Joe Lombardo

{{About|the governor of Nevada|the fictional character|List of Third Watch characters#Firefighter Joe Lombardo|the American mobster|Joseph Lombardo}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Joe Lombardo

| image = Joe Lombardo by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Lombardo in 2024

| order = 31st

| office = Governor of Nevada

| lieutenant = Stavros Anthony

| term_start = January 2, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Steve Sisolak

| successor =

| office2 = 17th Sheriff of Clark County

| term_start2 = January 5, 2015

| term_end2 = January 2, 2023

| predecessor2 = Doug Gillespie

| successor2 = Kevin McMahill

| birth_name = Joseph Michael Lombardo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|11|8}}

| birth_place = Sapporo, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Donna Alderson|2015}}

| children = 1

| education = University of Nevada, Las Vegas (BS, MS)

| allegiance = {{flagu|United States|1960}}

| branch = {{army|United States}}

| unit = Nevada National Guard
United States Army Reserve

| serviceyears = 1980–1986

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Joe Lombardo on the police response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.ogg|title=Lombardo's voice|type=speech|description=Lombardo on the police response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
Recorded October 4, 2017}}

}}

Joseph Michael Lombardo ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|m|ˈ|b|ɑːr|d|oʊ}} {{respell|ləm|BAR|doh}};{{cite AV media |date= October 25, 2022|title= It's Time|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBqCZn1VslE|publisher=Joe Lombardo for Nevada|via=YouTube|access-date=August 20, 2024 |time= 00:27}} born November 8, 1962) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as the 31st governor of Nevada since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 17th sheriff of Clark County from 2015 to 2023, capping a 34-year career in law enforcement.{{cite news|last=Lochhead|first=Colton|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/sheriff-lombardo-offers-lighthearted-laughs-swearing-ceremony|title=Sheriff Lombardo offers lighthearted laughs in swearing in ceremony|date=January 5, 2015|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=December 19, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Torres-Cortez|first=Ricardo|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/dec/12/clark-county-sheriff-shares-insights-on-challenges/|title=Clark County sheriff shares insights on challenges of 2016|date=December 12, 2016|work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=December 18, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Hartman|first=Jim|url=https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2022/sep/10/jim-hartman-crime-joe-lombardos-edge-governors-rac/|title=Crime: Joe Lombardo's edge in governor's race|date=September 10, 2022|work=Nevada Appeal|access-date=March 26, 2023}}

Born in Japan, Lombardo moved to Las Vegas in 1976 and was educated at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.{{Cite web |last=Schoenmann |first=Joe |date=June 27, 2014 |title=In Clark County sheriff race, Joe Lombardo, Larry Burns will pit police brass against police union|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jun/27/clark-county-sheriff-race-joe-lombardo-larry-burns/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |language=en}} He served in the United States Army before becoming an officer in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1988.{{Cite web |title=Sheriff Joseph Lombardo |url=https://www.lvmpd.com/en-us/Pages/officeofthesheriff-SheriffJosephLombardo.aspx |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=www.lvmpd.com |archive-date=November 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106200639/https://www.lvmpd.com/en-us/Pages/officeofthesheriff-SheriffJosephLombardo.aspx |url-status=dead }} He was elected sheriff in 2014 and reelected in 2018.{{Cite web |first=Colton|last=Lochhead|date=November 12, 2022 |title=Sisolak concedes; Lombardo will be next Nevada governor |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/sisolak-concedes-lombardo-will-be-next-nevada-governor-2674682/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}} As sheriff, he oversaw the investigation into the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. He won the Republican nomination for governor of Nevada in 2022 and defeated incumbent Democratic governor Steve Sisolak in the general election; he took office on January 2, 2023.{{Cite web |first1=Jim|last1=Carlton|first2=Adolfo|last2=Flores|title=Republican Joe Lombardo Elected Nevada Governor |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/midterms-elections-results-house-congress-senate/card/republican-joe-lombardo-elected-nevada-governor-X4sIWTy4AGQlCkNZ0KFw |date=November 11, 2022|access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en}}

