Alexis Hill | Nevada Governor 2026

Overview: The "Technocratic Progressive"

Alexis Hill is the Chair of the Washoe County Commission and a Democratic challenger in the 2026 gubernatorial primary.[6]Hill campaign announcement A former city planner and Sparks native, Hill represents the insurgent left of the Nevada Democratic Party—proposing bold tax reform (a margin tax) that Nevada voters rejected 79-21 in 2014.[7]Nevada SOS, Question 3 (2014) results

Locally, she is known for two things: being the firewall against Robert Beadles' election-denial movement, and for strictly managing commission meetings in ways critics call authoritarian. Her governorship would represent a significant ideological shift from both Lombardo's corporate statism and Ford's establishment transactionalism.

The Case FOR Hill

Battle-tested against far-right harassment; certified elections despite pressure
Bold on revenue—willing to propose margin tax others won't touch
Anti-corporate subsidies stance (opposes Tesla tax breaks)
Deep administrative experience from city planning background
Defended libraries against book bans

The Case AGAINST Hill

Margin tax proposal failed 79-21 statewide in 2014
Takes developer/realtor money while claiming anti-corporate stance
Voted FOR homeless camping ban (with Republican opposition)
Restricted public comment—"authoritarian" perception
No statewide experience; limited fundraising capacity

Biography

The Planner's Mindset

Hill's worldview is shaped by 10+ years in municipal planning—a field defined by master plans, zoning codes, and 20-year horizons. This produces governance that prioritizes structure and process over populist impulse.

Education

• B.A. Political Science — Texas A&M (2005)
• MPA Public Administration & Policy — UNR (2011)

Pre-Politics Career

• City planner, City of Reno
• City planner, City of Sparks
• Sierra Arts Foundation
• Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

Born

Sparks, Nevada

Native Nevadan credentials essential for Northern Nevada politics.

2005

Graduates Texas A&M

Political Science degree. Conservative institutional environment contrasts with current progressive branding.

2011

MPA from UNR

Master's in Public Administration. Training in the mechanics of government.

2011-2020

City Planning Career

Over a decade in Reno/Sparks planning. Develops "master plan" philosophy.

2020

Elected to Washoe County Commission

Defeats incumbent Republican Marsha Berkbigler by 10 points (55.1%-44.9%) in District 1. Covers Southwest Reno and Incline Village—affluent, educated swing district.

2022-2024

"The Battle for Washoe"

Intense conflict with Robert Beadles' election-denial faction. Certified elections despite pressure. Became national story.

2024

Re-Elected with 57.3%

Defeats Berkbigler again with increased margin. Proves political durability despite controversy.

2025

Announces Gubernatorial Campaign

Challenges Aaron Ford from the left. Proposes margin tax.

Policy Record

2026 Gubernatorial Platform

The "Third Rail": Margin Tax Proposal

Hill explicitly proposes tax reform modeled on Texas's margin tax or a gross receipts tax on businesses. This is Nevada's most politically dangerous conversation.

Historical Context

2014 Education Initiative (Question 3): Proposed margin tax for education funding.
Result: Defeated 79% to 21%.

Nearly 4-to-1 rejection. For Hill to resurrect this indicates either deep ideological conviction or significant misreading of the electorate.

Her Argument

"Nevadans suffer when we don't invest in ourselves." Frames taxation as necessary corrective to underfunded services. Nevada has no corporate income tax.

The Risk

Opponents will point to 2014 result. "Tax-and-spend liberal" label. Library tax also failed in 2024 under Hill's watch.

"No Subsidies for Billionaires"

Explicitly opposes Tesla tax breaks and state-level corporate incentives. Direct attack on Lombardo's economic development model.

Note: Opposes state-level subsidies but facilitates county-level developer approvals from her donors.

Temporary Rent Caps

Supports rent control measures. Criticizes institutional investors for housing unaffordability.

Barrier: Nevada operates under Dillon's Rule. Rent control preempted by state law. This is a promise to lobby the legislature, not an executive action.

