. Not long after that, Aaron Ford’s dad abandoned his family. Aaron Ford’s mother found a steady job working nights. She told Aaron, her oldest of three boys, he was the man in the family.
Aaron Ford had some help. He was a beneficiary of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. “Upward Bound,” was crucial for helping him succeed in school – despite his family’s financial troubles, despite his own family responsibilities. His “Upward Bound” experience led him to college. He went to Texas A & M, the first in his family to go to college.
Aaron Ford’s adjustment to college life was not smooth. He got drunk on campus and was arrested. He bought a tire for his car – nothing down and was arrested for not being up to date on his payments. He arranged a payment plan and the charges were dropped – but not before he missed a couple of court dates. He was arrested for missing the court dates.
His girlfriend had a baby while he was at Texas A & M. He took responsibility for the baby and became the boy’s single dad. His eventual wife, Berna Rhodes-Ford shared his responsibility. They went on to Austin where she went to law school at the University of Texas and he taught school while they were there. Berna Rhodes-Ford, a religious anchor for her husband and the mother of three more boys, has been as important to Aaron Ford as Roy Cooper’s influential father and leadership scholarship combined.
Aaron and Berna Ford moved to Washington DC where he taught school and got a Master’s Degree from George Washington University. From there they moved to Columbus, Ohio where he had his eye on getting a doctorate at Ohio State and, perhaps, starting a chain of charter schools. He got a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate in school administration. He saw value in a law degree and got one of those from Ohio State, too. Then he followed his wife to a clerkship in Michigan.
From Michigan, Adam and Berna Ford moved to Nevada where they both worked as lawyers and he became involved in the community. The transition had its complications. They lived the life of prosperous young attorneys, more prosperous than they actually were. They fell behind in paying taxes and earned some notoriety for that.
Aaron Ford ran for the state Senate. He lost the first time, won the second. Winning, Aaron Ford had found the right profession for himself. As a member of the Nevada legislature, Aaron Ford was named the legislature’s “rookie of the year” by the Reno newspaper and Freshman of the year by a Las Vegas paper.
Aaron Ford was elected Minority Leader in the 2015 legislative session. After the 2016 election, he became majority leader. In that role, he helped pass legislation that combatted elder abuse, increased price transparency for big pharma medications, increased criminal penalties for those who targeted first responders, and sought to reduce recidivism through improved education, mental health and substance abuse programs for the incarcerated.
In 2018, Aaron Ford won a very close race for Attorney General. Once elected, he fought the Trump administration, focusing on environmental regulations. He argued the Trump administration’s roll back of clean car standards endangered people’s health and their lives. During his term in office, he grew more popular and won reelection in 2022 by 8 points.
Term limited as Attorney General, Aaron Ford has relished the opportunity to oppose the Governor. Aaron Ford is nationalizing the election. He is opposing Donald Trump while the incumbent Governor, Joe Lombardo is, himself, nationalizing the election with his support for Trump.
Lombardo gets himself in trouble when he ties himself to Trump. Asked about the impact of tariffs, for instance, he responded that Nevadans “may have to feel a little pain:” That kind of comment has made him less popular in his state. Sixty-two percent of Nevada voters, in a recent poll, rated the Governor’s performance between poor and just so-so.
Lombardo’s Trumpishness gives Aaron Ford an opportunity. In responding to Lombardo, he creates a connection with ordinary Nevadans.: “I know what it’s like to feel like you’re pushing a rock up a hill in the fight for a better life. And families all across Nevada are feeling it, too …It feels like the deck is stacked against them. And you know what? It is. I’m fighting for the kind of government that sees people like I was and says, ‘you matter.’”
Help Aaron Ford send Joe Lombardo packing. Help him early so there won’t be as much of a need later. DONATE.
DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025
Mikie Sheril
New Jersey
Keep New Jersey Blue. Recent polls have shown Congresswoman Mikie Sherill leading the Republican nominee Jack Ciatarelli: 45-37 in a recent poll and 48-42 in the most recent poll. Keep Mikie Sherill in the lead; help her win this election. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #732
Abigail Spanberger
Virginia
Make Virginia Blue. A July poll found former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger leading the Republican nominee Lt. Governor Winsome Earl-Sears by a 49-37 margin. Twelve points is substantial. Furthermore, Abigail Spanberger has a similar funding raising lead, having raised $27 million for this race compared to her opponent’s less than $12 million. Abigail Spanberger is still raising money. It is important, but not as urgent as New Jersey. DONATE See Len’s Political note #705
Consider the Virginia down ballot candidates as well: Lt. Governor candidate State Senator Ghazala Hashmi DONATE. In Virginia, the Lt. Governor is elected separately. See Len’s Political Note #735
Also consider former Delegate Jay Jones for Attorney General DONATE. He is running behind the incumbent Republican in the financial race. See Len’s Political Note #734.
