Clark County teachers union, which backed Lombardo, says it will still push its data center school funding plan under Ford

What happened

The Clark County Education Association, the largest teachers union in Nevada, endorsed Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo this year and put significant resources into his reelection campaign, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat and former public school teacher, is now the governor-elect. The union is weighing how to pursue its education agenda with Democrats in control of state government in Carson City.

Executive director John Vellardita told the Review-Journal that one-party control is "not the ideal situation from our experience, but we'll work with it." He said the union prefers split government because it pushes lawmakers to negotiate and compromise. Readers can find more on the results in our coverage of Ford's win over Lombardo.

The union's top priority: a data center plan

Vellardita said the union's No. 1 goal remains a data center proposal that could direct more money to public K-12 schools. The Review-Journal described the plan as controversial.

What the plan would do

The eight-point plan calls for data centers to pay the Local School Support Tax, a statewide 2.6 percent tax on retail sales. Vellardita said it would raise almost $548 million per year for public education. He said it would also fund pre-K, special education and workforce training for jobs that artificial intelligence could displace.

According to Vellardita, the bill would also put stricter rules on data centers. It would require them to be water-neutral and bar them from passing power bills on to ratepayers. It would also keep them out of communities that do not approve of them.

Sponsor and next steps

Vellardita said the union has found a bill sponsor but declined to name that person. He said a bill draft request is already in the works. He said the union plans town halls starting "in the near future" and continuing through the 2027 Nevada Legislature, which begins Feb. 1. He also said the plan "polls very, very high" in the union's own polling.

Critics worry about tying school funding to an industry that is creating environmental and infrastructure challenges, the Review-Journal reported.

Where Ford stands

Ford's spokesperson, Tai Sims, did not answer specific questions about whether Ford supports the union's data center plan or how he would work with the union. Instead, a statement said Ford has a plan to retain educators, improve student literacy, invest in vocational education and guarantee school meals.

Ford's campaign platform

Ford's campaign website says he supports raising Nevada's per-pupil funding to meet or exceed the national average. It also says he will make educator pay and benefits competitive with other states. On data centers, his platform says he will pause new tax abatements and extend Southern Nevada's ban on evaporative cooling statewide. It also says he will hold public hearings on potential buildouts and make data centers pay for the energy they use.

Vellardita said he wants to learn more about Ford's data center position and see whether the union's plan lines up with those promises.

A strained relationship after the campaign

Vellardita said both candidates sought the union's endorsement. He said the union chose Lombardo because he helped pass bills the union sponsored. Asked about the union's relationship with Ford, he said "there's no relationship when you're endorsing the other candidate."

Ads paid for by Strategic Horizons and posted on the union's X account praised Lombardo and questioned Ford's record. Even so, Vellardita said Ford "knows who we are." After the race was called Wednesday, the union posted that it sees "a rare opportunity to bring school funding to the national average." For more on local education issues, see our schools coverage.

What to watch next

• Whether the union names the sponsor of its data center bill, which Vellardita said is in the bill draft process.
• Union town halls on the plan, which Vellardita said will begin in the near future.
• The 2027 Nevada Legislature, which starts Feb. 1, where the union will need Ford's signature to pass its priorities.
• Whether Ford takes a position on the union's data center tax proposal, which his spokesperson did not address.