Governor Lombardo Kicks Off Campaign in Fallon

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo visited Fallon last week to launch his re-election campaign, meeting with supporters as part of a statewide rural tour that began in Churchill County. The event drew several Republican leaders, including Senator Robin Titus, Assemblyman Greg Koenig, Nevada Republican Party chair Michael McDonald, and state comptroller Andy Matthews.

Speaking to a full room at the Grid, Lombardo outlined his priorities for a second term, emphasizing what he described as continued progress in education, healthcare, and public safety, along with his record of fiscal discipline and vetoing legislation he said did not align with conservative values.

“I set a record for vetoes, and it’s not one I enjoy,” Lombardo said. “But many of those bills would have moved Nevada in the wrong direction. My job is to look out for the majority of Nevadans, not special interests.”

The governor also discussed efforts to expand school choice programs, increase access to rural healthcare through telemedicine, and support workforce housing for public employees such as teachers, nurses, police, and firefighters.

Lombardo said his administration has invested in graduate medical education to retain more physicians in Nevada and strengthened rural hospital capacity to improve healthcare delivery outside urban areas.

On public safety, he criticized what he called “soft-on-crime” approaches in recent legislative sessions, arguing that law enforcement is “doing more with less.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Lombardo said his campaign will focus on two ballot initiatives: one to require voter identification at the polls and another concerning gender-specific participation in school sports. He said both measures are intended to increase voter turnout and ensure, in his words, “integrity and fairness” in state policy.

Lombardo also acknowledged the electoral challenges Republicans face statewide, noting that 75% of Nevada’s population lives in Clark County and Washoe County, where Democratic voter registration is higher. He called on rural voters to increase participation, saying, “We need every vote we can get from rural Nevada.”

Senator Robin Titus, who represents Churchill County and serves as the Senate Minority Leader, praised Lombardo’s leadership, citing his veto record and commitment to rural priorities. “Having a Republican governor makes a real difference,” she said, referencing more than 160 bills vetoed across the last two sessions.

Assemblyman Greg Koenig echoed the message, reminding attendees that while Churchill County remains one of the state’s most conservative regions, voter turnout in non-presidential election years often drops. “We have to make sure people show up,” Koenig said. “We can’t assume our side will automatically carry the day.”

Nevada Republican Party chair Michael McDonald and state comptroller Andy Matthews also addressed the crowd, urging Republicans to rally support ahead of the 2026 election and highlighting the importance of rural voices in shaping statewide outcomes.

Lombardo closed his remarks by thanking Churchill County residents for their support. “You have my word that I’ll continue to stand up for rural Nevada,” he said. “But we can only keep making progress if everyone gets out and votes.”