Retail Association Endorses Aaron Ford Citing His Fight Against Trump’s Tariffs Tax

Nevada Current: Business Group Abandons Lombardo in Favor of Ford

Las Vegas Sun: Nevada retailers group, citing high costs and tariffs, abandons Lombardo and backs Ford

Yesterday, Attorney General Aaron Ford and President of Retail Association of Nevada (RAN), Bryan Watchers held a press conference to announce RAN’s endorsement of Aaron Ford for governor. This is the first time in recent history that the RAN has endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor. RAN endorsed Joe Lombardo’s 2022 campaign for governor, but after his abysmal handling of our state’s economy has chosen instead to endorse Aaron Ford.

“Today, the Retail Association of Nevada is proud to endorse Aaron Ford for Governor,” said Bryan Wachter, Retail Association of Nevada President. “We’re endorsing Aaron because Nevada needs a governor who gets that “the economy” is what people pay at the register. Governor Lombardo has told us Nevadans need to “feel pain” from tariffs. He’s said there’s nothing a governor can do about affordability. He’s said we need to take care of billionaires first because they provide all the jobs. We don’t recognize that kind of leadership on Main Street. Small retailers and restaurants can’t absorb more costs. Working families can’t afford more “pain.” And yes, a governor can do something about affordability. Aaron Ford believes that, and he will fight for it.”

Yesterday’s press conference also featured a small business owner who discussed, alongside Ford and Wachter, the state of Nevada’s declining economy, the challenges facing small businesses and consumers and how as governor, Lombardo has failed to address high unemployment and the high cost of living in Nevada. Instead of standing up for Nevada families and small businesses, Lombardo has prioritized taking care of Trump’s “billionaire friends.” Lombardo said Nevadans need to “feel a little pain” from Trump’s tariffs and later said Nevadans don’t deserve a refund for the $1,744 that Trump’s tariffs stole from them in 2025 alone.

Since defeating Trump’s initial tariffs in court, Attorney General Ford is now suing the Trump administration again over its unlawful cost-raising tariffs. Rising housing, gas, utility and grocery costs are putting pressure on both consumers and businesses. General Ford is running for governor on a platform of making things cost less. He has outlined plans to lower costs, support small businesses and retailers, create good-paying jobs, and put more money back in the pockets of working Nevadans.

In The News

KTNV: Retail Association of Nevada backs Ford for governor

The Retail Association of Nevada on Monday endorsed Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford for governor, saying he'll be better for retail businesses.
Bryan Wachter, president of the Nevada Retail Association, said the group doesn't always endorse in races. He said the last Democrat to win an endorsement was Bob Miller, who left office in 1999.
But he said the group's analysis showed Ford would be better for retail businesses.
"The governor's office is going to set the tone for the entire state, for every political subdivision that there is," he said. "And so we want to make sure that the person who is setting those policies is doing so with small businesses in mind, with retailers in mind and making sure that we're making the best possible choices that we're making going forward. And when we looked hard at the policies of the last four years and the policies that we're looking forward to in the next four years, we believe that the attorney general is the best one for that."
"Firstly, these tariffs are insane," [John Simmons, Local Business Owner of Firefly] said. "Again, they're hitting us from all directions. Our prices are higher, prices for consumers are higher, and then the countries that we're putting the tariffs on are not coming to Las Vegas."

Nevada Current: Business group abandons Lombardo in favor of Ford

“We don’t endorse often,” RAN President Bryan Wachter said at a news conference Monday announcing the endorsement. He noted the association “had talks with the governor’s campaign” about talking with Lombardo “but that didn’t go beyond staff.”
RAN represents more than 8,000 businesses. Wachter said he’s aware individual businesses may back Lombardo but said endorsing Ford was the best move for the association. The association cites Ford’s participation in legal action that has overturned some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
More than 70 small businesses in Las Vegas have closed since Trump took office, Ford said Monday.
Ford notes Lombardo vetoed a record-setting number of bills in both of his legislative sessions, many of which included cost-cutting measures

Las Vegas Sun: Nevada retailers group, citing high costs and tariffs, abandons Lombardo and backs Ford

“Gov. Lombardo has told us that Nevadans need to feel pain from tariffs,” RAN President Bryan Wachter said. “He said there’s nothing the governor can do about affordability.”
Wachter said RAN reached out to both campaigns this election cycle and felt Ford’s plans for the economy offered more promise. He pointed to Ford’s support for lowering prescription drug costs, reforming credit card swipe fees and regulating data centers as ways to lower costs for retailers.
At a Monday news conference, Wachter told attendees that rising prescription drug costs are forcing independent grocery stores and pharmacies to close and that retailers are being strained by increasing credit card fees.
“When Wall Street banks make a higher profit on a meal that John just served, than John does, that means our payment system is fundamentally broken,” Wachter said.

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