Summary

Current Position: US Senator since 2017
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: Nevada attorney general from 2006 – 2014

Masto worked four years as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and two years as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

Masot became the first woman elected to represent Nevada in the Senate and the first Latina elected to serve in the upper chamber.  In November 2003, Cortez Masto was named executive vice chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Quotes:
Wildfires are devastating the West, and today I joined @ClimatePower and @ChiefDave_RFD
to call for action on climate. I’m leading legislation in Congress to combat wildfires back home, but it’s going to take all of us to address the climate crisis and protect our planet.

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s full speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention

OnAir Post: Catherine Cortez Masto – NV

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About

Source: Government page

Catherine Cortez Masto 1Born and raised in Las Vegas, Catherine Cortez Masto has spent her career fighting for Nevada’s working families. She served two terms as Attorney General of Nevada and in November 2016, she made history by becoming the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the United States Senate.

During her time as Nevada’s top prosecutor, Cortez Masto became well known as an advocate for seniors, women, and children. She worked closely with local law enforcement to keep Nevada’s communities safe.

As Attorney General, Cortez Masto led the push to break up sex trafficking rings throughout the state. She partnered with community advocates to give first responders the tools they need to identify and intervene in trafficking incidents. She also helped pass a law to make sex trafficking a crime at the state level, an achievement that allowed state and local officials to share resources and information with federal prosecutors.

Cortez Masto sought to protect Nevada’s seniors and implement guardianship reform in the state. She created a senior protection unit to safeguard older Nevadans from identity theft, exploitation, and abuse.

To help middle-class families recover from the housing crisis, Cortez Masto created the Mortgage Fraud Strike Force to investigate and prosecute lending scams. She led the fight to hold the Big Banks accountable for their role in the housing collapse and secured a $1.9 billion settlement for Nevada homeowners.

As a member of the United States Senate, Cortez Masto has taken her fight for working Nevadans to Washington, D.C.

Her position on four Senate Committees allows her to continue to advocate for the issues that matter most to Nevadans. She sits on the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and the Committee on Indian Affairs. Cortez Masto currently serves as the chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee.

In Congress, Senator Cortez Masto remains a strong advocate for women and children and is working to pass legislation to strengthen women’s health care. She is a cosponsor of the Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act, which would ensure that mothers and their babies have access to the care they need, both before and after birth. Senator Cortez Masto continues to support our servicewomen by addressing the unique challenges they face as they transition from active duty. To ensure that they are empowered to access the full range of services they need to thrive, she has introduced the Servicewomen’s Health Transition Training Act of 2019, which would increase the knowledge of available VA health care resources like mental health assistance, maternity care, cancer screenings and casework management.

Senator Cortez Masto is working to repair our broken immigration system and protect hardworking families. She is a cosponsor of the DREAM Act and a fervent supporter of comprehensive immigration reform.

The Senator has also seized on Nevada’s innovation economy and leadership in renewable energy production. Cortez Masto has unveiled a key legislative initiative to strengthen America’s 21st century economy, called the “Innovation State Initiative.” Her legislative package is aimed at cementing Nevada’s place as a leader in innovation and strengthening America’s economic competitiveness in the fields of science, technology, and renewable energy. It consists of several pieces of legislation designed to promote technology jobs and innovation in the state, as well as nationally. This legislation also ensures there are guardrails in place for the responsible use of technology and the appropriate workforce training. Additionally, the bills prioritize investment in access to broadband internet in rural communities and disadvantaged urban areas, as well as enhanced drone safety and testing, and encourages investment in research and infrastructure that creates the smart communities of the future, improves infrastructure, and strengthens Nevadans’ quality of life and America’s economy.

Senator Cortez Masto is committed to finding solutions to the affordable housing crisis in Nevada, and across the country so that every hardworking family is able to pursue the American dream. Cortez Masto introduced the Home Loan Quality Transparency Act to reinstate key Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act reporting requirements, which were repealed last year, that help regulators and advocates hold banks accountable for discriminatory or unfair lending practices.