Early life and education

The son of a United States Air Force veteran, Lombardo was born in Sapporo, Japan, on November 8, 1962.{{cite news|first=Shelby Lin|last=Erdman|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/national/who-clark-county-nevada-sheriff-joseph-lombardo/UWHyaRENdiXlivzZhLomrM/|title=Who is Clark County, Nevada Sheriff Joseph Lombardo?|newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=October 2, 2017}} He lived in Japan for over a decade before moving to Las Vegas in 1976.{{Cite web |last=Bucher |first=Chris |date=October 3, 2017|title=Sheriff Joseph Lombardo: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/10/joseph-lombardo-las-vegas-sheriff-politics-guns-wife-family-photos-pictures/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US}} Lombardo graduated from Rancho High School in 1980.{{cite news|last1=Nordli|first1=Brian|last2=Valley|first2=Jackie|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/dec/04/metro-police-veteran-joe-lombardo-jumps-race-sheri/|title=Metro Police veteran Joe Lombardo jumps into race for sheriff|date=December 4, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=December 18, 2016}}

Lombardo attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from which he received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master of Science in crisis management. He also completed the 227th session of the FBI National Academy in 2006.

Early career

= Military service =

After graduating from high school in 1980, Lombardo joined the United States Army. During his time in the Army, he served in the Nevada National Guard and in the United States Army Reserve. He ended his military service in 1986.{{Cite web |first1=Sean|last1=Golonka|first2=Riley|last2=Snyder|first3=Michelle|last3=Rindels|first4=Zachary|last4=Bright|date=June 28, 2021|title=Clark County Sheriff Lombardo announces run for governor as Republican; says he'll veto new taxes, take 'law and order' tack |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/clark-county-sheriff-lombardo-announces-run-for-governor-as-republican-says-hell-veto-new-taxes-take-law-and-order-tack |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}}

= Law enforcement career =

Lombardo joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as an officer in 1988. He rose through the ranks, becoming a sergeant in 1996, a lieutenant in 2001, and a captain in 2006. He was promoted to assistant sheriff in 2011.

As assistant sheriff, Lombardo was in charge of the law enforcement services group, which included the department's divisions in charge of technical services, information technology, radio systems and professional standards.

Lombardo also sat on the board of directors of the LVMPD Foundation from 2007 to 2014. He retired from the police force after 26 years of service and stepped down from the foundation's board of directors in 2014 after being elected sheriff.

Lombardo made appearances on the TV show Cops between 1991 and 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3262836/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3 | title=Joe Lombardo | website=IMDb }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pogdesign.co.uk/cat/Cops/Season-3/Episode-39|title=Cops (S03E39): Las Vegas, NV 8 Summary - Season 3 Episode 39 Guide|website=TV Calendar}}

Sheriff of Clark County

= First term (2015–2019) =

File:Jonathan Carrington receives certificate from Joseph Lombardo (cropped).jpg

On December 4, 2013, Lombardo announced his candidacy for sheriff of Clark County to succeed the retiring Doug Gillespie. He won the primary election and narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, retired LVMPD captain Larry Burns, in the November 4 general election.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ross |title=2014 Clark County election results |url=https://www.nvsos.gov/silverstate2014gen/county-results/clark.shtml |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=www.nvsos.gov}} Lombardo took office on January 5, 2015.{{Cite news |last=Erdman |first=Shelby Lin |title=Who is Clark County, Nevada Sheriff Joseph Lombardo? |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/national/who-clark-county-nevada-sheriff-joseph-lombardo/UWHyaRENdiXlivzZhLomrM/ |date=October 2, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2022 |issn=1539-7459}} As sheriff he was head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the combined law enforcement agency of Las Vegas and Clark County and Nevada's largest law enforcement agency, overseeing more than 5,000 officers.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2022 |title=11 Best Police Departments in Nevada to Work For (2022 Rankings) |url=https://outsidethebadge.com/best-police-department-nevada/ |website=Outside the Badge|access-date=November 12, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Vegas police release report on massacre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116208977/vegas-police-release-report-on-massacre/ |website=Associated Press |last=Ritter |first=Ken |access-date=January 11, 2023 |language=en-US}}

After becoming sheriff, Lombardo began the decentralization of LVMPD's detective operations, shifting detective operations from centralized crime-specific units to distribution of detectives throughout LVMPD area commands.{{cite news |last=Lochhead |first=Colton |date=July 26, 2015 |title=3 notable changes since Sheriff Joseph Lombardo took office |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/3-notable-changes-since-sheriff-joseph-lombardo-took-office/ |access-date=December 18, 2016}}

