Joe Lombardo is the 31st Governor of Nevada, serving since January 2, 2023. Born in Sapporo, Japan, in 1962, he moved to Las Vegas in 1976 and built a 34-year law enforcement career with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, serving as Clark County Sheriff from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, Lombardo defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak by 1.51 percentage points with 48.8% of the vote. He describes himself as a moderate Republican and has focused his governorship on education reform, public safety, and economic development, though critics argue his policies have failed to address housing affordability and unemployment.
Lombardo was born November 8, 1962, in Sapporo, Japan, and moved to Las Vegas in 1976. He earned a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering and Master's in Crisis Management from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and completed the FBI National Academy in 2006. He served in the U.S. Army and Nevada National Guard before joining LVMPD in 1988, rising through ranks to sheriff (2015-2023). He is Catholic, divorced with one child from a previous marriage, and married commercial real estate broker Donna Alderson in 2015. An off-road racer in his spare time, Lombardo has never held elected office before becoming governor.