Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill, a Democrat, told The Nevada Independent on Monday that she plans to formally launch a run for governor in the coming weeks.

The surprising development marks Hill, 42, as the second major Democrat to plan a run for the seat, setting up a competitive primary for the challenge to incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. 

Hill will likely square off against incumbent Attorney General Aaron Ford, who announced intentions to run in December. Ford has spent six years in the statewide role and previously served in the Legislature, culminating in the top-ranking position of Senate majority leader.

“Now, more than ever, people are struggling, and I want to deliver for our workers and our families,” Hill said in an interview. “Every time I try to do that as a county commissioner, I am faced with difficulty from the state.” 

She said those difficulties stem from either not having enough authority from the state or the state giving municipalities more responsibility without providing the resources to manage child welfare, transportation and other areas such as schools and teachers.

Hill added that in the more than three decades she’s lived in Nevada, the state still ranks near the bottom of most ratings. People want authenticity and specific, concrete ideas that will improve their lives, Hill said, noting that she will unveil her platform and goals for office when she makes her formal announcement, but plans to continue focusing on making housing more affordable for Nevada residents.

“No one has had the bravery to have frank discussions with Nevadans about what needs to be done to make our state amazing and the best state to live in, and the best state to visit,” Hill said. “I want to have those discussions with the voters.”

Ford’s campaign did not respond to an email or text message requesting comment about the news.

Born in Sparks, Hill resides in Reno’s Old Southwest neighborhood with her husband, Matthew Tuma, and their 3-year-old daughter, Zora. 

First elected to the county commission in 2020, Hill represents Washoe County Commission District 1, which includes Lake Tahoe’s Incline Village and Crystal Bay. She won re-election in 2024, defeating former Republican Commissioner Marsha Birkbiger by a margin of nearly 15 percentage points, and would have two more years in her commission term if she did not win in the governor’s race. She said she will not resign from her position to run for governor.

“I love being a county commissioner — it's the most amazing thing that I've ever done, and I'm honored to do it,” she said. “The reason I'm running is because I wish I were more effective.”

Before taking office in 2020, Hill worked in city planning and public policy for more than a decade in Sparks and Reno, and has worked with the Truckee Meadows Community College, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Kids & Horses, a nonprofit for children and adults with disabilities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M and a graduate degree in public administration and policy from UNR.

As a commissioner and chair, Hill has helped bring a sustainability manager to the county, supported Sen. Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) Truckee Meadows Lands Bill, which would free public lands for development, and voted on items that direct more services and people to the Cares Campus, Northern Nevada’s largest homeless shelter. She also supported the use of accessory dwelling units and tiny homes to address rapidly rising housing prices in the county. 

As local governments have faced budget shortfalls, Hill has also emphasized the importance of discussing new revenue sources, such as taxes. 

In July 2024, the Washoe County Commission made national headlines for not certifying the primary recount results. Hill was one of two Democrats to approve the results. The commission later reversed the decision, and Hill said she’s been on the front lines of defending democracy by working to double the investment in the registrar of voters’ office. 

On the split commission consisting of two Democrats and three Republicans, Hill said she’s used to working across the aisle — something she would bring to the seat.

“My board is a diverse board of many different perspectives … and yet we still can meet and work for the county and find solutions,” Hill said. “That's something that I will bring to Carson City.”