DEMOCRATS WHO ARE DEFENDING VULNERABLE GOVERNORSHIPS in 2026
Katie Hobbs
Arizona:
Katie Hobbs is the most vulnerable Democratic governor. Donald Trump carried Arizona by a healthy 5.5% margin in 2024. Katie Hobbs is getting herself ready for the election. She has raised enough money so that and the end of the second quarter of this election season, she had $4.7 million on hand. As a clue for how much she will need, Ruben Gallego spent $64 million in his winning race for the Senate in 2024.
We are a little less than a year from knowing, with certainty, who Katie Hobbs will be running against. Will it be extreme right wing Congressman Andy Biggs? Or will it be pretty extreme politically and extremely wealthy businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson. Right now, Andy Biggs looks like a winner. Polls show him leading Robson by somewhere between a 3-1 and 2-1 margin.
Money counts, though. Biggs has less than $500,000 Cash in Hand. Robson has nearly unlimited resources. She has already lent her campaign $2.2 million. She is already spending on advertising. She could conceivably close the gap and defeat Gibbs on August 4, 2026. If the polls then are like the polls now, she would be behind Katie Hobbs. The closest 2025 poll showed her behind by two points. That is not quite the same with Biggs. Katie Hobbs is actually behind him by a point in one poll, though, in general she leads by enough so some would describe the race as tilting toward the Democrat.
When Katie Hobbs describes what she was proud of in her first term, the first items are financial – ending a tax on rent, cancelling $2 billion in medical debt for a million Arizonans. She addresses making Arizonans safer – keeping fentanyl from crossing the border, protecting the water supply, investing in education, and repealing Arizona’s abortion ban. Andy Gibbs is running against the “Radical Left” and “Liberal Extremism.” Karrin Taylor Robson notes her endorsement by Trump, her promise of stronger borders, a stronger Arizona (whatever that means), and a stronger economy (though she does not say how she gets there).
Keep Katie Hobbs as governor. DONATE.
Jocelyn Benson
Michigan
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmore is term limited. At least four Democrats are running to replace her; at least four Republicans are running as well. And the former mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, is running as an independent. He can have an impact on this campaign
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has raised $3.5 million. That is three or four times as much as other Democrats and enough to make her the front runner for the nomination. Furthermore, she leads the second place Democratic candidate for the nomination in polls by 30 to 40 points.
Congressman John James has a similar polling advantage among Republicans, but is roughly tied with Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt in funds available and only somewhat ahead of latecomer former Attorney General Mike Cox.
Independent former Detroit mayor runs a reasonably close third in every three way race that includes Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and has raised about as much as she has. He is a factor.
Democrats seeking to win this election should DONATE to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson – now and throughout the campaign. It does not seem to matter which Republican opposes her in the general election, there is a slight tilt in her favor. She will need resources to win.
Hannah Pingree. Shenna Bellows
Maine
Democratic Governor Janet Mills is term limited. Four Democrats so far are running as are five Republicans. You cannot tell much from the fundraising except that the Democrats have raised more than the Republicans. Two Democrats Former State House Speaker Hannah Pingree and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have raised more than $500,000. The other two have raised $400,000 or more. The Republican who raised the most, Bobby Charles, raised more than $300,000. Democrat State Senator Angus King III claims that he leads in the polls, but poll arbiter 270towin does not include that poll in its reporting of 2025 governor polls.
Watch to see if a front runner develops among the Democrats. I have put up pictures of Hannah Pingree and Shenna Bellows because she raised slightly more money.
Sara Rodriguez
Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers has completed two successful terms in office, but Wisconsin does not set term limits for him. Nevertheless, he has recently announced he would not run for reelection. So far, the only announced Democrat is Lt. Governor and former nurse and public health executive Sara Rodriguez. We have to wait a little bit to see if there are more candidates.
Ethan Corson
Kansas
Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is term limited. The contest, so far, for the Democratic nomination, is between two state Senators – Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher. Ethan Corson has gotten off to a fast start – raising $230,000 in a week after announcing. It is possible that his record of flipping a Republican district, bipartisan work, and focus on improving schools, lowering taxes on the middle class, and recruiting business to Kansas would work as an appropriate follow up to Laura Kelly’s moderate positions. DONATE to Ethan Corson or wait. These are early days.
The Republicans have at least seven candidates. It is worth watching to see if someone like podcast Doug Billings or former Governor and Lt. Governor for Sam Brownback during the failed right wing Kansas experiment looks like a front runner. If that happens, donations to the likely Democratic primary winner could keep the Kansas Governor’s office blue.
Michael Bennet
Colorado
Governor Jared Polis is term limited. The contest for the Dem nomination is between US Senator Michael Bennet and State Attorney General Phil Weiser. Whichever candidate wins the nomination, the odds are in favor of the Democrat winning in November. Unless, of course, the two Democrats do so much harm to each other that they provide an opening for the Republican nominee.
