Nevada Gubernatorial Primary Election — Candidate Comparison
This page presents a side-by-side comparison of candidate priorities and promises in the Nevada gubernatorial primary election.
Candidates:
- Matthew Winterhawk (Republican) — Candidate in the Nevada gubernatorial primary election
- Joe Lombardo (Republican) — Candidate in the Nevada gubernatorial primary election
Candidate Priorities and Promises in the Primary Election
The table below compares the publicly stated priorities and promises of candidates competing in the primary election. Information is compiled from official campaign websites, public statements, and other verifiable sources to help voters understand where candidates stand on key issues.
About
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Matthew Winterhawk is not running for Governor to become someone. He doesn''t believe leadership is about certainty it’s about judgment, accountability, and the courage to correct course when facts demand it. He is running because his life has already shown what leadership looks like in the real world, without titles, without donors, and without excuses. He is a father of two. A husband. A lifelong problem-solver. A business operator. A civic reformer. And a Nevadan who believes public office is a duty, not a lifestyle. "I’ve made mistakes, rebuilt from nothing, and had my rights fully restored. I’ll never hide my past, I use it to protect Nevadans from the systems that failed me." Matthew Winterhawk. When COVID disrupted Nevada’s families and economy, Winterhawk did not wait for...
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Born into a military family in Japan, Joe Lombardo grew up around the world before his father was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, where the Lombardo family put down roots in Las Vegas. Joe graduated from Rancho High School in North Las Vegas and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He later served honorably in the United States Army and the Nevada National Guard. After his military service, Joe joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, where he worked nearly every rank, from patrol officer to assistant sheriff over the course of 26 years. While serving at LVMPD, he earned his Master of Science in Crisis Management from UNLV. In 2014, Joe was elected Sheriff of Clark County, overseeing a $1.3 billion ...
Achievements
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Winterhawk founded SmartSlaps, a transparent community-driven nonprofit that supports schools and libraries through direct, verifiable public participation. Its mission is simple: funding without politics, service without bureaucracy, and accountability without manipulation. Every action reflects the same five principles he teaches his children every day: accountability, responsibility, transparency, honesty, and being a good person. As an author and civic educator, Winterhawk focuses on constitutional literacy, historical record, and critical thinking, equipping families to understand not just what the law says, but why it exists. His educational work emphasizes civic power, legal awareness, and independent judgment as core tools of citizenship. In 2022, Winterhawk helped lead...
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
A Strong Economy: Record Savings; Business-Friendly Nevada; Job Growth; National Recognition; Record Economic Investment. Education First: Historic Funding; Teacher Support; School Choice & Open Enrollment; Early Literacy; Accountability & Safety; Charter School Expansion, Public Safety: Law Enforcement Support; Crime Reduction; Crack Down on Worst Offenders; Vetoed Soft-on-Crime Bills; Fighting Fentanyl; Domestic Violence Protections. Housing & Affordability: Attainable Housing; Increased Housing Inventory; Supporting Nevada Homeowners; Reduced Taxes; Cutting Red Tape; Campus for Hope. Healthcare & Families: Children's Health; State Workforce; Creation of The Nevada Health Authority; Expanding Statewide Internet Access; Increasing Mental Health Services; Workforce Investment...
Priority 1
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Education & Curriculum Accountability: Nevada’s classrooms must teach skills, truth, literacy, and critical thinking, not political or corporate agendas. ✔️ Strengthen parental rights and transparency in all curriculum ✔️ Restore civics, literacy, trades, law, and constitutional education ✔️ Ensure age-appropriate materials and remove adult political content ✔️ Refocus schools on academics, not activism ✔️ Support teachers with better resources and clearer standards
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Priority 2
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Immigration Policy & Nevada Community Protection: Nevada’s laws, schools, hospitals, and public services must prioritize legal residents, citizens, and those here lawfully. ✔️ Oppose sanctuary policies that violate federal and state law ✔️ Require secure ID for voting and benefits ✔️ Prioritize immigration pathways for lawful, contributing individuals ✔️ Remove criminal offenders through proper channels ✔️ Strengthen coordination with sheriffs and federal agencies to protect ...
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Priority 3
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Affordability & Housing Crisis: Nevadans should not be priced out of their own neighborhoods. Housing must remain accessible to the people who live and work here. ✔️ Restrict predatory bulk purchases by out-of-state funds ✔️ Support Nevada builders, trades, and modular housing expansion ✔️ Incentivize first-time Nevada buyers over corporations ✔️ Increase transparency in development and municipal approvals ✔️ Prevent speculative pricing manipulation by large investment firms
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Priority 4
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Crime, Safety, & Public Protection: Nevada deserves a justice system that protects families, supports law enforcement, and ensures real consequences for violent criminal behavior. ✔️ Zero tolerance for violent and repeat offenders ✔️ Protect women and children in all public spaces ✔️ Restore school safety standards statewide ✔️ Strengthen penalties for organized retail crime and trafficking ✔️ Empower victims with better resources and reporting protections
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Priority 5
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Water, Land & Natural Resources: Nevada’s land and water must remain under Nevada’s control. Stewardship is a responsibility, not a negotiating chip. ✔️ Oppose federal overreach, siphoning, or mismanagement ✔️ Prioritize Nevada agriculture, conservation, and rural sustainability ✔️ Audit all federal water contracts and state leases ✔️ Prevent speculative water transfers that hurt Nevada families ✔️ Support long-term drought mitigation and regional planning
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Priority 6
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
Election Integrity: Nevada’s elections must be transparent, auditable, and trustworthy for every legal voter, regardless of county. ✔️ Mandatory voter ID ✔️ Prohibit non-citizen voting ✔️ End universal mail ballots / strengthen chain-of-custody ✔️ Require transparent paper trails & independent audits ✔️ Clean and verify voter rolls regularly ✔️ Support county-level vote tabulation oversight
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 1
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"I promise to rebuild it from the ground up." @W4Nevada (December 15, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 2
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"I promise to govern above party lines and deliver for all 17 counties 365 days a year." @W4Nevada (December 10, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 3
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"I pledge to sign it when elected governor of Nevada." (referring to national constitutional carry legislation) @W4Nevada (December 3, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 4
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"Our sellout and cooperation with corrupt California ends day one when I’m elected." @W4Nevada (November 4, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 5
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"As Governor, I will represent all Nevadans... I will bring education back to education... Every single day, I will work to deliver 17-county-strong results..." @W4Nevada (October 30, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 6
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"I will work endlessly for Nevadans to deliver solutions to all 17 counties. I would bet my life on it." @W4Nevada (October 12, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 7
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"As governor of Nevada I will make it a priority [to address mental illness]. Nevadans will not be forced to live in fear." @W4Nevada (September 9, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 8
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"As Governor they [NGOs and nonprofits] are either transparent with Nevadans or they will be fully investigated for fraud and corruption." @W4Nevada (September 9, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 9
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"When I am governor we will review all of these departments [benefits offices for legitimacy]." @W4Nevada (September 9, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
Promise 10
Score: / 22 Matthew Winterhawk:
"When I am governor. I will ban it." (referring to certain procedures or policies in context) @W4Nevada (September 9, 2025)
Score: / 22 Joe Lombardo:
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