Aaron Ford

Aaron D. Ford
Born	Template:Birth year and age
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 who has served as the 34th Attorney General of Nevada since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Ford made history as the first African American to hold the office of Attorney General in Nevada. Prior to his election as Attorney General, Ford served in the Nevada Senate, where he rose to the position of Majority Leader. His tenure as Attorney General has been marked by civil enforcement actions in areas including consumer protection and gaming regulation, as well as public policy addresses outlining the priorities of his office. In early 2026, Ford delivered what he described as his final State of Justice address, signaling the approaching conclusion of his service in the role. Ford has also been the subject of ethics complaints and political scrutiny as he has been mentioned in connection with Nevada's 2026 gubernatorial race.

Early Life

Aaron D. Ford was born in 1972 in Texas. Details regarding his early childhood and family background in publicly available sourced materials are limited. Ford grew up in Texas before eventually relocating to Nevada, where he would build his legal and political career. His upbringing in Texas shaped his early experiences and would later inform his perspective as a public servant and attorney in the state of Nevada.

Career

Nevada State Senate

Before seeking statewide office, Aaron Ford served as a member of the Nevada Senate. During his time in the state legislature, he rose to the position of Senate Majority Leader, making him one of the most prominent Democratic figures in Nevada state politics. His legislative career provided him with a platform for policy advocacy and political visibility that would later support his campaign for Attorney General.

Election as Attorney General

Ford was elected as the 34th Attorney General of Nevada in 2018. His victory was historic, as he became the first African American to serve as Nevada's Attorney General. He assumed office in January 2019. Ford was subsequently reelected to the position, continuing his tenure into the mid-2020s.

Tenure as Attorney General

State of Justice Addresses

As Attorney General, Ford has delivered annual State of Justice addresses to staff of the Nevada Office of the Attorney General and to the public. On February 5, 2026, Ford delivered what was described as his "final State of Justice address," in which he outlined the accomplishments of his office and spoke to the staff of the Attorney General's office. The address, delivered in Carson City, served as a summation of his priorities and work during his time in office. The characterization of the address as his "final" such speech indicated that Ford's tenure as Attorney General was approaching its conclusion.

Lawsuit Against Kalshi and Prediction Markets

In February 2026, Ford and the Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a civil enforcement lawsuit against Kalshi, a prediction market platform. The legal action was brought as prediction markets were reported to have exceeded $1 billion in activity related to Super Bowl wagering pools. The suit reflected the Attorney General's office's role in protecting Nevada's regulated gaming industry and enforcing state laws governing gambling and wagering activities.

The lawsuit against Kalshi positioned Ford's office at the center of a national debate over the regulation of prediction markets, which had grown rapidly in the United States. Prediction markets allow participants to place bets on the outcomes of future events, including sporting events, and their growth raised questions about the boundaries between regulated gambling and financial speculation. Nevada, as one of the most significant jurisdictions for legalized gaming in the United States, had a particular interest in ensuring that entities offering wagering products complied with state gaming laws. Ford's decision to pursue legal action against Kalshi underscored the Attorney General's enforcement role in this area.

Ethics Complaint

In February 2026, the Nevada Commission on Ethics advanced a complaint filed against Ford. The complaint concerned purported luxury trips taken by Ford and social media posts associated with those trips. A review panel from the Nevada Commission on Ethics agreed to advance the complaint to the full commission for further consideration.

The advancement of the complaint by the ethics panel was reported by multiple Nevada and national media outlets. The Las Vegas Sun reported that the review panel agreed to send the complaint forward for full adjudication. KSNV described Ford as "the state's top law enforcement official" in its reporting on the matter. KKOH-AM, a radio station based in the Reno area, also reported on the advancement of the complaint, noting that the Nevada Commission on Ethics authored the advancement decision from Carson City.

The Center Square reported on the ethics panel's actions and noted that an updated version of its story included a comment from the Attorney General Alliance.

The ethics complaint drew public attention at a time when Ford's political future was already under discussion. The advancement of the complaint did not constitute a finding of wrongdoing; rather, it represented a procedural step in which the review panel determined that there was sufficient basis for the matter to be considered by the full Nevada Commission on Ethics.

2026 Gubernatorial Race Speculation

In January 2026, the Nevada Current published an analysis of the upcoming gubernatorial race in Nevada, in which Ford was mentioned in connection with the potential field of candidates. The article noted that the filing period for politicians seeking to compete in the 2026 primary and general elections was set for March 2026, but that matchups in many races were already taking shape. The article focused in part on the fundraising advantages held by incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo and assessed the competitive landscape for Democratic challengers.

Ford's mention in the context of the gubernatorial race was consistent with his position as one of the most prominent Democratic officeholders in the state. His delivery of a "final" State of Justice address in February 2026 further fueled speculation that he might be preparing to seek a different office or to leave public service at the conclusion of his current term.

Personal Life

Publicly available sourced information regarding Ford's personal life is limited. Ford has resided in Nevada for the duration of his political career in the state. His social media presence has been the subject of public and media scrutiny, particularly in connection with the ethics complaint advanced by the Nevada Commission on Ethics in 2026, which referenced social media posts related to travel.

Recognition

Ford's election as the first African American Attorney General of Nevada has been noted as a historic milestone in the state's political history. His tenure in the office placed him among the most prominent African American state attorneys general in the United States.

As Attorney General, Ford's office has been involved in a range of high-profile legal actions, including the 2026 civil enforcement lawsuit against the prediction market platform Kalshi, which attracted national media attention due to the scale of the prediction markets industry and its intersection with Nevada's regulated gaming sector.

Ford's State of Justice addresses have served as a public accounting of the work of the Attorney General's office and have been covered by Nevada media outlets throughout his tenure.

Other People Named Aaron Ford

The name Aaron Ford is shared by several notable individuals:

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

• Aaron Ford (musician) served as a drummer with the rock band ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, an American alternative rock and post-hardcore group based in Austin, Texas.