In 2016, Lombardo connected the Las Vegas crime increase to a California law called Proposition 47, which is meant to reduce prison overcrowding.{{cite news |last=Torres-Cortez |first=Ricardo |date=March 31, 2016 |title=Sheriff links Las Vegas crime hike to California law to reduce prison crowd |work=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/mar/31/sheriff-links-las-vegas-crime-hike-to-california-l/ |access-date=December 18, 2016}} Later that year, he responded to questions about a recent spike of violent crimes in Las Vegas, saying that the surge "keeps me up at night".{{cite news |last=Juhl |first=Wesley |date=April 27, 2016 |title=Sheriff Lombardo answers questions about recent spike in violent Las Vegas crime |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/sheriff-lombardo-answers-questions-about-recent-spike-in-violent-las-vegas-crime-video/ |access-date=December 18, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Torres-Cortez |first=Ricardo |date=April 28, 2016 |title=Lombardo: Surge in violent Las Vegas crime 'keeps me up at night' |work=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/apr/28/lombardo-las-vegas-surge-in-violent-crime-keeps-me/ |access-date=December 18, 2016}} He later disagreed with FBI director James Comey's statement attributing a recent spike in violent crimes in Las Vegas to a so-called Ferguson effect.{{cite news |last=Juhl |first=Wesley |date=May 17, 2016 |title=Clark County sheriff disagrees with FBI director, says Metro is understaffed |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/clark-county-sheriff-disagrees-with-fbi-director-says-metro-is-understaffed |access-date=December 18, 2016}} In December 2016, Lombardo supported a high-capacity magazine ban, a call supported by the Las Vegas Sun editorial board.{{cite news |date=December 11, 2016 |title=High-capacity magazine ban a must for Nevadans' safety |work=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/dec/11/high-capacity-magazine-ban-a-must-for-nevadans-saf/ |access-date=December 17, 2016}} By February 2017, Lombardo had concluded that the number of homicides in Las Vegas increased by an average of 20 each year.{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2017 |title=Steady spike in homicides brings new Metro focus on violent crime |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/feb/24/steady-spike-in-homicides-brings-new-metro-focus-o/ |last=Torres-Cortez |first=Ricardo |work=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=January 11, 2023}}

In September 2017, following the arrest of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett in Las Vegas, Lombardo dismissed Bennett's allegations that two police officers who arrested him used excessive force and made vulgar threats, saying video evidence of the arrest did not corroborate the allegations.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2017 |title=Vegas sheriff: No evidence officers mistreated NFL player |url=https://www.chatsports.com/seattle-seahawks/a/source/vegas-sheriff-no-evidence-officers-mistreated-nfl-player-13921093 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=January 11, 2023}}

File:Las Vegas Shooting Timeline.webm

Following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting at Mandalay Bay and Route 91 Harvest, in which 59 people died and 527 were injured—the deadliest mass shooting in the modern U.S. history—Lombardo oversaw the investigation into the shooting and into the perpetrator, Stephen Paddock.{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Mitch |last2=Medina |first2=Jennifer |last3=Williams |first3=Timothy |date=October 9, 2017|title=After Las Vegas Shooting, a Tight-Lipped Sheriff Faces a Maddening Case |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/us/joseph-lombardo-sheriff-las-vegas.html |access-date=November 12, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/us/las-vegas-shooting-death-toll-rises-59-apparent/story?id=50223240|first1=Karma|last1=Allen|first2=Emily|last2=Shapiro|first3=Julia|last3=Jacobo|title=Las Vegas shooting death toll rises to 59, no apparent connection to international terror|website=ABC News|date=October 3, 2017|accessdate=November 12, 2022}}

