September 29, 2026 - 9:01 pm

If Nevadans believe there’s a major gubernatorial candidate who opposes data centers, they should take a closer look.

Just weeks before the November election, data centers remain a hot-button issue. Democrat nominee Aaron Ford has spent weeks hammering Gov. Joe Lombardo on this issue.

In August, Ford said, “Joe Lombardo’s gravy train for data centers is coming to an end.” Further, he promised to “end tax abatements until companies prove they’re delivering for Nevadans.” Ford also released a plan “to pause tax breaks for data centers.” He said “Lombardo has been the #1 cheerleader in Nevada for data centers instead of looking out for Nevadans’ interest.” He attacked Lombardo for the number of data centers built during his tenure. Earlier this month, Ford accused Lombardo of “giving data centers $240 million in tax breaks.”

That’s a lot of focus on an issue most people weren’t thinking about even 12 months ago. But it’s become a heated political topic. A recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll found 65 percent of people oppose data center construction in their communities. That includes 44 percent of Republicans. Ford hopes this issue can help him peel off some Republican voters.

But Ford has two major problems. The first is his flip-flop. In 2015, Ford co-sponsored the bill that created the very tax breaks he’s now attacking Lombardo for. But Ford isn’t admitting fault.

“Let’s be clear, I haven’t changed positions at all,” he said. “The data centers of 2015 are different than the data centers of 2026.”

If that were the case, they wouldn’t qualify for the tax breaks Ford co-sponsored in 2015. What’s changed is the political environment. It’s now politically convenient for Ford to switch positions, and he’s done so with a level of brazenness that would make even most politicians blush.

For his part, Lombardo has already moved to roll back some of the data center tax breaks that Ford helped pass. The Legislature should repeal them entirely in 2027.

Ford’s second problem is that he wants data-center skeptics to view him as their champion. But take a closer look at his position. He isn’t calling for a ban on data center construction. He wants to end their tax abatements — yes, the ones he helped create.

Ford also wants data center companies to “adhere to prevailing wage standards,” ans says he will “strongly encourage data center companies to negotiate project-labor agreements with the unions working on those data centers.”

Think about the implications of that sentence. Ford isn’t demanding that unionized workers be required to tear down existing data centers. He wants companies to use union labor when they build new data centers.

Data center opponents who believe Ford will champion their cause are making a mistake — just ask Ford.

“People in our state don’t expect their elected officials to stand by [a] position merely because they said it before,” Ford said.

He is openly telling voters that you’d be a fool to trust him. That’s the most believable thing Ford has said this entire campaign.

Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow @victorjoecks on X.