Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford criticized for stance on data center tax breaks
The article criticizes Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford for his shifting stance on data center tax abatements, accusing him of political duplicity. Ford, who co-sponsored the bill creating the tax breaks in 2015, now publicly advocates for pausing them and criticizes Gov. Joe Lombardo for supporting data centers. This political debate highlights data centers as a significant issue in the upcoming election.
Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford is facing criticism for an alleged flip-flop on data center tax abatements, which have become a contentious political issue ahead of the November election. Ford, a Democrat, has spent weeks attacking incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo, stating that Lombardo's "gravy train for data centers is coming to an end" and promising to "end tax abatements until companies prove they're delivering for Nevadans."
However, columnist Victor Joecks points out that Ford co-sponsored the very bill in 2015 that created the tax breaks he is now condemning. Ford denies changing his position, claiming that "the data centers of 2015 are different than the data centers of 2026." Joecks argues this is merely a politically convenient shift, as public opposition to data center construction has grown, with a recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll showing 65 percent of people oppose data centers in their communities.
While Ford proposes pausing tax breaks and encouraging data center companies to adhere to prevailing wage standards and negotiate project-labor agreements with unions for new construction, Joecks asserts that Ford is not advocating for a complete ban on data centers. He suggests that data center opponents who view Ford as their champion are mistaken, citing Ford's own admission that elected officials shouldn't be expected to stand by previous positions. Meanwhile, Governor Lombardo has already moved to roll back some data center tax breaks, and the Legislature is urged to repeal them entirely in 2027.