= Second term (2019–2023) =

Lombardo won the 2018 primary election with 73% of the vote,{{cite news|first=Ricardo|last=Torres-Cortez|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jan/04/lombardo-sworn-into-second-term-as-sheriff/|title=Lombardo sworn into second term as sheriff|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=January 4, 2019}}{{cite news|first=Blake|last=Apgar|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/clark-county/lombardo-wins-re-election-in-race-for-clark-county-sheriff/|title=Lombardo wins re-election in race for Clark County sheriff|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=June 12, 2018}} defeating four challengers. He was sworn in to a second term on January 4, 2019, and during the ceremony touted an expansion of the LVMPD's staff levels during his tenure (an increase of more than 900 officers and 280 corrections officers).{{Cite web |last=Torres-Cortez |first=Ricardo |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Lombardo sworn into second term as sheriff|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jan/04/lombardo-sworn-into-second-term-as-sheriff/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}} Later that year, Lombardo's department issued a report recommending many changes to improve the police response to future critical incidents.{{cite news|first=Ricardo|last=Torres-Cortez|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/oct/01/kept-getting-worse-lombardo-recalls-oct-1-shooting/|title='It just kept getting worse': Lombardo recalls Oct. 1 shooting 3 years later|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=October 1, 2020}}

In June 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, the LVMPD arrested six people observing a protest along the Las Vegas Strip.{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2020 |title=6 legal observers detained as hundreds protest along Las Vegas Strip |url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/hundreds-of-protesters-block-traffic-on-las-vegas-strip-police-give-order-to-disburse |work=ABC3 |last=Valencia |first=Peter |access-date=January 9, 2023}} Governor Steve Sisolak called for an investigation. Lombardo defended the department's actions by releasing body-cam videos of the six engaging in "antagonizing behavior" and obstructing officers.{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2020 |title=Las Vegas sheriff defends arrests of protest observers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116135789/las-vegas-sheriff-defends-arrests-of/ |work=Tyler Morning Telegraph |access-date=January 9, 2023}}

In lieu of running for a third term, Lombardo ran for governor of Nevada in 2022. He was replaced by LVMPD undersheriff Kevin McMahill.{{Cite news |first=Sabrina|last=Schnur|date=October 21, 2022 |title=Sheriff-elect plans to use drones to monitor violent crimes |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/sheriff-elect-plans-to-use-drones-to-monitor-violent-crimes-2662029/ |access-date=November 12, 2022|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US}}

Governor of Nevada

File:Governor Joe Lombardi Speaking.jpg

= 2022 gubernatorial campaign =

Lombardo announced his candidacy for governor of Nevada on June 28, 2021, to challenge incumbent governor Steve Sisolak in the 2022 election. Lombardo faced 11 other candidates, including the presumptive front-runner, Dean Heller, a former U.S. senator. Lombardo eventually surpassed Heller by double digits in the polls{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Lombardo looking to leapfrog Heller in race for governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116701153/lombardo-looking-to-leapfrog-heller-in/ |website=Reno Gazette-Journal |first=James|last=DeHaven|access-date=January 18, 2023}} and was widely considered the front-runner by February.{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2022 |title=Sheriff Joe Lombardo lifts COVID-19 vaccine mandate amid criticism from political opponents |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sheriff-joe-lombardo-lifts-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-amid-criticism-from-political-opponents/ar-AATrVoY |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |agency=MSN |first=Rio |last=Lacanlale |access-date=January 8, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Jim Hartman: Lombardo is GOP's frontrunner for governor |url=https://elkodaily.com/opinion/columnists/jim-hartman-lombardo-is-gop-s-frontrunner-for-governor/article_f09a82b8-1cdd-5126-916c-7f3b38a448f6.html |work=Elko Daily Free Press |first=Jim |last=Hartman |access-date=January 8, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2022 |title=Lombardo remains heavy favorite in NV governor race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116141602/lombardo-remains-heavy-favorite-in-nv/ |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |first=James |last=DeHaven |access-date=January 9, 2023}} Former President Donald Trump endorsed Lombardo in April 2022.{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Trump endorses Joe Lombardo in crowded GOP primary for Nevada governor |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nevada-governor-race-trump-endorse-lombardo |website=Fox News |first=Tyler|last=Olson|access-date=January 3, 2023}} Lombardo won the Republican nomination on June 14, 2022, with 38.3% of the vote, defeating his main competitors, including Heller, Reno-based attorney and former boxer Joey Gilbert, and North Las Vegas Mayor John Jay Lee.{{Cite web |first=Adam|last=Edelman|title=Joe Lombardo wins Nevada GOP primary for governor, will challenge Sisolak |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/joe-lombardo-wins-nevada-republican-primary-governor-rcna33606 |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=NBC News|date=June 14, 2022|language=en}} On November 12, 2022, several days after election day, Lombardo was projected to win, having defeated Sisolak by roughly 16,000 votes.{{Cite web |last=Reston |first=Maeve |date=November 12, 2022 |title=Republican Joe Lombardo will defeat Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, CNN projects|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/11/politics/joe-lombardo-steve-sisolak-nevada-governor-result/index.html |access-date=November 12, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en}}

