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VICTOR JOECKS: Previewing Nevada’s gubernatorial race

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VICTOR JOECKS: Previewing Nevada’s gubernatorial race


Money matters in politics, and Gov. Joe Lombardo has a lot of it.

Last week, Lombardo’s campaign announced that he raised about $4.5 million last year. That gives him more than $9 million in the bank. Combined with money in his PACs, his re-election campaign has more than $15 million.

Attorney General and Democrat gubernatorial front-runner Aaron Ford raised less than $2.3 million last year. His expenses topped $1.1 million. It looks like he replaced lobbyist-funded travel with donor-funded travel. His campaign spent lavishly on steakhouses, airfare and hotel stays.

Ford has less than $1.6 million in the bank. Combined with PAC money, he has a bit more than $2 million.

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Now, talking about money may seem crass. In an ideal world, politics would be a contest of ideas. Candidates would share their governing philosophies and debate policy proposals. Voters would carefully weigh every candidate’s ideas and character.

But that’s not the world in which we live. Yes, there are people who care deeply about those things — and many of you read this column. But the voters who decide elections aren’t obsessively studying the issues. They’re busy. That’s why candidates speak in soundbites and negative campaigning is so effective.

Looking at money is important for two reasons. One, money spent well translates into votes. This is why both the Democrat National Committee and Turning Point Action are dumping resources into Nevada. Money allows you to identify and turn out your voters.

Money pays for political ads, which can drive up your opponent’s disapproval ratings and boost your approval numbers. No one likes to admit that negative ads work, but they do.

Remember all of the commercials from Democrats over the past two cycles claiming Republicans would ban abortion? Republicans have the presidency and majorities in the House and Senate. The murder of preborn children in Nevada remains legal. But the onslaught of ads helped several Nevada Democrats win re-election.

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Ford is a gold mine of opposition research, too. Ford’s vacation tab tops $140,000. Spending time out of Nevada on special interest-funded junkets won’t win over swing voters. Then there’s the fact that Ford hired his old law firm to lead Nevada’s opioid litigation. It’s likely his old firm raked in around $200 million from those efforts.

Two, not raising enough money can lead to a doom spiral. Wealthy donors don’t like throwing their money away, even if doing so helps Ford rack up Marriott points. Without money, a campaign can flounder, which dries up future money — and so on.

Ford’s biggest advantage is that Democrat voters will probably be fired up to vote to express their opposition to President Donald Trump. The economy is also a major variable. If it’s doing poorly, voters will likely assign some of the blame to Lombardo.

Gasoline prices remain a major wildcard. Trump’s energy policies have lowered prices, but California’s refinery closures look likely to send Nevada gas prices skyrocketing.

Bottom line: Lombardo is a favorite, but there’s a lot of time left.

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Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow
@victorjoecks on X.





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Nevada Supreme Court upholds Michele Fiore’s interim suspension

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Nevada Supreme Court upholds Michele Fiore’s interim suspension


The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld an interim suspension for Pahrump Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore as she faces an investigation into complaints of possible misconduct.

In a unanimous ruling filed Friday, the high court said Fiore’s challenge is moot because the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline is still investigating the complaints against her, and hasn’t imposed any official punishment or filed formal charges.

“We conclude Judge Fiore has not demonstrated the Commission abused its discretion in determining that an interim suspension was warranted,” the ruling states.

The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended Fiore after a jury found her guilty in a 2024 federal trial on six counts of wire fraud and a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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Prosecutors alleged that she solicited donations on the premise that they would go toward statues of two fallen Las Vegas police officers while she was a city councilwoman, but instead used the money on personal expenses, including plastic surgery and her daughter’s wedding.

Fiore, who denied the allegations, received a pardon from President Donald Trump last year. She filed for re-election in January.

The Judicial Discipline Commission kept her suspension in place with pay, writing that Trump’s pardon did not preclude it “from considering a judge’s ongoing conduct.”

Fiore filed a petition with the high court challenging the commission’s jurisdiction to discipline her for conduct from before she became a justice of the peace, though the commission says it “based the suspension on an allegation that Judge Fiore has engaged in misconduct during her time as a judicial officer,” according to the Supreme Court.

In a statement released Friday, Fiore said she was willing to wait for the commission’s investigation to play out.

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“While we are disappointed the Supremes chose not to address those issues now, this is not the end of the fight, it is simply the next step,” Fiore’s statement reads.



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Beaglefest fundraiser for Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue draws crowd in Las Vegas

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Beaglefest fundraiser for Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue draws crowd in Las Vegas


A lively crowd of animal lovers and supporters gathered at “Beagletopia” in Las Vegas on Saturday for the third annual Beaglefest fundraiser benefiting the Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation.

The event raised awareness and funds for the rescue’s mission and featured the return of the world-famous Chippendales for the second year in a row.

Chippendales dancers Dio Perez and Mozart Alhamawandi posed for photos with guests and their dogs, drawing enthusiastic crowds and helping boost fundraising through fan interactions.

Hosted by Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation President and CEO Regina Harman, Beaglefest brought together volunteers, foster families, alumni families, and dozens of adoptable beagles for an afternoon centered on community and compassion. Attendees also enjoyed food, live music, local vendors, raffles, and auction prizes.

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The Southern Nevada Beagle Rescue Foundation works to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome beagles and hound mixes throughout Southern Nevada.

Organizers said events like Beaglefest provide essential funding while strengthening the community of advocates focused on giving the dogs a second chance.



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Winter storm warning blankets parts of California, Sierra Nevada

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Winter storm warning blankets parts of California, Sierra Nevada


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A winter storm warning is in effect for parts of northern and central California as snowy conditions continue to hit the state, potentially bringing over a foot of additional snow to a region that already saw accumulation this weekend.

The National Weather Service sent out the warning for some elevated mountain areas, including West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County/Lassen Park above 4500 feet, and the cities of Chester, Blue Canyon and Quincy.

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The alert warns of additional snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches above 4500 feet, with up to 2 feet at the highest peaks, as well as minor snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches down to 4000 feet. Winds could also gust as high as 45 mph, NWS said.

The warning is set to last through 11 p.m. local time on April 12, with mountain travel highly discouraged as conditions remain slick on the roads, the Sacramento NWS office said.

The potential for additional snowfall comes a day after parts of the state saw multiple inches collect in higher elevations.

The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, nestled in the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass, reported early April 11 seeing nearly eight inches of snow in its area. With the snow described as wet and dense, the lab also predicted between 18 and 36 inches more accumulation over the night of April 11 and throughout April 12.

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The NWS initially launched a winter storm watch alert for the Sierra Nevada mountain range area on April 10, advising of moderate to heavy snowfall over the weekend. The April forecast indicated that certain regions along the Sierra Nevada could receive up to 4 feet of snow and wind gusts as high as 45 mph, according to the NWS.

Northern California also braced for other severe weather this weekend, including potential thunderstorms, brief but heavy rain, erratic winds, hail up to “an inch in diameter,” and a small chance of “weak tornadoes,” USA TODAY previously reported. Other parts of the state saw thunderstorms, lightning, and floods, including in the Sacramento Valley.

Other parts of the United States are expecting a boost in warm weather this upcoming week, including parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, which could see temperatures hit the upper 80s from Tuesday, April 14, until Thursday, April 16.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.

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