Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill may face an uphill battle in the Nevada governor’s race, but on Wednesday morning, dozens of her supporters packed a wing of a downtown Las Vegas restaurant to hear her economic proposals.

The Democrat vowed that her administration would ask more from big businesses that have benefited from tax cuts. She would also call for a slowdown in automation to boost jobs.

“All the special interests in the world are lining up to support my opponents because my opponents don’t want to change anything,” she told the crowd. “They’re going to use that money to tell you, ‘your life is great.’”

She added: “And you know you deserve better, and you know that Nevada can be better.”

Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democrat Attorney General Aaron Ford — presumed favorites for their party’s nominations — have been operating as if they’ve already secured them. For months, their campaigns have directed attacks only at each other.

It makes sense. A hypothetical Emerson College poll of likely Nevada voters in November 2025 showed that they were virtually tied in a race to win the governor’s position this November, each garnering support of 41 percent of the 800 people surveyed. About 18 percent of respondents said they were undecided.

Ford’s campaign has ignored Hill’s run, instead aiming counter-messaging against Lombardo.

She told the Review-Journal that her fellow Democrat has refused requests to debate.

“I think that the voters need to demand that,” she said in an interview, “that their politicians show up to have a conversation about policies.”

Hill said she’s had a collegial relationship with Ford and that both had endorsed each other in the past. They even spoke on the phone a few weeks ago, she said.

“It’s a little awkward,” Hill said, “but I also wouldn’t be doing this if he had real plans for Nevadans.”

Debating Hill would carry possible pros and cons for Ford, said David Fott, UNLV professor and chair of the university’s political science department.

If Ford thinks he has superior positions on the issues and wants to explain that to the people, then it would be a mistake to not debate Hill, according to Fott.

“If Ford is trying to prevent and unforced error that will give Hill a better chance,” Fott said, “then it is smart.”

Choosing the latter could signal that he only cares about winning the election, Fott said. On the contrary, a back-and-forth can help Ford gain momentum and prepare him for a probable later debate with Lombardo.

Disclosure documents from January show that Lombardo raised nearly $4.5 million in campaign contributions in 2025, while Ford raised more than $2.2 million.

Hill raised $283,000 last year.

“Money does not always decide elections, but it counts for a lot,” Fott said. “For Ford to lose the primary, something would have to happen to make him very unpopular.”

Fott said that TV ad spending can be countered, to an extent, by a much more affordable social media strategy.

Hill could also take advantage of Lombardo’s messaging, such as the attack line criticizing Ford taking out-of-state trips, the professor said. Ford’s campaign has argued that the travel were in the interest of his attorney general position.

“The question is whether Hill can piggyback on this Lombardo spending, and say that, ‘yes, Ford shouldn’t have done these things and you should nominate me instead,’” Fott said. “There are other things that Hill could try to make an issue of.”

Fott wonders if Hill would take that route.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said about her primary chances, “but I wouldn’t say impossible.”

Hill acknowledged that her campaign’s coffers are limited compared with the two favorites.

“So I don’t have the money, but that doesn’t mean I can’t reach out to the voters,” she said. “We have enough money that we’re going to connect with people, meet them where they’re at.”

Hill added: “And that’s the way that you win elections. And I’m talking about the general (election), as well.”

Hill is far from the only candidate chasing Ford and Lombardo. Ten other candidates filed paperwork to run for the governor’s seat this week; more are likely to jump in before the filing period closes on March 13.

They are Democrats Miqehl Bayfield and Sunshine Arterburn, and Republicans Irina Hansen, Matthew Winterhawk, Jose Zelaya, Barak Zilberberg, Donald J. Beaudry Jr. and Michael Kameron Hawkins.

Independent candidates Emilio Ray Rodriguez and John T. Scott also filed.

Thus far, Hill is arguably the most high-profile candidate and the only elected official in the race after Lombardo and Ford. She flipped her commission district into a blue seat in 2020, winning re-election four years later.

Ford’s campaign didn’t answer questions about Hill’s campaign or about the debate request.

Lombardo’s team equated her to Ford.

“The Governor welcomes all candidates into the race from all ideologies,” Lombardo campaign spokesperson Halee Dobbins wrote in a statement. “Aaron Ford and Alexis Hill have each released California-style policies that will increase reliance on the government, increase taxes, harm small businesses, and increase the cost of living for every Nevadan.”

Dobbins said both Democratic campaigns were seeking California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval. Newsom made a book tour stop in Las Vegas with the Nevada State Democratic Party this week, but didn’t mention the governor’s race. The spokeswoman also touted Lombardo’s record.

Hill estimates that about 155,000 voters will cast a ballot in the attorney general’s primary race. Her campaign aims to close the fundraising gap by reaching out to most of them.

She has been spending most of every week in the Las Vegas Valley, where a bulk of those voters live. Her campaign has hosted events and put her in front of other audiences. Hill said she’s also trying to appeal to independents and Republicans.

Asked if she considers herself an underdog, Hill said: “I would call myself a dark horse.”

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