= Tenure =

Lombardo was sworn in on January 2, 2023, the same day Cisco Aguilar became Nevada Secretary of State and Andy Matthews became Nevada State Controller.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2023 |title=Joe Lombardo Sworn In as Nevada's 31st Governor |url=https://thenevadaglobe.com/articles/joe-lombardo-sworn-in-as-nevadas-31st-governor/ |website=NevadaGlobe|first=Megan|last=Barth|access-date=January 7, 2023}} On his fourth day in office, Lombardo signed two executive orders to remove remaining COVID-19 mandates and address workforce vacancies and wages.{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Newly-elected governor Joe Lombardo announces first two executive orders |url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/newly-elected-governor-joe-lombardo-announces-first-two-executive-orders |website=KSNV |access-date=January 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Lombardo signs 2 executive orders, vows to give state employees a raise |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/lombardo-signs-2-executive-orders-vows-to-give-state-employees-a-raise-2707782/ |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |last=Avery |first=Taylor R.| access-date=January 7, 2023}} On January 12, Lombardo signed two more executive orders aimed at reducing regulatory burdens. The orders would suspend any new regulations from executive agencies, with exceptions for regulations that would affect public health, public safety, pending judicial deadlines and the essential duties of an executive branch.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Lombardo orders freeze on new state regulations, cuts to professional licensing rules |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-signs-order-freezing-new-state-regulations-seeking-elimination-of-many-more |website=Nevada Independent |last1=Mueller |first1=Tabitha |last2=Golonka |first2=Sean |access-date=January 13, 2023}}

In his State of the State address on January 23, Lombardo proposed a two-year $11 billion budget that would be the largest general fund budget in Nevada history and pledged $2 billion per biennium for K-12 education—an increase of more than 22% from the previous biennium. He also promised to restore funding to the state's higher education system and proposed adding $313 million into what he announced as the "Nevada Way Fund", a savings fund to be used for infrastructure and development projects.{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2023 |title=NV governor wants to cut business taxes, suspend gas tax, make biggest education investment in state history |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nv-governor-wants-cut-business-taxes-suspend-gas-tax-make-biggest-education-investment-state-history |website=Fox News |access-date=February 2, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Recap: Governor Lombardo 2023 State of the State Address |url=https://www.vegasbusinessdigest.com/recap-governor-lombardo-2023-state-of-the-state/ |website=Vegas Business Digest |access-date=February 2, 2023}} On March 1, Lombardo signed legislation to transfer $70 million from the state's general fund to the education fund.{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Lombardo signs off on a $70M transfer to state education fund |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/lombardo-signs-off-on-a-70m-transfer-to-state-education-fund |access-date=March 2, 2023}}

In May, Lombardo proposed implementing a voter ID requirement to roll back vote-by-mail. State Democratic legislators have said the proposal would be "dead on arrival".{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Democrats: Lombardo voter ID proposal dead on arrival |first1=Tabitha |last1=Mueller |first2=Jacob |last2=Solis |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/democrats-lombardo-voter-id-proposal-dead-on-arrival |access-date=May 7, 2023}}

