Washoe County Commission chair vows to fix streets, fund schools and end tax breaks for billionaires
Alexis Hill announces she is running for governor of Nevada
Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill Alexis Hill announces she is running for governor of Nevada during a rally in Sparks on Sept. 4, 2025.
Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill officially launched her campaign for governor on Thursday, positioning herself as a champion for average Nevadans against Democratic and Republican opponents she accuses of prioritizing billionaires.
“My experience as a local elected official makes me an asset to you in the state of Nevada because I am closer to the people and I see the problems on the ground in real time,” Hill stated to approximately 60 supporters gathered on Victorian Avenue in Sparks.
Hill, a Democrat, will first compete against Attorney General Aaron Ford in the June 2026 primary. The winner will likely face Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in the November general election.
She criticized Ford’s support of tax breaks that attracted Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Northern Nevada and Lombardo’s endorsement of film tax incentives intended to draw Hollywood companies.
“I am tired of the state of Nevada giving tax giveaways to billionaires,” she declared.
Following her campaign event, Hill told the Reno Gazette Journal about Nevada’s lawmakers and governor passing a $1.25 billion Tesla tax incentive package, while, earlier this year, the electric vehicle company approved a $29 billion compensation package for Musk.
“I know a lot of people seem to have benefited from that,” Hill said regarding Nevada’s Tesla deal, “but it also brought a lot of problems for the people already living here.”
“The everyday Washoe County resident is stuck in traffic, cannot get childcare, cannot afford housing,” Hill said. “I’d like to see Nevada, for a change, start to invest in ourselves.”
During her public remarks, she referenced the Nevada Legislature’s potential special session.
“All we see on that agenda is the Hollywood sequel to what we have in Northern Nevada” with the Tesla deal, Hill stated.
She said her platform focuses on ending such tax breaks.
However, her core message centers on roads and education, with parents and children holding signs displaying that message at the foot of the stage.
“I am here to fix our streets, to fund our schools and to fight for our families,” she said to enthusiastic cheers.
Winning as a Democrat in Nevada after Trump’s 2024 victory
Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in Nevada in 2024 marked the first time in 20 years the state had voted Republican.
When asked if Trump’s win would make it harder for a Democrat to win a statewide race, Hill responded that she believes Nevadans want politicians who clearly explain their plans, and that she was not impressed by Harris’ messaging.
Hill ran for — and won — re-election in 2024. She campaigned by going door-to-door, also attempting to promote Harris.
“I couldn’t tell people what she was going to do for them,” Hill told the RGJ. “I didn’t feel like there was a concrete plan on how she was going to make people’s lives better. That frustrates me, and I feel like we as Democrats have to lay out a plan for people and tell people what we will do.”
Fundraising disadvantage
The day before Hill launched her campaign, Ford announced that he had raised $1.1 million in donations during July and August.
Lombardo also has a large campaign war chest, while Hill has significantly less funding for her gubernatorial race.
She described her campaign as people-powered.
“I think when people see and hear this message, they’re going to get excited,” she said. “I want to see a lot of small donors that have never engaged in politics before come and engage in my campaign because I am telling them how I’m going to improve their lives and how I’m going to invest in Nevada.”
Alexis Hill’s disagreements with Lombardo, Ford and the Democratic Party
Hill stated that she respects the public service of both Lombardo and Ford.
“I appreciate that they’ve given so much to the state, but I don’t see any proposals or issues on their websites,” she said.
Referencing Lombardo’s 75 vetoes in 2023 and 87 in 2025, Hill said, “You can’t just run (as) ‘I am the governor of no, and I’m going to make sure that nothing happens.’”
She also criticized Ford’s focus on the numerous lawsuits he has joined against the Trump administration.
“We need to fight Trump — no question — but we cannot just do it with lawsuits,” Hill said. “We know he does not listen to the courts. We have to be innovative. We have to take care of ourselves in Nevada.”
In a departure from a Democratic Party stance, she supports open primaries where voters can cast ballots for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation.
“I want to see nonpartisans being able to participate in our primaries,” Hill said. Not allowing them to vote in major-party races “is disenfranchising the biggest voting bloc in our state. That is completely unacceptable.” Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.