Danielle Ford Brings Poker to Nevada Race

Nevada State Board of Education member Danielle Ford is taking the ultimate calculated gamble, launching an independent campaign for Nevada governor against incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and Democratic challenger Aaron Ford. A dedicated poker player who honed her strategic thinking on the felt, Ford credits the poker community and the analytical demands of the game for driving her unlikely rise through Silver State politics ahead of the November 3 election.

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From the World Series of Poker to the Campaign Trail

Ford began playing poker in 2011, dedicating a year to rigorous study alongside self-taught marketing. “I read all the books,” Ford stated. Her poker journey led her directly to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), where she connected with Daniel Makowsky of poker website PokerAti, who brought her on as a writer. Around the same time, she teamed up with Sillybandz founder Robert Croak to produce promotional video content for his business ventures.

Those multimedia and communication skills proved instrumental in her successful bids for the Clark County School District Board of Trustees in 2018 and the Nevada State Board of Education in 2024. When Ford later launched her gubernatorial run as an unaffiliated candidate, she recruited her core campaign team after meeting them at the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP), where she also navigated her way to a final table finish.

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Calculated Risks and Ballot Controversy

Running as an independent in a polarized, well-funded race presents brutal odds, but Ford views the political landscape through the lens of short-stack tournament play. “The type of person who would take a calculated risk on running for a nonpartisan seat in a very well-funded, deeply politically connected election,” Ford explained, “would be somebody who is like a poker player.”

Though most public polls exclude her and project a coin-flip between Lombardo and Aaron Ford (no relation), Danielle Ford refuses to fold. “You can be against the best players (with the best chance of winning), and it doesn’t matter, you just have to play better than them,” she said, leaning on the classic adage of a “chip and a chair.” Much like navigating high-pressure tournament spots using disciplined ICM poker tournament strategy, Ford evaluates her political bid through probability and strategic leverage.

Her presence on the ballot has ignited intense bipartisan crossfire. On October 20, reports emerged regarding mailers labeling her the “AOC of Nevada”—referencing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Aaron Ford—suspected of being funded by GOP operatives to draw votes away from the Democrat. Pundits including David Weigel and Sam Stein have highlighted the potential spoiler effect.

Ford fired back in an October 25 Facebook video, firmly rejecting ties to the mailers. “First the Democrats told you that I’m a spoiler candidate and that… people are going to accidentally vote for me… and now they’re telling you that I’m actually part of this GOP organization crime syndicate,” Ford argued. “So I’ve got the Democrats telling their members that I’m a MAGA operative and then I’ve got Republicans sending mailers that I’m an AOC operative.”

Poker in Classrooms and Fighting Tax Changes

Poker forms an explicit pillar of Ford’s political platform. She advocates for integrating the game into Nevada schools as an educational instrument. “I absolutely support poker in schools,” Ford stated. “It’s not gambling unless you’re betting money. It’s a skill game. I think it’s more complex than chess, especially because there’s so many human elements to it.” However, she lamented that standardized testing curriculums make introducing the game nearly impossible.

Ford has also targeted federal gambling tax policy, speaking out against provisions capping gambling loss deductions at 90% of winnings. “I don’t think there’s a single person that thinks that’s fair,” Ford stressed, noting that pros often endure losing years. “Some people’s livelihoods depend on this, and they’re taking care of their entire families.”

Source: PokerNews Online

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