Nevada’s political landscape is experiencing ripples as Courtney Holland, the wife of Governor Joe Lombardo’s campaign manager, Joe Weaver, was identified among those participating in the march leading up to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol incident. The revelation comes amidst scrutiny on Lombardo for his silence regarding President Donald Trump’s pardons for the involved insurrectionists.
This development potentially jeopardizes Lombardo’s strong crime-fighting narrative central to his reelection campaign. Weaver, a seasoned Republican strategist, manages Lombardo’s campaign through his firm, JW Political LLC, and previously directed Lombardo’s Better Nevada PAC.
July 2022 reports by CNN revealed Holland’s participation in the “Stop the Steal” rally, challenging Joe Biden’s presidential certification. The rally began at the Ellipse near the White House with Trump alleging electoral theft, progressing towards the Capitol where events turned chaotic.
Although scheduled to speak, Holland’s address was precluded by escalating violence. Previously in November 2020, she spoke at a similar rally in Washington D.C.
Social media posts by Holland included a now-deleted image of her marching with Oath Keepers, a far-right group linked to the attack. Despite no evidence of Holland entering the Capitol or facing charges, she maintains she anticipated a peaceful event and mistook the Oath Keepers for “event security.”
Holland’s post-attack social media activity revealed unwavering support for Trump, dismissing the event as an insurrection, labeling it a “solemn day” exploited by Democrats a year later.
Governor Lombardo’s campaign platform prominently supports law enforcement, yet his connections and non-condemnation of the pardons raise questions about his stance on violence against Capitol police. Recorded instances from the event display severe assaults on officers, including Officer Michael Fanone’s attack and Officer Brian Sicknick’s exposure to pepper spray, leading to a fatal stroke.
Lombardo’s law enforcement endorsements face scrutiny following his veto of a pay raise for Nevada troopers, resulting in increased state police vacancies and reduced patrols in Reno and Las Vegas. His tenure as Clark County sheriff from 2015 to 2023 witnessed Las Vegas’s deadliest years and a rise in officer-involved shootings.
As Lombardo seeks a second gubernatorial term, he faces Democratic contender Aaron Ford, Nevada’s Attorney General, in a competitive race.
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