Immigration Stance

Hill emphasizes that immigration enforcement should remain a federal responsibility while Nevada prioritizes due process, humane treatment, and expanded pathways to citizenship instead of state detention centers.[IMM2]Candidate immigration analysis

The research notes four Nevada jurisdictions now have 287(g) agreements and ICE detentions spiked 80% from December 2024 to November 2025, making every commissioner and sheriff a gatekeeper for federal cooperation.[IMM1]Immigration systems analysis

Distilled Messaging

• Opposes National Guard deployments used for immigration roundups.
• Rejects state-run detention centers and refuses to give Nevada resources as "unpaid federal labor."
• Advocates federal partnerships that guarantee rights while pursuing comprehensive reform.

Documentation remains thin—campaign statements exist, but no public votes or litigation reflect these stances, leaving space for opponents to question substance.

Washoe County Commission Record

The Camping Ban Vote (March 2024)

Hill voted FOR an ordinance making it a misdemeanor to camp or live in vehicles on county property.

Vote: Passed 3-2

The Irony: Republican Commissioner Mike Clark voted AGAINST, calling it government overreach that "criminalizes poverty."

The Democrat voted for "law and order"; the populist Republican voted civil libertarian.

Implication: Undermines progressive credentials on poverty. Fortifies standing with suburban homeowners who demanded action on encampments.

Election Certification Firewall

When Commissioners Herman and Clark refused to certify elections or attempted delays (2022, 2024), Hill forced votes through, ensuring deadlines were met.

Strong Record

Envision Washoe 2040

Oversaw adoption of master plan update streamlining development codes. Pro-growth, consistent with planner background.

LibertyVote Ballot Marking Devices — $1.7M

Voted to purchase new voting equipment for vote center transition. Argued necessary for transparency and voter confidence.

Library Defense

Supported Library Board against LGBTQ+ book challenges. Positioned as defender of intellectual freedom.

The "Authoritarian" Perception

Hill's management of commission meetings has drawn intense criticism from both the far-right and civil liberties advocates.

What She Did

• Used "block votes" (consent agenda style) to speed meetings
• Moved public comment to end of meetings
• Limited time allotments for speakers
• Strictly enforced decorum rules

Her Defense

• Meetings were being hijacked by "organized 20-person group"
• Necessary to conduct county business
• Protected staff from harassment
• No formal ethics violations or sanctions

The Trade-off: Solidified base among institutionalists; provided ammunition for "tyrant" narrative. Commissioner Clark provides soundbites about Hill's "tyranny" to opposition media.

Environment & Climate Record

County-Level Climate Leadership

Authored Washoe County's first Community Climate Action Plan and hired the county's first Sustainability Manager.[E9]Washoe County records

Key Actions

• Committed county to Net Zero by 2050
• Secured $100K IRA grant for rural Gerlach energy planning
• Celebrated $9.14B in Nevada clean energy investments

Water & Public Lands

• Serves on TMWA Board (440K+ residents)
• Supports Sen. Rosen's Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act
• Opposes federal land sales

Direct Quote: "Our region is particularly vulnerable to a changing climate. The Reno area is the fastest-warming metro in the country."

Lake Tahoe Development Controversy

As TRPA Governing Board member, voted for higher-density development in Tahoe town centers. Sierra Club Tahoe Area Group criticized Hill for "supporting luxury development over workforce housing" (April 2023).

Hill responded: "I don't always listen to the loudest voices in the room. I actually listen to our diverse community." August 2025 votes supported up to 65-foot buildings and reduced parking—prompting wildfire evacuation lawsuit.

Statewide Policy Gaps

No positions on: NV Energy's monopoly, Greenlink transmission, rooftop solar/net metering, Thacker Pass lithium (indirect support only via Climate Action Plan reference to "Lithium Loop"), or nuclear energy.

Endorsements: Sierra Club Toiyabe (2020, 2024), Nevada Conservation League (2024) · Full Environment Analysis

Healthcare Record

Washoe Behavioral Health Center

Flagship mental health achievement: transforming former West Hills Behavioral Health Hospital into a $23M, 70-bed facility (expected late 2027), with half dedicated to youth services.[HC8]2023 facility acquisition

"For so long we've said, 'That's the State's job,' but the State isn't able to do it so the County is trying to find partners."

Mental Health Leadership

Strongest documented local-government mental health record.

