Aaron Ford

Aaron D. Ford
Born	born 1972
Birthplace	Texas, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	Attorney General of Nevada
Known for	Serving as the 34th Attorney General of Nevada

Aaron D. Ford (born 1972) is an American attorney and politician serving as Nevada's 34th Attorney General since 2019. He's a Democrat and made history as the first African American to hold the state's top law enforcement office. Before his election as Attorney General, Ford served in the Nevada Senate, where he became Majority Leader. His work has focused on consumer protection, gaming regulation, and broader policy priorities for the office. On February 5, 2026, Ford delivered what he called his final State of Justice address, signaling the end of his tenure was near. He's faced ethics complaints and political speculation about a possible run in Nevada's 2026 gubernatorial race.

Early Life

Ford was born in 1972 in Texas. Public records offer little detail about his childhood or family background. He grew up in Texas, then moved to Nevada to launch his legal and political career. Those early years in Texas shaped how he'd later approach public service and the law.

Career

Nevada State Senate

Ford served as a Nevada state senator before running for statewide office. He climbed to Senate Majority Leader, becoming one of Nevada's most visible Democratic politicians. That legislative experience gave him both a platform for his policy ideas and the visibility he'd need for an Attorney General campaign.

Election as Attorney General

In 2018, Ford won election as Nevada's 34th Attorney General. It was a historic victory. He became the first African American ever elected to the office. He took office in January 2019. He was reelected later, keeping the position into the mid-2020s.

Tenure as Attorney General

State of Justice Addresses

Ford has given yearly State of Justice addresses to his staff and the public. These speeches let him lay out his office's goals and accomplishments, touching on law enforcement, consumer protection, and justice in Nevada. On February 5, 2026, he gave what he described as his "final State of Justice address," reviewing his office's work and speaking directly to staff. Delivered in Carson City, it wrapped up his priorities and accomplishments as the state's top law enforcement official. Calling it his "final" address suggested his time in the role was coming to an end.

Lawsuit Against Kalshi and Prediction Markets

Ford and the Nevada Gaming Control Board sued Kalshi in February 2026. Kalshi runs a prediction market platform. The legal action came as prediction markets related to Super Bowl wagering exceeded $1 billion in activity. Ford's office was protecting Nevada's gaming industry and enforcing state gambling laws.

The suit put Ford's office squarely in the middle of a national argument about regulating prediction markets, which were exploding across the country. These platforms let people bet on the outcomes of future events, including sports. Their rapid growth raised thorny questions: where's the line between regulated gambling and financial speculation? Nevada, home to some of America's most important gaming jurisdiction, had every reason to make sure companies like Kalshi followed state gaming law. Ford's lawsuit made clear the Attorney General takes enforcement seriously in this space.

Ethics Complaint

The Nevada Commission on Ethics advanced a complaint against Ford in February 2026. It centered on luxury trips Ford had taken and the social media posts he'd made about them. A review panel agreed the complaint deserved a full hearing before the commission.

Multiple outlets covered the panel's decision. The Las Vegas Sun reported the review panel sent the complaint forward for adjudication. KSNV called Ford "the state's top law enforcement official." KKOH-AM in Reno also reported on the advancement, noting the Nevada Commission on Ethics made its decision from Carson City.

The Center Square covered the ethics panel's action and included a comment from the Attorney General Alliance.

The complaint grabbed attention at a moment when people were already talking about Ford's political future. Advancing the complaint didn't mean he'd done anything wrong. It just meant the review panel thought the full commission should look at it. The case raised bigger questions about how public officials use social media and what counts as personal versus official activity, especially when it comes to travel and public appearances.

2026 Gubernatorial Race Speculation

Nevada Current published an analysis of the 2026 gubernatorial race in January 2026. Ford got mentioned as a potential candidate. The article noted that politicians could file in March 2026, but that races were already taking shape. It focused on Governor Joe Lombardo's fundraising strength and what challenges Democratic candidates might face.

Ford's name in the governor conversation made sense. He's one of Nevada's most prominent Democrats. His "final" State of Justice address in February fueled more talk that he might be moving to a different office or stepping back from public service when his current term ended.

Personal Life

There's limited public information about Ford's personal life. He's lived in Nevada throughout his political career. His social media activity has drawn scrutiny, particularly because of the ethics complaint about posts related to his travel.

Recognition

Ford's election as Nevada's first African American Attorney General was historic. It marked a significant moment in the state's political history. He now stands among the nation's most prominent African American state attorneys general.

His office has handled several high-profile cases. The 2026 civil enforcement lawsuit against Kalshi made national headlines because of the huge size of the prediction markets industry and how it intersects with Nevada's regulated gaming sector.

The State of Justice addresses have become annual reports on what his office accomplishes. Nevada media outlets have covered them throughout his tenure.

Other People Named Aaron Ford

The name Aaron Ford belongs to several notable people:

• Aaron Ford (Mississippi politician) (1903–1983) was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi in the mid-twentieth century.

• Aaron Ford (musician) was a drummer for ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, an alternative rock and post-hardcore band from Austin, Texas.