Why Zach Conine’s Entrance Signals a High-Stakes Attorney General Race
The announcement didn’t come with fanfare, but it landed with unmistakable gravity: Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine is the first major candidate to declare a bid for attorney general in the 2026 race. As the sun sets on Aaron Ford’s era in the office—he’s vacating his seat to run for governor—Conine’s early move sets the tone for a contest rich in policy consequence and political drama.
What, exactly, do Nevadans hope for in their next attorney general? The answer is more than just a steady hand at the tiller. With national politics churning—particularly around figures like Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk—Conine’s campaign pledge is crystal clear: defend the rights of everyday Nevadans against federal overreach and powerful corporate interests, regardless of where those threats originate.
Conine’s longstanding reputation isn’t just based on political rhetoric. Since first being elected as treasurer in 2018, he has managed state funds and college savings, spearheaded pandemic aid programs, and marshaled affordable housing initiatives, all while running the machinery of government finance so efficiently that Nevada’s credit rating has climbed three times under his watch. As state politics watchers know, those details are more than resume lines—they’re evidence of a progressive, activist approach to public office, much needed in an era of fierce partisanship and looming threats to civil liberties.
According to UNLV political science professor Michael Green, “Nevada’s attorney general can be a firewall against national agendas that don’t align with state values. The person stepping in will shape our response to everything from abortion rights to consumer protections.”
From Pandemic Emergency Grants to Protecting Working Families
Conine’s route to political office wasn’t paved with privilege. Born into modest means, he worked for years in hospitality and finance, eventually attending UNLV’s Boyd School of Law at night while raising a family. His ascent is a testament to the values of hard work, public service, and opportunity that many Nevadans hold dear. With three children and a wife, Layke, who herself is an attorney invested in progressive causes—the executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Association—Conine’s personal and professional life reflect the diversity and modernity of the Silver State.
But what distinguishes Conine from typical career politicians are his pragmatic results. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he oversaw the Pandemic Emergency Technical Support Grant Program, distributing over $100 million to more than 9,400 businesses—many on the brink of collapse. In a moment of historic crisis, he prioritized small enterprises: the heart of Nevada’s economy. The stakes of these decisions were real; every grant protected livelihoods, paychecks, and the small-town character that sets Nevada apart from its shiny, tourist-driven image.
Beyond that, Conine’s leadership on affordable housing—especially as chair of the Nevada State Infrastructure Bank—helped finance the construction of nearly 10,000 affordable units. At a time of soaring rents and inflation, these moves show him as a candidate who doesn’t just talk about equity, but actively builds it into the financial foundation of the state.
“If Trump, Elon, or anyone messes with Nevada, we’ll see them in court.”
– Zach Conine
What makes that vow resonate isn’t just bravado. It’s rooted in a tenure defined by protecting taxpayer dollars, expanding financial options for working families, and holding “bad actors”—however powerful—accountable. In a nation where state attorneys general often serve as the last bulwark against hostile federal action, this approach matters.
The Stakes: Progress, Power, and Nevada’s Legal Future
Looking ahead to 2026, the attorney general’s race is shaping up as a defining contest over the state’s future. With conservative and Trump-aligned interests seeking footholds across the country, questions loom: Can Nevada’s next top lawyer shield the rights of women, minorities, and workers from reactionary rollbacks? Will environmental protections, hard-won social justice advances, and economic fairness withstand the push of powerful out-of-state actors?
The shadow of Trump looms large. Conine’s pledge to “keep the Trump administration in check” is not mere stump-speech fodder. In recent years, attorneys general in blue-leaning states have thwarted efforts to gut reproductive rights, climate regulations, and LGBTQ protections—often through strategic litigation and dogged advocacy. Harvard Law’s Noah Feldman points out that “state attorneys general are the last line of defense when federal priorities threaten local values.”
This is especially urgent in states like Nevada, a perennial political battleground where razor-thin margins can tip the balance between progress and regression. The legal clarity and commitment of the next attorney general will reverberate far beyond Carson City, influencing everything from housing justice in Reno to tribal rights in rural valleys.
A closer look reveals that Conine’s early campaign launch is as much about vision as it is about victory. By stepping forward now—and staking out unapologetically progressive ground—he challenges both Democrats and Republicans to articulate where they stand on the core values of equality, social justice, and economic opportunity.
Other would-be contenders, including State Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, are weighing their options, while Republican Governor Joe Lombardo’s reelection efforts all but guarantee that Nevada’s political center will be hotly contested. Yet in a state with a history of independent thinking, Conine’s record of technocratic accomplishment and moral clarity offers something rare: a serious, experienced leader ready to confront today’s uniquely daunting challenges head-on.
As the campaign unfolds, the question for Nevadans isn’t simply who occupies the attorney general’s office, but what kind of future they want defended—in the courts, on the streets, and in the lives of ordinary people across the state.
