Clark County teachers union spends millions for Lombardo as a poll finds most teachers surveyed favor Aaron Ford

What happened

Nevada's largest teachers union, CCEA, is spending millions of dollars to help reelect Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, the Las Vegas Sun reported. A new poll suggests the teachers the union represents may lean the other way, toward Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.

The poll was commissioned by Strong Public Schools Nevada, the political action committee of the Nevada State Education Association. Its results and the union's spending point in different directions in the Lombardo vs. Ford governor race.

What the poll found

Clark County and statewide numbers

Clark County teachers surveyed favored Ford over Lombardo, 52% to 32%, according to the Sun. Statewide, teachers surveyed backed Ford 54% to 31%. The statewide figures came from 359 teachers who said they planned to vote in the governor's race.

Independent candidate Danielle Ford, who is not related to Aaron Ford, drew 10% support. Another 4% of those surveyed were undecided.

How the survey was done

Survey 160 conducted the poll Oct. 14-15. It reported an overall margin of error of plus or minus 6.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

How CCEA is backing Lombardo

The Strategic Horizons PAC

The Sun described Strategic Horizons as an independent PAC chaired by CCEA leadership. According to secretary of state records and campaign finance reports cited by the Sun, it is funded by transfers from the union's treasury and major organizational contributions. That money is separate from the voluntary payroll deductions that pay for the union's own candidate PAC.

The union's messaging

A video ad paid for by Strategic Horizons shows Lombardo at a rally with people in CCEA shirts waving signs of support. CCEA shared the ad on X with the message, "A vote for Joe is a vote for Educators!"

In another X post responding to the Ford campaign, CCEA questioned how Ford would pay to raise per-pupil school funding to the national average. The union said groups supporting him back a plan that would raise property and sales taxes. It added, "Lombardo actually has a plan, AND it would bring funding to the national average in less than 5 years."

Former union leaders push back

Ruben Murillo, a past president of both CCEA and the Nevada State Education Association and a current officer of Strong Public Schools Nevada, said in a statement that CCEA was not speaking for teachers. "CCEA is speaking over their members by spending millions for Joe Lombardo," Murillo said, according to the Sun.

Chris Giunchigliani, a retired Clark County School District teacher and former CCEA president, also criticized the union. She previously served as a Nevada assemblywoman and Clark County commissioner. She said the union should have asked teachers whom they support before spending member dollars, adding, "Most teachers don't support Joe Lombardo, and their union shouldn't either."

More election coverage is available on our elections page, including updates on Clark County early and mail voting.

What to watch next

• The November governor's race between Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford and independent Danielle Ford.
• Spending by CCEA, which the Sun reports is putting millions toward helping reelect Lombardo.
• The competing plans to bring Nevada's per-pupil school funding up to the national average, a point CCEA and the Ford campaign are debating.