Cortez Masto also believes that all Americans have the right to affordable, quality health care. She has been a strong advocate in the Senate for strengthening our health care system and for protecting Medicare and Medicaid. In response to provider shortages in rural communities that could affect the health care coverage of nearly 8,000 Nevadans, Cortez Masto cosponsored the Marketplace Certainty Act to stabilize the health care markets, lower premiums for consumers and prevent insurers from leaving rural counties. She also introduced bipartisan drug pricing transparency legislation to allow the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission (MACPAC) to access critical information on pricing and contracts under Medicaid and Medicare to reduce costs for those on the program and protect these vital programs. Senator Cortez Masto is also a proud cosponsor of the following legislation to improve health care for Nevadans: the Family Coverage Act, legislation that would fix a glitch in the health care system and ensure all spouses and children are able to get covered; Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices, a bill to authorize HHS to negotiate drug prices to protect seniors from exploitation; and the Stopping the Pharmaceutical Industry from Keeping Drugs Expensive (SPIKE) Act, a bill that would require drug manufacturers to publicly justify large price increases in prescription drugs.

Protecting survivors and combating human and child trafficking continues to be one of Cortez Masto’s top priorities. Cortez Masto introduced two bipartisan bills, titled the Not Invisible Act of 2019 and Savanna’s Act, which aim to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Native Americans and Alaska Natives by increasing coordination among all levels of law enforcement, improving data collection and information sharing, and empowering tribal governments with the resources they need and bridging the gaps between tribal communities, law enforcement and the federal government. Cortez Masto has also introduced the Interdiction for the Protection of Child Victims of Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act to ensure law enforcement officers have the necessary tools and training to recognize and rescue at-risk and exploited children.

An avid hiker and nature lover, Cortez Masto is committed to protecting our environment and public lands for future generations to enjoy. She is the cosponsor of the Clean Energy for America Act, a bill that would measurably reduce carbon pollution over the next decade through a series of incentives for clean energy and the promotion of new technologies in the private sector. In an effort to spur Nevada’s renewable energy development and production, Cortez Masto cosponsored legislation called the Electric CARS Act to encourage the use and development of electric vehicles, the GEO Act to promote the growth of geothermal energy, especially in the State of Nevada, and the Renewable Energy Extension Act to extend clean energy tax incentives and ensure continued deployment, growth, and innovation of green technologies. Cortez Masto has also defended the Antiquities Act to protect Nevada’s national monuments and worked alongside the Nevada congressional delegation to introduce the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, which would ensure Nevadans have a voice in any plan to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.

Prior to her service as Attorney General, Cortez Masto served as Chief of Staff to Nevada Governor Bob Miller. She also worked as an Assistant County Manager in Clark County and as a federal criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C.

Cortez Masto earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1986, and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1990. She resides in Las Vegas with her husband Paul, a retired Secret Service agent.

Personal

Full Name: Catherine Cortez Masto

Gender: Female

Family: Husband: Paul

Birth Date: 03/29/1964

Birth Place: Las Vegas, NV

Home City: Las Vegas, NV

Religion: Catholic

Source: Vote Smart

Education

JD, Gonzaga University School of Law, 1990

BS, Business Administration: Finance, University of Nevada, Reno, 1986

Political Experience

Vice Chair, Democratic Outreach Committee, 2023-present

Senator, United States Senate, Nevada, 2016-present

Candidate, United States Senate, Nevada, 2022

Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, United States Senate, 2017-2021

Attorney General, State of Nevada, 2007-2014

Professional Experience

Assistant County Manager, Clark County

Chief, Law Enforcement Officer

Assistant County Manager, Clark County, 2002-2007

Executive Vice Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education, 2003

Chief of Staff, Governor Bob Miller, 1998-2002

Assistant, United States Attorney, 2000-2002

Former Federal Criminal Prosecutor, United States Attorney’s Office, Washington District of Columbia, 1999-2001

Southern District Director, Governor Bob Miller, 1995-1998

Offices

LAS VEGAS
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
P: (702) 388-5020   F: (702) 388-5030

WASHINGTON, DC
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
P: (202) 224-3542

RENO
400 South Virginia Street
Suite 902
Reno, NV 89501
P: (775) 686-5750   F: (775) 686-5757
RURAL MOBILE OFFICE
Serving Rural Nevada
P: (775) 225-1457

Contact

Email: Government

Web Links

Politics

Source: Government

My job is to fight for Nevada, and that’s why I joined committees focused on delivering for our state. I’m working to address high housing costs and keep consumers safe on the Banking and Housing committee, protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and build a fairer tax code on the Finance committee, create clean energy jobs and conserve our public lands in the Energy and Natural Resources committee, and ensure that the Tribal communities in Nevada have a seat at the table in the Indian Affairs committee.

