Carson City, Nev. — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo secured a key boost in his re-election campaign on Thursday, receiving a formal endorsement from President Donald Trump. The support strengthens Lombardo’s position in the Republican primary, where he has faced little internal opposition so far.

Trump announced the endorsement on Truth Social, highlighting Lombardo’s record on economic policy, law enforcement, and tax policy. The president praised Lombardo for efforts to expand school choice, reduce regulations, and eliminate taxes on tipped wages, calling the governor “smart, strong, and tough.”

“Joe Lombardo is the strong and very popular Governor of Nevada,” Trump wrote. “He has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

The endorsement also referenced Trump’s 2024 election victory in Nevada, the first time a Republican presidential candidate carried the state in two decades.

Lombardo responded on social media, thanking the president and saying he looked forward to continuing efforts to “keep Nevada red” in 2026.

Democratic Candidates Respond

Democratic candidates seeking to challenge Lombardo were quick to criticize the endorsement.

Attorney General Aaron Ford, considered the Democratic frontrunner in the race, accused the governor of prioritizing political alignment with Trump over Nevada residents.

Ford argued that federal policy decisions supported by the president have resulted in higher costs for families, changes to public benefits, and decreased access to healthcare.

“The governor has continually sold out working families in his attempts to win Trump’s approval,” Ford said in a statement.

Additionally, the Nevada Current reported that Lombardo traveled to Washington, D.C. for a political fundraiser with a suggested $5,000 contribution. Democrats pointed to the trip as evidence that Lombardo is more focused on national fundraising than state issues.

Democratic Party Pushback

Hilary Barrett, executive director of the Nevada State Democratic Party, criticized Lombardo, saying he “went to Washington to kiss the ring” while the state faces economic pressure, including reductions in food assistance programs and rising insurance premiums.

Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill, who is also weighing a challenge to Lombardo, echoed the criticism and linked Trump’s policies to ongoing economic strain in the state.

“Families are struggling while our governor wines and dines the president,” Hill wrote. “This is not leadership.”

A Pivotal State in 2026

Nevada remains one of the country’s closest political battlegrounds, and the governor’s race is expected to draw national attention and significant outside spending.

With Trump backing Lombardo and Democrats consolidating around Ford, the state may once again become a focal point in the broader fight for control of key swing states ahead of the next presidential election cycle.