• Hired Washoe County's first Behavioral Health Administrator
• Secured $15M for jail-based mental health programs through June 2027
• Doubled Mobile Crisis Response Team call capacity
• Adopted Sequential Intercept Model to divert mentally ill from justice system

Opioid Response

Oversaw $41M in county opioid settlement allocations over 20 years.

• Funded Northern Nevada HOPES opioid treatment program
• Bristlecone Family Resources: 20-bed medical detox center
• County-funded orgs provide free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, needle exchange

Critical Gaps

No explicit Medicaid positions—though Commission acknowledged "inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rate in Nevada." No rural healthcare proposals despite statewide candidacy. No explicit opioid policy statements—leans harm reduction through county actions but no gubernatorial platform articulated.

Full analysis: Healthcare Issue Page

Cost of Living Record

Most Detailed Childcare Platform

Campaign explicitly addresses childcare affordability: "Nevada has the most expensive childcare in the nation. We need to streamline permitting processes and remove excessive red tape for childcare providers."[COL9]Hill campaign website

• Universal Pre-K: "Studies show universal pre-kindergarten improves academic outcomes... We must ensure permanent funding of universal pre-K for all Nevada children."
• KTNV Interview: "We can invest in child care centers. That is the kind of investment I want to see in Nevada."

Utilities

Limited record despite sustainability focus.

• Appointed to TMWA Board (January 2021)
• "Passionate about conservation and fighting climate change on a local level"
• No direct statements on NV Energy rates, fuel cost pass-throughs, or utility assistance

Minimum Wage & Labor

Pro-union stance without specific dollar amount.

• Emphasizes "livable wages" language[COL10]Hill campaign labor platform
• Opposes Nevada's right-to-work law (calls it "Right to Freeload")
• No specific position on $12/hour minimum or further increases

Economic Philosophy: "No Subsidies for Billionaires"

Hill's signature proposal would eliminate corporate tax incentives: "Tax giveaways like what the State Legislature gave to Elon Musk to bring Tesla to Washoe County do not work."

Supports $2.5 billion in additional annual education spending over 10 years and temporary rent caps.

Key Gaps

No NV Energy positions despite being on TRPA Governing Board discussing utility issues. No specific minimum wage target—"livable wages" language without dollar amount. Childcare is strongest documented cost-of-living position among all candidates.

Full analysis: Cost of Living Issue Page

Gun Control Record

Position: Unknown

Research across campaign materials, news coverage, county commission records, and candidate surveys found no documented positions on universal background checks, red flag laws, age restrictions, polling place firearm rules, or magazine capacity limits.

Why No County Record

• Nevada has complete state preemption over local gun laws
• Counties cannot enact stricter regulations than state law
• No opportunity for county-level gun policy votes

Platform Focus

• Campaign emphasizes healthcare, housing, tax reform
• Gun policy absent from campaign issue pages
• Democratic Party alignment inferred but not documented

What This Means for Voters

Democratic primary voters comparing Ford and Hill cannot evaluate their differences on gun policy based on available evidence. Hill's silence may reflect strategic ambiguity in a swing-county campaign or simply that she hasn't been pressed on the issue.

Full analysis: Gun Control & Safety Issue Page

Campaign Finance: The Developer Paradox

⚠️

The Pay-to-Play Pattern

While Hill campaigns against "corporate subsidies for billionaires," her local funding comes from the developers she regulates. Forensic analysis reveals troubling correlations between donations and commission votes.

Key Donor Relationships

Locus Development Group LLC

$2,500

High Conflict Risk

Donation: February 5, 2024
Relevant Business: During 2023-2024, Commission processed Envision Washoe 2040 and "Matera Ridge Community Modifiers"—projects in Locus's portfolio.

Frank Lepori Construction

$1,000

High Conflict Risk

Donation: February 15, 2024
Contract: January 2025, staff recommended awarding $403,287.85 Riverbend Trailhead contract to Lepori.

Pattern: Donation → Contract Award → (potential future donation)

Realtor PACs

$3,000+

Ideological Conflict

Donors: Reno Sparks Association of Realtors PAC ($2,500), Incline Village Realtors PAC ($500+)
Conflict: Hill proposes rent control. Realtors oppose rent control.

