By Attorney General Aaron Ford
Running a business in Nevada shouldn’t feel like an uphill battle. I’ve long been an advocate for both consumers and small businesses – and I know from talking with Nevadans across our state that the Lombardo-Trump tariffs are taking money out of consumers’ pockets and forcing small businesses to close. Today, retailers and small businesses across Nevada are facing rising operating costs, inflation, and growing challenges in finding and retaining skilled workers. These challenges make it harder to keep doors open and businesses growing.
I’ve spent my career fighting for working Nevadans, first in the State Legislature and now as Attorney General. In the Legislature, I helped pass several bills to support small businesses, including creating a loan program for small and minority-owned businesses. As Attorney General, during the 2023 legislative session, my office proposed and helped pass laws to address organized retail crime. As governor, I’ll continue fighting for an economy that works for everyone, including the small businesses and retailers that keep our communities strong.
One common concern I keep hearing from Nevadans is that everything is too expensive. From Winnemucca to Las Vegas, these concerns are coming from people across all backgrounds, including consumers and business owners. Trump’s tariffs and war in Iran are driving up the cost of goods for everyone. Too many businesses are closing as a result of these decisions by the Trump administration, and our current governor is not doing enough to address the problem.
Governor Lombardo has told Nevadans that they need to “feel a little pain” from tariffs. He has gone further to say that there is nothing a governor can do to improve affordability for both businesses and consumers.
Lombardo should stand up to Trump and tell him that the tariffs, and his war with Iran, are hurting businesses in the state. As governor, I will always put Nevada first. I will not be afraid to stand up to my own party or any administration, when its policies are hurting Nevadans’ pocketbooks.
Affordability and economic opportunity will be a top priority of mine if elected. That means lowering the costs of doing business, expanding workforce development so businesses can find skilled workers more easily, and making sure Nevada is a place where businesses can create good-paying jobs. In my administration, business owners will be brought to the table and heard, not have their backs turned on when they bring a problem forward.
I understand that the government should be a partner, not an obstacle. My administration will listen to the small business owners and retailers who keep Nevada’s economy moving and work with them to remove unnecessary barriers.
Nevada’s small businesses and retailers are more than just places to shop. They are employers, neighbors, and an important part of the communities they serve. When small businesses and retailers grow, so do our communities. As governor, business owners will have a governor in Carson City who listens, works with them, and helps create an economy where all businesses thrive for years to come. October 2026