Nevada’s race for governor has two clear frontrunners: Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. But those aren’t the only two names on the ballot. Danielle Ford, a nonpartisan candidate who currently serves on the Nevada State Board of Education, is also running.
And no, the two Fords are not related.
Danielle Ford was elected to the 11-member Nevada State Board of Education as a Democrat in 2024. The board helps establish education policy, approves student preparedness programs, and reviews student achievement. She is now running for governor without a party affiliation.
A recent poll by Noble Predictive Insights found 7% of likely voters supporting Danielle Ford ahead of the start of early voting in Nevada Oct. 17. The poll had Aaron Ford (42%) ahead of Lombardo (40%).
In a race that close, even a relatively small share of voters backing a candidate outside the two major parties can matter. Third-party and independent candidates have sometimes played what’s known as a “spoiler” role—drawing support from voters who might otherwise have backed one of the two major-party candidates, and potentially affecting the outcome of the race.
Danielle Ford has rejected the idea that she’s running as a spoiler candidate, but KTNV reported that her campaign finance reports show no money raised or spent in the governor’s race, typically a necessary part of mounting a credible campaign. In comparison, Lombardo and Aaron Ford have benefited from millions of dollars in campaign donations and outside spending.
So who is Danielle Ford? And why is she running?
Past controversies and political views
Before joining the state board, Danielle Ford represented District F on the Clark County School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees after winning election in 2018. She served one term before losing her reelection bid in 2022. Her tenure included several high-profile conflicts over her racial rhetoric, COVID-19 policies, and the school district’s leadership.
In 2019, for example Danielle Ford drew criticism for referring to Black students as “colored” during a discussion about racist threats against a local school. The remarks prompted calls for her resignation.
She later apologized in a social media video.
Danielle Ford also cast the sole vote against a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for CCSD employees in 2021. She addresses this in her campaign website, arguing that political parties shouldn’t dictate politicians’ decisions and that politicians should be allowed to change their mind. In an earlier social media post, she also admitted she did not get flu vaccinations for herself and her children.
In 2021, she also claimed she was banned from certain trustee meetings for presumably violating confidentiality. The situation unfolded after the Board of Trustees came to an agreement with then-CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara to remain on the job. Danielle Ford had previously voted to fire Jara along with three other trustees.
Despite having previously run as a Democrat, Ford has a history of online posts that echo more conservative rhetoric. She has criticized former President Barack Obama as a “douchehead,” said anyone who accepts the official account of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is a “fucking moron,” and expressed skepticism toward mainstream media.
The Nevadan reached out to Danielle Ford for comment, but she had not provided a statement as of publication time.
What she’s running on
In her gubernatorial campaign, Danielle Ford has said she wants to be the “education governor”—a term also used by Lombardo—given her history being involved in Nevada’s education system.
In an interview with KTNV Channel 13, she argued that student performance cannot be separated from broader community challenges, including housing, healthcare, technology development, and government accountability.
Her primary proposal is to reform education spending. She argues that Nevada relies too heavily on out-of-state contractors providing textbooks, curriculum, software and professional development—claiming that reducing the dependence could free up $2 billion annually.
Danielle Ford also opposes expanding data centers without a statewide strategy for technology development and artificial intelligence. On housing, she advocates making existing homes more accessible through utility assistance. She also opposes developments built exclusively for rental use.
A nonpartisan bid
In her interview with Channel 13, Danielle Ford said she considered running for the Legislature under one of the two major political parties, but she said she ultimately believes the two-party system is failing voters.
Her campaign website describes her as a “Nevada-first nonpartisan” and that she “does not represent a political party.”
Under Nevada’s election rules, independent candidates for statewide office can qualify to be on the ballot by submitting a petition with 250 valid registered-voter signatures (which may be gathered in one or more counties). After, the petition is subject to verification by the County Clerk or Registrar of Voters.
But making it on the ballot is just one step in the process.
Of Nevada’s 32 governors since statehood in 1864, 16 have been Republicans, 13 Democrats, two members of the Silver Party (a post-civil war party based in Nevada devoted to promoting a Silver-backed economy), and one a Silver-Democrat (a later iteration of the Silver party). Nevada has never elected a nonpartisan governor. It has also never elected a woman to the office.
Early voting in Nevada begins Oct. 17 and ends Oct. 30.
