Aaron Ford Refuses to Say if He Would Support Defunding the Police and Abolishing Prisons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2026

LAS VEGAS, NV - In case you missed it, today Aaron Ford refused to say if he supports defunding the police or abolishing prisons.

In a new column, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Victor Joecks reports that Ford would not say whether he opposes efforts to defund the police or abolish prisons, amidst the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America in Nevada politics.

That’s a stunning refusal from someone asking Nevadans to trust him with public safety.

Governor Joe Lombardo has taken the opposite approach: unequivocal support and raises for law enforcement, tougher penalties for violent criminals, and policies that are making Nevada safer.

The results speak for themselves:

Violent crime is down 16% statewide since 2022.
Property crime is down 16% statewide since 2022.
Domestic crime and crimes against the elderly are down 7.3% statewide.
In Las Vegas, 2025 homicides are down 22%, robberies 16.2%, aggravated assaults 5.4%, burglaries 15.2%, motor vehicle thefts 14.1%, and property crime 9.4%.
Governor Lombardo delivered a nearly 25% pay raise for state law enforcement officers.
For the first time since 2017, the Nevada Department of Public Safety achieved net positive officer retention and filled critical state police and correctional officer vacancies.

Governor Lombardo has done more than promise to support law enforcement - he’s delivered. That’s why Nevada law enforcement continues to rally behind his campaign.

Governor Lombardo is endorsed by the: Carson City Sheriff’s Supervisory Association, Las Vegas Metro Police Managers & Supervisors Association, Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA), Peace Officer Research Association of Nevada (PORAN), Police Officers Association of CCSD (POACCSD), Public Safety Alliance of Nevada (PSAN), Washoe County Sheriff Deputies Association (WCSDA), Reno Police Protective Association, Sparks Police Protective Association, Douglas County Sheriff Protective Association, LVPOA, Washoe County School Police Officer’s Association, and the Nevada Police Union (NPU).

Governor Lombardo is also endorsed by Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, Carson City Sheriff Kenneth Furlong, Douglas County Sheriff Daniel Coverley, Elko County Sheriff Aitor Narvaiza, Eureka County Sheriff Miles Umina, Humboldt County Sheriff Angel Cardenas, Lander County Sheriff Ron Unger, Lincoln County Sheriff Derek Foremaster, Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope, Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen, Storey County Sheriff Mike Cullen, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, and White Pine County Sheriff Scott Henroid.

“Nevadans elected a sheriff to be governor for a reason. While Aaron Ford refuses to reject the radical “defund the police” agenda, Governor Lombardo is backing the men and women in uniform, holding criminals accountable, and delivering safer communities across Nevada.”-Halee Dobbins, Lombardo for Governor Spokesperson

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