JL
Joe Lombardo
RepublicanGovernor of Nevada| Age | 63 (b. 1962-11-08) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2023-01-01 (~3 yrs) |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Education | Rancho High School, Las Vegas (1980); B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Crisis & Emergency Management, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; FBI National Academy (227th session, 2006) |
| Prior occupation | Career law enforcement officer; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer rising to Assistant Sheriff, then Sheriff of Clark County (2015-2023) |
| Military service | Yes: U.S. Army (served in the Nevada Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve) |
| Birthplace | Sapporo, Japan (foreign-born) |
| Marital status | Married — Donna Lombardo (nee Alderson) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Nevada (Governor's Mansion, Carson City; longtime Las Vegas-area resident) |
| Notable relatives | Wife Donna Lombardo serves as First Lady of Nevada; she is a commercial real estate executive, not an elected official |
Pending research: race / ethnicity · languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2014 |
| Previous offices | Sheriff of Clark County, Nevada (2015-2023) · Assistant Sheriff, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (2011-2014) |
| Leadership | 31st Governor of Nevada (2023-present) |
| Ideology | Self-described 'moderate Republican'; among a small number of Republican governors to sign abortion-protection legislation (2023) |
| Signature legislation | Executive orders rescinding remaining COVID-19 mandates (Jan 2023) · Public funding (up to $380M in public financing) for the Las Vegas A's MLB ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip (2023) · SB 131 (2023) protecting out-of-state abortion seekers and in-state abortion providers |
Financial
| Five plots of land in the Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Gilbert, Arizona areas (owned by household members) | real_estate · 2025 |
| Two apartments in Manhattan's Upper West Side, New York City (owned by household members) | real_estate · 2025 |
Top donors: MGM Resorts International (via property/affiliate entities) ($315,000) · Robert Bigelow (Budget Suites of America; via multiple subsidiaries) ($190,000) · Boyd Gaming (via casino properties) ($150,000) · Bill Foley (Fidelity National Financial / Vegas Golden Knights) ($135,000) · Fertitta family (Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, Station Casinos; via multiple entities) ($110,000)
Top industries: General business · Real estate and development · Gaming/casinos
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Nevada Ethics Commission: Use of Sheriff Badge and Uniform in Campaign Materials
Two ethics complaints filed in 2021 alleged that Lombardo, then Clark County Sheriff, improperly used his government-issued badge and uniform in gubernatorial campaign photos, videos, and social media, conferring a private benefit using public resources. The Nevada Commission on Ethics investigated; its executive director sought ~$1.67 million in civil penalties for 68 alleged violations. In July 2023 the commission found four willful violations, publicly censured Lombardo, and fined him $20,000. Lombardo filed suit challenging the commission's authority and the findings. A district court dismissed his suit; the Nevada Supreme Court reinstated it in June 2025. Before the case was retried, the parties settled in September 2025: Lombardo admitted a single non-willful violation and paid $5,000, resolving all related litigation.
resolved — Ethics violation for campaign use of Clark County sheriff's badge and uniform
The Nevada Commission on Ethics opened a case after two complaints filed in September and October 2021 alleging that Lombardo, then Clark County sheriff and a 2022 gubernatorial candidate, improperly used government property by featuring his county-issued sheriff's badge and uniform in campaign materials. In July 2023 the commission found a willful violation, imposing a $20,000 fine and censure (rejecting a proposed $1.67 million penalty for dozens of alleged violations). Lombardo sued, challenging the commission's authority; the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in June 2025 that his lawsuit could proceed. The matter was settled on September 23, 2025, with Lombardo admitting one non-willful violation and paying a $5,000 civil penalty, with no public censure.