Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Trump gives approval to Lombardo for Nevada governor

Lombardo Gives State of The Department Address

Steve Marcus

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo delivers the annual State of the Department address at the Smith Center Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo in his Republican primary campaign for the Nevada governor’s race in a statement on Twitter from spokesperson Taylor Budowich on Wednesday.

“Joe Lombardo is the leader Nevada needs, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Governor!” Trump stated.

Trump praised Lombardo for serving “the people of Nevada” and stated the candidate will protect the Second Amendment, oppose sanctuary cities, support law enforcement, veto liberal tax increases, protect life and secure elections.

In other Nevada races, Trump also endorsed former Attorney General Adam Laxalt for U.S. Senate against Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Other candidates in the crowded GOP field aren’t letting the endorsement dampen their spirits.

“Even the best businessmen make bad decisions,” said North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee in a phone interview Wednesday. “He made the wrong decision. I know that I’m the better man … and I’m going to win this thing.”

Jack Finn, campaign manager for former Sen. Dean Heller, said Trump’s endorsement of Lombardo “doesn’t change anything.” Heller has asserted all along that he wasn’t sure what Trump would do and that it would not affect how Heller would run his campaign, Finn said.

“We are still convinced that [Heller’s] the best option,” Finn said. “It’s not going to change our approach one bit.”

That being said, Finn added, he does find it “puzzling” that Trump would endorse Lombardo, who has been “soft” on the Second Amendment, contributed to Gov. Steve Sisolak’s last campaign, and saw Las Vegas become a sanctuary city while sheriff.

Venture capitalist Guy Nohra's campaign said in a statement that he has made the commitment to "earn every vote."

"As part of my Battle Born Tour, I have traveled to every corner of our great state, meeting with voters, listening to their concerns, and providing solutions to the many problems that plague us due to Steve Sisolak’s failed leadership," Nohra stated. "Our message is resonating, and we are gaining momentum daily as I earn the endorsements of Nevadans all across our state. I look forward to continuing our tour in the days and weeks to come and will work hard to earn every vote as I have promised."

Lombardo did not return a request for comment.

Sisolak spokesperson Reeves Oyster said in a statement that the endorsement shows Lombardo’s campaign is “hitting the panic button.”

“After getting attacks from all sides on the airwaves,” Oyster said in an emailed statement, “called out for hiding, ripped for having it both ways on immigration and hours after a brutal editorial from the conservative Review-Journal on his lack of transparency and record of wasting taxpayer money, it’s no surprise Lombardo is reaching out for a lifeline.”

Oyster added that Trump lost Nevada in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

Nevada Democratic Victory Press, a political organization whose goal is to put Democrats in office, said in a statement that Lombardo’s campaign is “on life support.”

“It’s clear Lombardo will do or say anything to win this election,” spokesperson Mallory Payne said in a statement. “Regardless of who endorses him, Lombardo still has to survive six weeks of a brutal, crowded primary that will no doubt leave the lone survivor bruised and broke in June.”