In June, Lombardo introduced a bill to the Nevada State Legislature to help fund a $1.5 billion 30,000-seat ballpark built on the site of the Tropicana Las Vegas for the Oakland Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas via partial public financing.{{Cite news|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sports-economists-pan-public-funding-for-as-ballpark-deal-as-standard-stadium-grift|title=Sports economists pan public funding for A's ballpark as standard stadium grift|work=The Nevada Independent|date=June 15, 2023|language=en-US}} During a special session, the bill was amended and renamed SB1 on June 7. By June 15, he signed SB1 into law, which authorized the funding and construction of the ballpark after it passed in the Legislature by a majority vote.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=Nevada governor signs A's stadium funding bill |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/sports/local-sports/las-vegas-as/nevada-governor-signs-as-stadium-funding-bill/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=KLAS |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921214417/https://www.8newsnow.com/sports/local-sports/las-vegas-as/nevada-governor-signs-as-stadium-funding-bill/ |url-status=dead }} In June 2023, Lombardo signed a bill to provide $380 million in public funding for the stadium.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=Governor signs public funding bill for new A's stadium in Vegas, growing global sports destination |url=https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-oakland-athletics-governor-signing-f190c44133bbcee47a15278135b6088f |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} Proponents of the public funding package argued that it would be good for Nevada's economy, while some economists argued that studies show these kinds of deals are bad investments for taxpayers.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-04 |title=Sports economists pan public funding for A's ballpark deal as 'standard stadium grift' |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sports-economists-pan-public-funding-for-as-ballpark-deal-as-standard-stadium-grift |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}}

In September 2023, the work vacancy rate in Nevada stood at 24.3%, virtually unchanged since Lombardo was sworn in as governor.{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2023 |title=Gov. Lombardo's executive order suspends minimum qualifications for some state jobs to lower vacancy rate |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gov-lombardo-executive-order-suspends-minimum-qualifications-for-some-state-jobs-to-lower-vacancy-rate/ar-AA1hHj0X |last=Margiott |first=Ben |website=KRNV Reno |language=en}} In an attempt to lower the vacancy rate, Lombardo signed an executive order on September 18 that suspended certain minimum qualification requirements for state jobs for at least 90 days.{{Cite web |title=EXECUTIVE ORDER 2023-10 |url=https://gov.nv.gov/Newsroom/ExecOrders/2023/Executive_Order_2023-10/ |website=NV.gov |language=en}}

Political positions

Lombardo describes himself as a moderate Republican.{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2022 |title=On the record: Republican governor candidate Joe Lombardo |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/on-the-record-republican-governor-candidate-joe-lombardo |access-date=March 25, 2023}}

=Criminal justice=

In an April 2022 interview with The Nevada Independent, Lombardo said he supports the death penalty as long as there is due process.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2022 |title=GOP governor candidate Joe Lombardo on COVID, elections and K-12 |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Hz0IFNHpY |access-date=March 25, 2023}}

Lombardo has said he opposes the "defund the police" slogan.

=Education=

Lombardo supports an audit of the education system. In an April 2022 interview with The Nevada Independent, he said he would investigate whether education funds are being allocated appropriately on "day one" of his governorship.

=Abortion=

During his 2022 campaign, Lombardo described his personal views as "pro-life", but made clear he opposes a national abortion ban and supports upholding the codification of abortion rights passed by Nevada voters in 1990.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2022 |title=Lombardo says he'll oppose US abortion ban if he becomes Nevada governor |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/sep/15/lombardo-says-hell-fight-against-us-abortion-ban-i/ |access-date=March 25, 2023}} On May 30, 2023, Lombardo signed into law a bill enshrining protections for out-of-state abortion seekers and in-state abortion providers.{{Cite web|last=Stern |first=Gabe |title=Nevada Republican governor approves abortion protections in rare cross-party move |date=May 30, 2023 |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/nevada-abortion-republican-governor-joe-lombardo-83032873a48a8916b7d030191d095bc4 |access-date=May 30, 2023}} Lombardo was endorsed by National Right to Life, a Political Action Committee that opposes abortion rights, but, as of May 2023, he was one of three Republican governors, along with Phil Scott of Vermont and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, to have signed legislation protecting access to abortion services.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-30 |title=In rare move, Nevada's Republican governor strengthens abortion rights protections |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nevada-abortion-rights-protections-republican-governor-joe-lombardo/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Nevada's Lombardo becomes third Republican governor to buck GOP trend and protect access to abortion |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nevadas-republican-governor-approves-abortion-protections-e7b96711 |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=Nevada Republican governor enshrines abortion protections |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/nevada-republican-governor-enshrines-abortion-protections |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}

=Gun control=

Lombardo supports universal background checks on people purchasing guns.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2021 |title=Lombardo bucks GOP line on guns, supports universal background checks but pushes back on recent gun control bills |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-bucks-gop-line-on-guns-supports-universal-background-checks-but-pushes-back-on-recent-gun-control-bills |access-date=March 25, 2023}} As Clark County sheriff, he supported a high-capacity magazine ban.

