The Stakes
60K+
Culinary Union 226 members (largest private union)
$1M+
"Nevada Jobs Now" PAC spending (Building Trades)
41%-41%
Dead heat polling (Nov 2024)
Nevada's labor landscape is uniquely fractured. The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 is the state's most powerful political force, capable of mobilizing tens of thousands of hospitality workers. The Building Trades want film tax credits and construction jobs. Police unions distrust reform candidates. Teacher unions are split between state and local chapters. The 2026 race will be decided by which candidate can hold togetherâor strategically splitâthis fragile coalition.
Where They Stand
Aaron Ford
Democrat ⢠Attorney General
Position
Ford positions himself as the "Firewall" protecting worker protections from Lombardo's vetoes. He saved prevailing wage in 2015 with the "90% compromise" and defends the NLRB and PRO Act. His slogan to unions: "I happened"âreminding them he delivered when Democrats were in the minority.
The Tension
Ford killed SB485, a taxi union-backed bill imposing 15-minute waits on Uber/Lyft, calling it "bad policy." He sided with tech companies over union demands when tourism dollars were at stake. Also, Ford voted FOR police raises that Lombardo vetoedâan attempt to peel off cops from their Republican allegiances, despite his criminal justice reform record making police unions wary.
Key Actions
- ⢠2015 Prevailing Wage: Saved school construction wages with "90% compromise"
- ⢠SB404 Support: Backed removal of railroad prevailing wage exemptions (Lombardo vetoed)
- ⢠SB485 Kill: Blocked taxi union's anti-rideshare bill ("DEAD")
- ⢠Police Pay Vote: Voted FOR NPU raises as Board of Examiners member
- ⢠NLRB Defense: Supports federal labor board against business attacks
Alexis Hill
Democrat ⢠Washoe County Chair
Position
Hill is attempting to split the labor movement: consolidate "Service Labor" (Culinary, AFSCME, SEIU, Teachers) while ceding "Business Labor" (Building Trades) to Ford. Her opposition to film tax credits puts her at war with construction unions but aligns with public sector unions who oppose "corporate handouts."
The Tension
Hill opposes film tax credits that would create thousands of union construction jobs (IATSE, Teamsters). The Building Trades' "Nevada Jobs Now" PAC ($1M+) will likely attack her. Meanwhile, she approved significant COLAs for county workers and votes for prevailing wage contractsâbut also approved a contract for a non-union donor (Frank Lepori Construction), irritating strict unionists.
Key Actions
- ⢠WCEA COLAs: Approved 8.5% raises over 2 years for county workers
- ⢠Film Tax Opposition: Primary Democratic antagonist to Building Trades priority
- ⢠Rent Control Advocate: Aligns with Culinary on housing stability
- ⢠Police Friction: WCSDA endorsed her opponent in 2020 (cultural hostility)
- ⢠Lepori Contract: Approved non-union donor's construction contract
What They're Not Telling You
The Fractured Labor Coalition
Nevada's labor movement is not monolithic. The 2026 election exposes deep fractures:
- Culinary vs. Building Trades: The Culinary Union wants rent control and worker protections. The Building Trades want film tax credits and stadium construction jobs. These priorities directly conflictâevery dollar to Hollywood is a dollar not spent on housing programs.
- CCEA vs. NSEA: The Clark County Education Association (state's largest teacher local) has broken with the state-level Nevada State Education Association. CCEA even endorsed Lombardo in 2022 to gain leverage. Ford aligns with NSEA; this costs him the largest local's ground game.
- Police Unions: Law enforcement unions historically back Republicans, but Lombardo vetoed their pay raises while Ford voted for them. Yet Ford's criminal justice reform record (AB 236) makes police view him as an "existential threat."
- Public vs. Private Sector: AFSCME (state workers) officially opposed the film tax creditâaligning with Hill's anti-corporate stance. This puts public sector unions against private sector construction unions on a major policy fight.
The bottom line: No candidate can win ALL of labor. The question is which coalition proves more valuable: Ford's establishment broad tent, Hill's service-sector focus, or Lombardo's strategic wedge that picks off construction workers while alienating hospitality.
Evidence Scorecard
| Claim | Evidence | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Lombardo is "anti-worker" | Mixed. Signed SB441 gutting Culinary jobs, vetoed state worker raises. But champions PLAs for construction unions. | Selective |
| Ford is "pro-union" | Generally true. Saved prevailing wage in 2015, defends NLRB. But killed taxi union's anti-Uber bill when tourism was at stake. | Conditional |
| Hill "opposes union jobs" | False for public sector (voted for raises). True for film industry jobsâshe opposes the tax credits that would create them. | Nuanced |
| Ford voted for police raises Lombardo vetoed | Confirmed. Board of Examiners vote records show Ford supported NPU contract; Lombardo rejected it citing "operational concerns." | Documented |
| Building Trades oppose Hill | Strong evidence. "Nevada Jobs Now" PAC ($1M+) is mobilizing against film tax credit opponents. Hill is primary target. | Active |