Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's campaign estimates that the policy agenda of Democratic candidate Aaron Ford could lead to $18.1 billion in costs over four years, which includes nearly $8 billion in state spending. The Lombardo campaign's report attributes costs to 76 proposals from Ford, combining state spending with expenses that would be incurred by businesses and the federal government. Ford's campaign disputes these calculations, asserting that the analysis misrepresents his proposals and includes costs for measures he did not suggest.
The report estimates $7.93 billion in direct state spending and suggests that such spending would necessitate higher taxes or cuts in other areas, while Ford's campaign claims many projected expenses would not require new state appropriations. The report highlights that Ford's healthcare proposals alone could cost around $4.25 billion, with additional costs for education and housing.
Ford's campaign spokesperson criticized the Lombardo report as misleading, arguing that it falsely assigns costs to non-existent implementation plans and misrepresents the financial implications of Ford's policies. The Lombardo campaign maintains that its estimates reflect the necessary funding to fulfill Ford's proposals. The debate over the costs and implications of these proposals comes as both candidates prepare for the upcoming gubernatorial election in November.