= LGBTQ rights =

Lombardo signed legislation that "prevents insurance companies from discriminating against trans people on the basis of gender identity, while the other measure signed in late May requires prisons to develop regulations to ensure safety of trans and nonbinary people who are incarcerated."{{Cite web |last1=Lyle |first1=Michael |date=2023-06-14 |title=In contrast to red state anti-LGBTQ push, NV's Republican governor signs 2 trans protection bills |url=https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2023/06/14/in-contrast-to-red-state-anti-lgbtq-push-nvs-republican-governor-signs-2-trans-protection-bills/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Nevada Current |language=en-US}} He signed two pieces of legislation to protect transgender and non-binary rights in Nevada, but vetoed a third bill that would have strengthened protections for medical providers offering gender-affirming care to minors.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=Lombardo, bucking party, signs insurance coverage for gender-affirming care bill |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-bucking-party-signs-insurance-coverage-for-gender-affirming-care-bill |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zalucki |first=Rachel |date=2023-06-13 |title=Governor Joe Lombardo signs bill requiring health insurance companies to cover 'gender-affirming care' |url=https://www.ktnv.com/news/governor-joe-lombardo-signs-bill-requiring-health-insurance-companies-to-cover-gender-affirming-care |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas |language=en}}

In October 2024, Lombardo expressed his support on social media for the University of Nevada, Reno's women's volleyball team boycotting future games with San Jose State. "As I've said previously, I believe there are competition and safety concerns with transgender women in sports, and it's irresponsible for the NCAA to put student athletes in a position of balancing their personal safety against the schools, competition, and sports that they love", Lombardo wrote.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=NV governor: 'Irresponsible' to let male athletes crush female volleyball players |url=https://www.thecollegefix.com/nv-governor-irresponsible-to-let-male-athletes-crush-female-volleyball-players/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The College Fix |language=en}} Of the boycott, the team said, "We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes".{{cite news |title=Women's volleyball dispute touches on a broader question: How to define 'fair' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/womens-volleyball-dispute-touches-broader-question-define-fair-rcna177580 |access-date=9 January 2025 |work=NBC News |date=28 October 2024 |language=en}}

=Voting=

In an April 2022 interview with The Nevada Independent, Lombardo said he did not believe there was fraud in the 2020 presidential election and saw no reason to believe Joe Biden was not "duly elected", although he suggested that "the election system has the ability to have fraud in it".

= Healthcare =

Lombardo originally decried Nevada's public option, calling it "political theater", but more recently has accepted that it will be enacted. He has sought to alter the proposal by adding a market stabilization program to it.{{Cite web |title=Nevada's Public Option begins in 2026. Here's what it means for your health insurance |url=https://knpr.org/show/knprs-state-of-nevada/2023-10-25/nevadas-public-option-begins-in-2026-heres-what-it-means-for-your-health-insurance |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Nevada Public Radio {{!}} NPR news station based in Las Vegas |language=en}}

Personal life

Lombardo was divorced and has one child from his previous marriage.{{Cite web |last=Ley |first=Ana |date=October 15, 2014 |title=For Clark County sheriff, it's policy wonk or likable leader|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/oct/15/clark-county-sheriff-its-policy-wonk-or-likable-le/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |newspaper=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}} He married Donna Alderson, a commercial real estate broker, in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Gentry |first=Dana |date=June 7, 2019 |website=Nevada Current |title=Lombardo fails to report wife's income on financial disclosure forms |url=https://www.nevadacurrent.com/blog/lombardo-fails-to-report-wifes-income-on-financial-disclosure-forms/ |access-date=November 12, 2022|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25489939-joe-lombardo-divorce/|title=Joe Lombardo Divorce|website=www.documentcloud.org}}

Lombardo is Catholic.{{cite tweet|number=1540408275254091782|first=Joe|last=Lombardo|user=JoeLombardoNV|title=My statement on the Supreme Court's Dobbs Ruling|date=24 June 2022|website=Twitter}} In his spare time, he is an off-road racer in the SCORE International racing series.[http://score-international.com/racers-from-41-states-18-countries-51st-score-baja-1000/ Racers from 41 States, 18 countries–51st SCORE Baja 1000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419055811/https://score-international.com/racers-from-41-states-18-countries-51st-score-baja-1000/ |date=2023-04-19 }}, SCORE International (November 12, 2018).