Michael Bennet has a more than 30% lead in one poll for the primary election and large leads in other polls. Michael Bennet has collected a slew of endorsements and a fair amount of money. He ended the quarter with $1.3 million available. Weiser, who had been raising money for the race longer, had $2.5 million available.
Unless he falters in his fund raising, DONATE to Bennet. That might help him gain an overwhelming win. We want resources available to defeat whichever of the three Republican candidates wins. Right now two state senators and a former state rep. are competing. So far, none of them have more than $25,000 in cash available.
Deb Haaland
New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is term limited. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland leads the other two Democrats by a nearly 4-1 margin having raised $3.7 million. Each of them, however, has substantially outraised Republican Mayor Greg Hull. It is possible that Sam Bregman (whose son is an All Star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox) could have family resources to catch Deb Haaland, the likelihood is that no matter who the nominee, New Mexico will continue to have a Democratic governor.
DEMOCRATS WHO ARE CHALLENGING VULNERABLE REPUBLICAN SEATS.
Amy Acton
Ohio
Republican Governor Mike DeWine is term limited. Former Elon Musk associate in Donald Trump’s DOGE effort, Vivek Ramaswamy is running. He’s not the only candidate, but the combination of his resources (his $9.8 million cash on hand is not even relevant for a multi-millionaires) and his support from Trump make him the overwhelming front runner. His Democratic challenger is former state health director Amy Acton – more praised than vilified (but both) for her leadership during the pandemic. See Len’s Political Note #724
Amy Acton has found her voice – mocking Ramaswamy for flying from city to city in Ohio when driving would do. Ramaswamy is vulnerable to a tough campaign. DONATE. It is time Ohio had a Democratic governor again.
You should also donate to Amy Acton to redirect former Senator Sherrod Brown and former Congressman and Senate candidate Tim Ryan. They are both considering a run for governor when either of them would be much more valuable as the Democratic candidate for US Senator against the recent Republican appointee to that position.
Bob Sand
Iowa
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is completing her second term. She is not term-limited, but is not running for reelection. That she is among this country’s least popular governors probably has something to do with that decision. The Republicans are really concerned that they could lose the governorship. Donald Trump has muscled candidates out of the campaign in favor of Congressman Randy Feenstra. Another context for this race is the unpopularity of the US Senator up for election – Joni Ernst. Trump stuck his nose into this race as well – bullying Ernst into voting for Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.
Tough there are no polls, Bob Sand is the State Auditor – the only Democrat holding state wide office. His previous elections are his polls. Geared up for this race, he made news by having $8 million for his campaign before he announced. He raised $2 million more right away. He makes his case focusing on efforts for ensuring government efficiency (silently comparing his work in Iowa to the craziness of DOGE). He adds his commitment to non-partisanship, pointing out that he has promoted people who have donated to Republican candidates, not fired them. This is a Democrat who can be elected governor of Iowa. Help him get there. DONATE
David Jolly
Florida
Former one term Republican Congressman, Trump critic, and lobbyist appears likely to be the only Democrat running fro Governor. Having raised a million dollars, David Jolly, is far behind the Republican front runner, Congressman Byron Donalds who reported nearly $21 million cash in hand. Donalds may have to spend a lot of that money though if Casey DeSantis, the wife of term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis’s decides to run for the office. They are virtually tied in a recent poll, though Donalds has led in most polls. The earlies poll for November showed Donalds leading David Jolly 37-31.
Spending your money donating to David Jolly is a long shot; a long shot in a state where actually contending takes a lot of resources. So, sure. DONATE to David Jolly. If we all wait, his chance may have passed by. If we commit now, we may regret not using the money for a race Democrats have a better chance to win. Personally, I will make a small donation now.
Three Democratic Candidates
Georgia
Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term limited. Is this the year that Democrats gain control of the governor’s office. We know Georgia is competitive. It has two Democratic US Senators and governor races have been relatively close.
Three Democrats are competing: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, State Senator Jason Esteeves, and State Rep Derrick Jackson. There are no polls and the first two have each raised over a million dollars. Let’s wait until there are signs that someone is the front runner.
As for the Republicans, Attorney General Chris Carr has raised $3.5 million and Lt. Governor Burt Jones has lent his campaign $10 million. Some probable candidates have not yet announced. Among them are Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Coungty CEO Michael Thurmond.
For Democrats who want to make the executive office blue, who the Republican nominee is probably won’t matter. But the uncertainly about a front runner in either party makes it harder to start donating in Georgia yet. While you wait, you can DONATE to Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. He’ll need every dollar he can get.
Aaron Ford
Nevada
As noted above, Attorney General, former State Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford is running to defeat former sheriff, Trump acolyte, and first term governor Joe Lombardo. Help him succeed in this effort. With your help he can win this election. DONATE.
