Overview: The "System Operator"
Aaron Ford is Nevada's 34th Attorney General and the Democratic frontrunner for the 2026 gubernatorial race.[6]Polling data, Emerson College His rise "from food stamps to five degrees" represents a compelling personal narrative,[7]Ford biography and campaign materials but his governance is defined by a symbiotic relationship with the state's trial lawyer lobby—the same firms that fund his campaigns and receive millions in state legal contracts.[8]ATRA report, OpenSecrets CFJ filings
The Case FOR Ford
- • Secured $1.1 billion in opioid settlements for Nevada
- • Five degrees including Ph.D.—deeply credentialed
- • Won injunction protecting Department of Education
- • Fought Ticketmaster/Live Nation monopoly (populist appeal)
- • Proven electoral survivor (0.4% win in 2018)
The Case AGAINST Ford
- • Architect of AB 236—now a "soft on crime" liability
- • $185K in IRS liens while buying $468K home
- • Trial lawyer donors receive $165M+ in state legal fees
- • $140K+ in corporate-sponsored foreign travel
- • Complete reversal on sanctuary state position
Biography
The "Five Degrees" Narrative
Ford's biography centers on his journey from Texas working class to elite credentials—a story of "credentialism as armor" against socioeconomic barriers.
- 1. B.A. — Texas A&M University (1994)
- 2. M.A. International Education — George Washington University
- 3. M.A. Educational Administration — Ohio State University
- 4. Ph.D. Educational Administration — Ohio State University
- 5. J.D. (Law) — Ohio State University
Before law, Ford was a public school math teacher—a detail he leverages to bridge working-class and elite donor audiences.
1994
Graduates Texas A&M
First college graduate in family. Grew up on food stamps.
1994-2000s
Education Career
Math teacher, then pursued graduate degrees in education administration.
Post-Law School
Federal Clerkships
Clerked for Judge Denise Page Hood and 9th Circuit Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson.
Early Career
"Big Law" — Corporate Defense
Bracewell LLP, then Weil Gotshal & Manges. Defended corporate interests in complex litigation. Note: This corporate defense background contrasts with his current "little guy champion" branding.
Nevada Move
Eglet Prince (Now Eglet Adams)
Pivots from corporate defense to plaintiffs' litigation. Eglet Adams is the nexus of Nevada's trial lawyer lobby—and a major political donor.
2013-2018
Nevada State Senate
Rises from freshman to Minority Leader (2014) to Majority Leader (2016-2018).
2018
Elected Attorney General
Defeats Republican Wesley Duncan by 0.4%—one of the closest statewide races in Nevada history.
2022
Re-elected Attorney General
Defeats Sigal Chattah. Consolidates position as leading Democrat.
2025
Announces Gubernatorial Run
Polling shows dead heat with Lombardo (41%-41%).
Policy Record
Attorney General Record (2019-Present)
The Opioid Settlements — $1.1 Billion
Ford's signature achievement. Broke away from national settlements to negotiate independently, securing disproportionately large payouts for Nevada.
$285M
Walgreens
$193M
Teva Pharmaceuticals
$152M
CVS
$45M
McKinsey & Co.
The Conflict: Outside counsel handling these cases (including his former firm Eglet Adams) received an estimated $165M+ in fees. These firms are also major donors to Citizens for Justice PAC, which funds Ford's campaigns.
Federal Litigation — "Partisan Warrior" or "Defender"?
Joined or led dozens of lawsuits against Trump administrations (both terms):
- • Sued to stop DOE dismantling — won preliminary injunction
- • DACA protections
- • ACA defense (Texas v. United States)
- • VOCA grants conditions
Trade-off: Solidifies base in Clark County but alienates rural Nevada. Lombardo calls it "serving the national resistance."
Antitrust — Live Nation/Ticketmaster
Joined DOJ lawsuit alleging monopolization of live entertainment. Populist appeal in Las Vegas, entertainment capital.
Housing — AB44 (Vetoed by Lombardo)
Pushed for Unfair Trade Practice Act expansion to target algorithmic rent price-fixing. Lombardo vetoed. Ford now campaigns on "corporate landlords" issue.
Legislative Record (2013-2018)
AB 236 — Criminal Justice Reform
Ford's most consequential—and now most controversial—legislative achievement. Champion of "Justice Reinvestment" reforms modeled on national initiatives.
Key Provisions
- • Raised felony theft threshold from $650 to $1,200 — Critics argue this emboldens retail crime
- • Drug penalty restructuring — Reduced penalties for certain possession charges, including initially lenient fentanyl categorization
- • Burglary statute changes — Required proof of intent, complicating prosecution
The Defense
Prison population dropped from 13,611 (2018) to 10,759 (2024). Costs avoided. Focus on rehabilitation over incarceration.
The Attack
Lombardo and RGA brand Ford as "Soft on Crime." Rising retail theft perception. Ford must defend raising threshold during theft crisis.
SB94 (2015) — Film Tax Credits
Revised transferable tax credits for film productions. "Hollywood 2.0" strategy.
SB555 (2017) — Scholarship Tax Credits
Co-sponsored tax credits for scholarship donations—typically a Republican priority. Reveals willingness to transact on school choice for political expedience.
The Immigration Reversal
2017 Position
Co-sponsored legislation that would have limited local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Effectively a "Sanctuary State" bill.
