Sheriff Joe Lombardo speaks during “Lunch With the Sheriff” at Red Rock Resort Wednesday, July 24, 2019. The annual fundraising luncheon benefits the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation.
Monday, May 24, 2021 | 1:08 p.m.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo confirmed Monday that he's running for governor next year against Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak.
The Republican said, “Yes, I am,” when asked by KRNV-TV in Reno on Monday whether he's running for governor.
Lombardo had already brought on advisors and a campaign chair for what was considered a likely run but had not made an announcement.
The sheriff was in Reno for a charity event related to Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and said he was in Northern Nevada so people can get to know him ahead of the statewide campaign.
“I'm well known in the south but I've gotta be well-known in the north too, right?" the sheriff said.
Lombardo is an elected official who oversees some 5,000 officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the state’s largest force.
He will face North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, who announced his campaign last week, in a Republican primary.
Northern Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei, a Republican, said Friday that he’s still weighing whether to run for governor and did not have a timeline for when he might make a decision.
Sisolak was elected in 2018 by 4 percentage points.
