Drew Johnson, a candidate for Nevada State Treasurer, announced his priorities if elected would include education savings, bond stability, and financial literacy. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“As State Treasurer, I’ll expand Nevada’s college savings program to make higher education (including trade schools) more accessible,” said Johnson, Congress Nominee. “[I will] improve NV’s bond rating. [I will] promote financial literacy education in schools & lower-income communities.”
Nevada has recently expanded its college savings initiatives through the State Treasurer’s Office to improve educational access and financial preparedness. According to the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office, new tools on NVigate.gov and an expansion of the College Kick Start Program—which provides every public-school kindergartner with a $50 starter account—aim to increase participation and financial literacy. These programs are funded through management fees rather than taxpayer dollars, highlighting a self-sustaining approach.
As of 2024, Nevada’s 529 college savings plan has accumulated approximately $44.5 billion in assets, placing it among the top five states nationally by total assets. A report by BestColleges.com indicates that the average account balance across all 529 plans in the U.S. is $30,295, with over 16.8 million accounts currently active. These figures underscore strong participation and trust in Nevada’s college savings program.
Nevada has maintained strong credit ratings over the past decade, reflecting steady financial management. Fitch Ratings reported in January 2025 that the state received a ‘AA+’ rating with a stable outlook for its $174 million general obligation bond issue. Similarly, in 2022, all three major rating agencies affirmed Nevada’s high credit standing during the launch of its State Infrastructure Bank funding initiative.
Johnson is a Republican policy analyst and political commentator who announced his candidacy for Nevada State Treasurer in May 2025. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports he previously ran for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd District and is known for his advocacy of limited government and fiscal restraint. He also founded the Tennessee Center for Policy Research and has worked with the National Taxpayers Union.