Nevada GOP Turns Governor’s Race into Test Run for Gavin Newsom’s 2028 Ambitions

Incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is framing his 2024 re-election campaign around the claim that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s energy policies are driving Nevada’s high gasoline prices. Lombardo argues that most Nevada fuel is imported from California and that Newsom’s climate-related refinery shutdowns and emissions regulations have pushed the state’s pump price to nearly $5 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. He ties Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, his opponent, to Newsom by highlighting Ford’s recent endorsement of the California governor and positioning the endorsement as a liability for Nevada swing voters.

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Anti-California rhetoric has long been a staple of Nevada politics, with previous Republican candidates accusing neighboring California of “Californization” and blaming out-of-state migrants for housing shortages and rising costs. The current campaign revives that narrative, linking the state’s fuel-price pain to broader “woke” policies emanating from California.

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Ford countered that the surge in gas prices began when “the war started in February,” suggesting that national and global factors, rather than state-level climate actions, are responsible. Democratic Party chair Donna West noted that many Nevada voters were born in California and understand the state’s economic weight, implying that the criticism may not resonate with a sizable constituency.

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• AAA reports Nevada gasoline prices at almost $5 per gallon, ranking among the nation’s highest.

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• Internal polling by the Lombardo-aligned Better Nevada PAC shows Newsom’s favorability trailing by 20 points in Nevada and losing a hypothetical 2028 head-to-head with Vice President J.D. Vance.

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• Advertising tied to Newsom’s endorsement of Ford has appeared on Nevada highways and across digital platforms since July, making the endorsement the second-most-known data point about the attorney general in the PAC’s internal metrics.

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The Nevada governor’s race is serving as an early-state litmus test for Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential bid. Success for Lombardo in framing the election around California’s policies could signal the effectiveness of using regional policy disputes to shape national narratives. Conversely, if Ford’s message about broader economic forces gains traction, it may blunt the GOP’s strategy of weaponizing California’s reputation in future contests.

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