The Candidate’s Poker Background: How Daniel Ford Is Shaping the Nevada Governor’s Race

Daniel Ford, an independent candidate with deep ties to the poker community, could change the course of the gubernatorial election in Nevada. Find out how her poker experience is influencing her political campaign.

On the eve of the Nevada gubernatorial election, public attention has been drawn to the candidacy of Danielle Ford—an independent candidate whose biography is closely tied to the poker community. Ford, a current member of the Nevada State Board of Education, is running against incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and Democratic candidate Aaron Ford (who shares her last name but is not related). Despite her slim chances of winning, her campaign has become a focal point for the media and political analysts thanks to her unique combination of poker experience, educational work, and the unexpected political consequences of her participation in the race. Poker Background and Path to Politics Danielle Ford began playing poker in 2011 while simultaneously teaching herself marketing through YouTube videos. She notes that after a year of serious poker study, she had read all the available literature on the subject, which helped her not only master the game but also develop analytical, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills. Poker became not just a hobby for her, but an important part of her professional development. At the World Series of Poker (WSOP), Ford met Daniel Makowsky—a representative of the PokerAti website—who invited her to try her hand at writing poker content. Later, she met Robert Croak, founder of Sillybandz, who invited her to create video content for a new business project. Ford emphasizes that these contacts and the skills she gained played a key role in her successful election campaigns: first to the Clark County School Board of Trustees in 2018, and then to the Nevada State Board of Education in 2024. When Ford decided to run for governor as an independent candidate, it was at a Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) charity tournament—where she made it to the final table—that she met future members of her campaign team. According to her, the poker community has repeatedly helped her at every new stage of life, and poker thinking has helped her make balanced and risky decisions. Parallels Between Poker and Independent Politics Danielle Ford draws a direct analogy between playing poker and participating in politics outside of party affiliation. She notes that only someone willing to take a calculated risk can decide to run as an independent in a race where the main opponents have significant resources and political connections. Ford admits that an independent candidate's victory in the governor's race is almost impossible: her name is often not even included in polls, and the main battle is between Republican Joe Lombardo and Democrat Aaron Ford. Nevertheless, she compares her situation to poker: "You can play against the best, who have the greatest chances of winning, but it doesn't matter—you just have to play better than them. The main thing is to have a chip and a chair" (a poker expression meaning that as long as a player has even a minimal stack, they still have a chance to succeed). Ford emphasizes that her participation is a conscious risk, similar to a tough hand in poker: "It's almost impossible to win as an independent candidate unless you look at the numbers and see the situation as a poker game: risky, but possible." Campaign Scandals and Ford's Response In the final weeks of the election race, Danielle Ford's campaign found itself at the center of a scandal. On October 20, the Nevada Independent reported on the distribution of campaign materials calling Ford the "AOC of Nevada"—a reference to the well-known progressive congresswoman from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). It turned out that these materials may have been linked to Republican political strategists and were intended to confuse voters and siphon votes away from Democratic candidate Aaron Ford (who, incidentally, is supported by Ocasio-Cortez herself, not Danielle Ford). The situation sparked widespread coverage in national media, with political journalists David Weigel and Sam Stein commenting on the campaign. In response to a PokerNews inquiry, Ford referred to her Facebook video from October 25, where she categorically denied any involvement in the mailings and accused both parties of spreading false information about her campaign. In the video, she stated that Democrats call her a spoiler who could accidentally take votes away from their candidate, and now claim she is supposedly linked to Republicans and involved in a conspiracy to return power to the GOP. At the same time, Republicans are sending out materials portraying her as an AOC supporter. Ford emphasized that she plans to release a separate statement regarding the scandal. Poker as Part of the Educational Platform Poker plays an important role not only in Ford's biography but also in her views on education. As a member of the State Board of Education and a proponent of a holistic approach to learning, she has repeatedly stated that poker is a game of skill that should be taught in every school (of course, without the monetary aspect). Ford notes that she used poker to teach her own children math. In her opinion, poker is more complex than chess because it involves more human factors and variable situations. She emphasizes: "It's not gambling if you don't bet money. It's a game of skill." However, according to Ford, introducing poker into the school curriculum in Nevada is unlikely due to strict standards and the influence of testing companies on the educational process. Position on Federal Issues and Tax Policy Danielle Ford also comments on federal initiatives affecting the interests of players and Nevada residents. In particular, she criticizes recent changes to tax law that limit loss deductions to 90% of winnings. Ford believes this new rule is unfair to professional players and other gamblers who may have losing years. She notes that for many poker players, the game is not just a weekend pastime in Las Vegas, but the main source of income for their entire family. Ford emphasizes that she does not support federal authorities when they "hastily" add such provisions to large-scale bills without considering the consequences for Nevada families. The Impact of Ford's Candidacy on the Election Outcome Although Danielle Ford's chances of winning the governor's race are considered extremely low, her presence on the ballot could affect the distribution of votes between the main candidates—Joe Lombardo and Aaron Ford. In a situation where the gap between them is minimal, even a small number of votes cast for an independent candidate could become a decisive factor. The Nevada gubernatorial election will take place on Tuesday, November 3. As long as Danielle Ford's name remains on the ballot, she still has a "chip and a chair"—a minimal chance of success, as they say in the poker community. Tournament Achievements and Connections with the Poker Community Danielle Ford not only regularly participates in poker tournaments but has also achieved notable success. At the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP), she made it to the final table, confirming her high level of play. It was her participation in CSOP that allowed Ford to assemble her campaign team and strengthen ties with representatives of the poker business and media. In her work, Ford has collaborated with figures such as Daniel Makowsky (PokerAti) and Robert Croak (Sillybandz), which gave her not only practical skills but also access to new professional opportunities. Full List of Results and Prizes (according to the original) Danielle Ford—final table at Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) Participation in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Victory in the Clark County School Board of Trustees election (2018) Victory in the Nevada State Board of Education election (2024) The original did not specify buy-in amounts, prize money, or stack sizes. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Danielle Ford's story clearly demonstrates how skills acquired in poker can be applied far beyond the card tables. For PPPoker club players, this is a reason to think about developing not only the technical aspects of the game but also strategic thinking, analytical skills, and communication—qualities that are in demand in many fields, including business and public service. Attention to poker from politicians and public figures like Ford helps popularize the game as a mind sport and a tool for developing skills among young people. This could become an additional argument in favor of legalizing and integrating poker into educational and social projects at the local level. In addition, the situation with tax changes and public perception of poker highlights the importance of legal literacy for professional players. PPPoker club members should closely monitor legislative initiatives to adapt to new conditions in a timely manner and protect their interests.