Their funding suggests they view her rent control rhetoric as non-threatening or her pro-development record outweighs it.

Campaign Viability Assessment

Raised (2024): ~$93,000

Expenses: ~$24,000

Sufficient for County Commission. Woefully inadequate for Governor.

Ford's Advantage: Will command millions from Las Vegas

To compete, Hill must massively scale fundraising—likely deepening developer dependency.

The Contradictions

"Anti-Corporate Welfare" vs. Developer Funding

Says: "No subsidies for billionaires." Attacks Tesla tax breaks.
Does: Accepts donations from Locus Development, Lepori Construction, Realtor PACs. Votes for their zoning changes and contracts.

Attacks multinationals getting state incentives; accommodates local developers who fund her campaigns.

"Progressive" vs. Criminalizing Homelessness

Brand: Progressive Democrat, social justice advocate.
Vote: Supported homeless camping ban. Republican Clark voted against as "government overreach."

"Open Government" vs. Restricted Public Comment

Claim: Defender of democracy and transparency.
Action: Block votes, limited public comment, strict meeting control.

Defines democracy as "correct outcomes" rather than "open process." Legally upheld, but interpretation depends on voter's view of decorum vs. participation.

Rent Control Advocate with Realtor Money

Platform: Supports "temporary rent caps," criticizes institutional investors.
Donors: Realtor PACs who vehemently oppose rent control.

Either her policy is performative, or donors believe her pro-development record outweighs rhetoric.

Tax Reform Champion vs. Failed Library Tax

Proposal: Bold margin tax to fund services.
Track Record: Library tax initiative she supported failed in 2024.

Combined with 2014's 79-21 margin tax defeat, suggests disconnect with taxpayer sentiment.

The Primary Challenge: Hill vs. Ford

Why Is She Running?

Hill's challenge to Ford is either a genuine bid for the governorship or a strategic move to:

• Raise her profile for future Congressional run
• Force Ford to address progressive economic issues (tax reform, corporate subsidies)
• Represent Northern Nevada voice against Las Vegas-centric party

Hill's Advantages

✓ Battle-tested against harassment; proven survivor
✓ Northern Nevada base (Washoe underrepresented in party)
✓ Clear ideological differentiation on taxes
✓ Not entangled in trial lawyer ecosystem

Ford's Advantages

✓ Statewide name recognition and experience
✓ Reid Machine infrastructure, union backing
✓ Massive fundraising capacity ($1.1M first months)
✓ Polling parity with Lombardo (electability argument)

The Spoiler Risk

A crushing primary defeat could end Hill's political career. A close race could force Ford left on economic issues, potentially weakening him in the general. A long, bitter primary could divide the Democratic coalition heading into November.

Influence Network

Allies

Andrew McDonald — Registrar of Voters

Hill tied her fate to defending McDonald's office. His success is her success.

Tahoe Basin Philanthropic Class

Incline Village cultural elite. Sierra Arts, Shakespeare Festival connections.

Trade Unions (Construction)

Operating Engineers Local 3, LIUNA. Benefit from projects Hill approves.

Adversaries

Robert Beadles

Crypto investor, election-denial activist. Filed lawsuits, recall petitions, ethics complaints. Architect of "chaos" Hill fights.

Commissioner Mike Clark

Internal antagonist. Populist right. Provides "tyranny" soundbites. Toxic relationship.

Commissioner Jeanne Herman

Quiet dissenter. Refuses to certify elections. Creates permanent 3-2 split.

Aaron Ford (Now)

Once ally (donated $500). Now primary opponent. Has Reid Machine backing.

Bottom Line: High-Competence / High-Friction

Alexis Hill is an effective administrator who has managed a county in crisis. Her margin tax proposal represents genuine ideological courage—or political miscalculation.

Claim	Evidence	Voter Takeaway
"Anti-Corporate Welfare"	Weak	Contradicted by developer/realtor funding and project approvals
"Election Protector"	Strong	Proven record certifying elections under pressure
"Tax Reformer"	Strong	Committed but historically rejected (79-21 in 2014)
"Authoritarian"	Mixed	Meeting control documented but legally upheld