2025 Position
"Let me be clear: I do not support sanctuary policies. Period." Fights federal designation, claims "model policies" are non-binding guidelines.
Analysis: This is a calculated pivot for a general election in purple Nevada. The "sanctuary" label is toxic outside Clark County. Ford is attempting to reframe his record.
Campaign Finance: The Trial Lawyer Machine
The Citizens for Justice Nexus
The Nevada Justice Association (trial lawyers' lobby) operates Citizens for Justice (CFJ) PAC—the financial engine of Nevada Democratic politics and Ford's primary backer.
The Closed-Loop System
- Trial lawyers donate to CFJ ($4.7M+ total)
- CFJ distributes to Ford and Democratic legislators
- Ford (as AG) and legislature block tort reform, damage caps
- Ford (as AG) hires outside counsel (often donors like Eglet Adams) for state litigation
- Firms receive millions in fees, reinvest in PACs
Top Donor Clusters
Source: American Tort Reform Association
Corporate-Sponsored Travel
Ford accepted $140,000+ in travel from the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), funded by corporations including Amazon, Meta, and TikTok.
Destinations
South Africa, Poland, Israel, South Korea, Spain, Qatar
The Conflict
As AG, Ford investigates these same corporations for privacy violations and antitrust.
Ford reported highest aggregate value of trips among Nevada officials. Source
The Contradictions
"Champion of the Little Guy" vs. Trial Lawyer Dependency
Says: Fights for everyday Nevadans against corporate interests.
Reality: Primary funders are multimillionaire trial lawyers who receive $165M+ in state contract fees.
The "little guy" rhetoric masks an elite donor ecosystem.
$185K IRS Liens While Buying $468K Home
The Facts: Between 2010-2014, IRS filed liens totaling ~$185,000 for unpaid taxes.
His Explanation: "Financial difficulties" during recession and law firm partnership transition.
The Problem: In 2013, while owing IRS six figures, he purchased a new home for $468,138.
Liens paid by 2016. But the juxtaposition is politically toxic: "tax-dodging politician who votes to raise taxes on businesses."
Sanctuary State → "I Do Not Support Sanctuary Policies"
2017: Co-sponsored legislation limiting ICE cooperation.
2025: "Let me be clear: I do not support sanctuary policies. Period."
Complete reversal for general election viability. Relies on complexity of "model policies" vs. "statutes" to confuse the issue.
Criminal Justice Reformer → "Supporting Law Enforcement"
2019-2020: Champion of AB 236, raised theft threshold, reduced drug penalties.
2025: Touts "supporting law enforcement," distances from "Defund" narrative.
Attempting to thread the needle: maintain Black voter enthusiasm while reassuring suburban whites.
Corporate Defense Attorney → Anti-Corporate Litigator
Early Career: Weil Gotshal & Manges—defending corporate interests in complex litigation.
Current Brand: Suing Google, fighting Ticketmaster, targeting "corporate greed."
Professional evolution or ideological flexibility? The pivot aligns with funding shift from corporate defense bar to plaintiffs' bar.
Bodycam Transparency Questions
The Issue: 2017 traffic stop bodycam footage remains confidential after Nevada Supreme Court ruling.
The Problem: For an AG who champions transparency, the sealed footage allows speculation about his conduct.
Influence Network
Key Allies
Robert Eglet — Eglet Adams
Former employer. Top donor. Recipient of state outside counsel contracts. The most important figure in Ford's financial network.
Citizens for Justice (NJA)
Trial lawyers' PAC. Financial clearinghouse. $4.7M+ to Democratic causes.
Harry Reid Machine (Legacy)
Ford inherited Reid's turnout infrastructure. Relies on the machine for ground game.
Culinary Union 226
Vital for Las Vegas turnout. Door-knocking army. Ford consistently supports their picket lines.
Berna Rhodes-Ford
Wife, attorney. Active in campaign. "College sweethearts" narrative deployed for suburban appeal.
Key Adversaries
Joe Lombardo
Incumbent opponent. Frames Ford as "partisan activist" and "soft on crime."
Republican Governors Association
Calls Ford "Soft on Crime, Corrupt Politician." Will spend heavily against him.
American Tort Reform Association
Highlights CFJ "pay-to-play" appearance. Opposes trial lawyer influence.
Alexis Hill
Primary challenger. Running to Ford's left on taxes. Could force him to defend centrist positions.
2026 Electoral Assessment
Path to Victory
- 1. Maximize Clark County turnout — Obama-level numbers among Black and Latino voters
- 2. Win the suburbs — Henderson, Summerlin. Frame Lombardo as extreme on housing
- 3. The "Consumer Champion" narrative — Ticketmaster, opioids, rent-fixing fights
- 4. Survive the primary — Defeat Hill without moving too far left
Key Vulnerabilities
- • AB 236: "Soft on crime" attacks if retail theft stays visible
- • IRS liens: "Tax dodger" hypocrisy attacks
- • CFJ loop: "Pay-to-play" corruption framing
- • Sanctuary reversal: Flip-flopper attacks from both sides
X-Factors
- • Trump Factor: If Trump administration unpopular, Ford's federal lawsuits become asset
- • Crime Stats: If crime drops, reform narrative survives. If viral theft videos continue, devastating
- • Housing Crisis: If rents spike, Ford's anti-landlord message gains traction