Nevada’s gubernatorial race intensifies as Election Day approaches, with Attorney General Aaron Ford challenging incumbent Joe Lombardo over his clemency record.
Clemency Controversy
Ford voted to grant clemency to 30 murder convicts during his eight‑year tenure, a review by Fox News Digital found, including a kidnapper who murdered a 16‑year‑old in 1996 and a “thrill killer” who gunned down a Pizza Hut employee.
Lombardo has condemned Ford’s decisions, a stance highlighted in campaign statements, noting the political damage of supporting mercy for some of the most brutal killers.
Ford’s Law‑Enforcement Credibility
Ford highlights his record prosecuting corporate landlords, drug companies, child predators, fentanyl trafficking, ghost guns and ending a decades‑long rape‑kit backlog, according to his campaign website.
He argues his experience as attorney general equips him to keep Nevadans safe, while Republicans warn his clemency votes undermine public‑safety image.
Key Cases
In 2000, a mother pleaded for life without parole for Michael Cu, who kidnapped, drove a teen to the desert and executed him to steal car rims; the board later commuted his sentence, making him parole‑eligible in 2035.
Ford supported parole eligibility for Shaquille Hazelwood, convicted of murder during a 15‑year‑old armed robbery, calling the decision a “no‑brainer” in September 2025.
He also backed a commutation for Anthony Amati, a “thrill killer” who ambushed a 22‑year‑old Pizza Hut worker, allowing immediate parole eligibility.
Political Landscape
Lombardo secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination after beating six challengers, positioning himself as the incumbent who will continue his policies.
Ford, a Democrat, runs on a platform of aggressive law‑enforcement action, but his clemency record fuels Republican criticism.
Nevada’s governor cannot unilaterally pardon; the Board of Pardons Commissioners — comprising the governor, attorney general and Supreme Court justices — makes the final call.
Ford’s campaign and office did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