Electoral history

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2014 Clark County sheriff election{{Cite web|date=4 November 2014|title=Nevada General Election 2014 Clark County Results|url=https://www.nvsos.gov/silverstate2014gen/county-results/clark.shtml|access-date=2 January 2023|website=Nevada Secretary of State}}{{Cite web|date=12 June 2014|title=Clark County, Nevada Past Elections|url=https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/elections/past_elections.php|access-date=2 January 2023|website=Clark County, NV}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Joe Lombardo

| votes = 41,827

| percentage = 36.26

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Larry Burns

| votes = 32,620

| percentage = 28.28

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Ted Moody

| votes = 20,745

| percentage = 17.99

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Robert Gronauer

| votes = 7,302

| percentage = 6.33

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Joe Lombardo

| votes = 154,047

| percentage = 51.16

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Larry Burns

| votes = 147,063

| percentage = 48.44

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 301,110

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Clark County sheriff election{{Cite web|date=12 June 2018|title=Clark County, Nevada Past Elections|url=https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/elections/past_elections.php|access-date=2 January 2023|website=Clark County, NV}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Joe Lombardo|votes=139,132|percentage=72.81}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Tim Bedwell|votes=29,939|percentage=15.67}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Matt Caldwell|votes=10,241|percentage=5.36}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Gordon Martines|votes=8,570|percentage=4.48}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Gregory Heiny|votes=3,210|percentage=1.69}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=2022 Nevada Republican gubernatorial primary election{{cite web |title=2022 Statewide and Multi-County Candidate Filing - By Office |date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=Secretary of State of Nevada |url=https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/home/showpublisheddocument/10306/637834812920758956}}{{cite web |title=2022 Official Statewide Primary Election Results - June 14, 2022|work=Nevada Secretary of State |access-date=July 1, 2022|url=https://www.nvsos.gov/silverstate2022pri/NVOther/}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Lombardo

|votes = 87,761

|percentage = 38.40%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joey Gilbert

|votes = 61,738

|percentage = 27.01%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dean Heller

|votes = 32,087

|percentage = 14.04%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = John Jay Lee

|votes = 17,846

|percentage = 7.81%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Guy Nohra

|votes = 8,348

|percentage = 3.65%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Fred J. Simon

|votes = 6,856

|percentage = 3.00%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Thomas Heck

|votes = 4,315

|percentage = 1.89%

}}{{Election box None of These Candidates with party link no change

|votes = 4,219

|percentage = 1.85%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Eddie Hamilton

|votes = 1,293

|percentage = 0.57%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Amber Whitley

|votes = 1,238

|percentage = 0.54%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = William Walls

|votes = 833

|percentage = 0.36%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Gary Evertsen

|votes = 558

|percentage = 0.24%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Seven Achilles Evans

|votes = 475

|percentage = 0.21%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate =Edward O'Brien

|votes = 422

|percentage = 0.18%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Barak Zilberberg

|votes = 352

|percentage = 0.15%

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Stanleigh Lusak

|votes = 229

|percentage = 0.10%

}}{{Election box total no change

|votes = 228,570

|percentage = 100.0%

}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2022 Nevada gubernatorial election{{cite web |title=Silver State 2022 - General Election Results - Statewide |url=https://silverstateelection.nv.gov/NVOther/|website=Nevada Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Joe Lombardo

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 497,377

| percentage = 48.81%

| change = +3.50%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Steve Sisolak (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=481,991|percentage=47.30%|change=-2.09%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Brandon Davis|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|votes=14,919|percentage=1.46%|change=+0.57%}}

{{Election box None of These Candidates with party link

| votes = 14,866

| percentage = 1.46%

| change = -0.48%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Ed Bridges|party=Independent American Party of Nevada|votes=9,918|percentage=0.97%|change=-0.07%}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 1,019,071

| percentage = 100.0%

}}{{Election box turnout|votes=1,023,617|percentage=54.58%|change=}}{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 1,875,578

}}