Election Results

To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

Committees

FINANCE
Protecting working families is my top priority in the Finance Committee. I used to sit at my grandmother’s dining room table every Sunday and help her balance her checkbook to make sure she could stretch her Social Security and Medicare benefits enough to pay the bills, put food on the table, and get the medicine she needed. That’s why I’ve fought to protect Medicare and Medicaid and strengthen Social Security benefits while taking on the Big Pharma companies squeezing our families with high prices. I’ve gone after wasteful government spending, closed loopholes to reduce unemployment fraud, and ended taxpayer subsidies for lobbyists to eliminate some of the most outrageous abuses of taxpayer dollars.

BANKING, HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS
On the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, I’m focused on standing up for consumers and making it easier for Nevadans to get ahead. When failed bank executives abused taxpayer dollars, I’ve taken them on, and I’ve fought to protect Nevadans impacted by financial fraud and abuse. The affordable housing crisis is impacting Nevadans across the state, and I’ve worked hard to bring relief to working families, from urging the Federal Home Loan Bank system to support more affordable development to championing legislation to make it easier for families to purchase a home.

ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
The climate crisis is impacting our lives every day with increasingly common drought, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. That’s why my work as the subcommittee chair of Public Lands, Forests, and Mining on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been focused on utilizing Nevada’s abundant natural resources to unlock America’s clean energy future, and I’m fighting to make sure those good-paying clean energy jobs and opportunities are benefiting our working families. I’ve also fought to protect our environment and incredible public lands by ensuring Yucca Mountain remains dead, preserving the beauty of Lake Tahoe, and ending speculative drilling in the Ruby Mountains. Nevada is one of the most beautiful places in the country, and I’m fighting to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.

INDIAN AFFAIRS
My job is to represent all Nevadans, and I’ve worked to ensure the 28 Tribes, Bands, and Colonies in Nevada can get the support they need from the federal government. I led the fight to get Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act signed into law to combat the epidemic of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women and girls. When I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the American Rescue Plan, and the Inflation Reduction Act, I fought to make sure Indian Country wasn’t left behind and secured the largest investment for Tribal communities in history. I’m continuing the fight to improve access to clean water, build more affordable Native housing, strengthen our infrastructure, and to honor and respect the sacred Tribal lands in Nevada, including Avi Kwa Ame and Bahsahwahbee.

Voting Record

Finance

The Senate Finance Committee oversees policies on critical issues that impact Nevadans including: taxes, trade and tariffs, Social Security, health care such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), child welfare, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other important programs that support and strengthen Nevada seniors, families and workers.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

The Banking Committee oversees legislation in areas including, but not limited to: banking, monetary policy, insurance, financial markets, securities, housing, community development and mass transit, international trade and finance, and economic policy. The Banking Committee also works to protect consumers in areas such as credit card, housing, and financial rates.

Energy and Natural Resources

The Energy Committee oversees legislation and policy relating to: energy resources and development, including regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves and appliance standards; nuclear energy; Indian affairs; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, Federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing; territories and insular possessions; and water resources.

Indian Affairs

The Indian Affairs Committee oversees policy and legislation related to American Indians. These issues include, but are not limited to, Indian education, economic development, land management, trust responsibilities, health care, and claims against the United States. Additionally, all legislation proposed by Members of the Senate that specifically pertains to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives.

Rules and Administration

The Rules Committee oversees the rules and procedures within the Federal and Legislative government branches. The Committee has jurisdiction over federal elections, including the qualifications and credentials of Senators, contested elections, oversight of the Federal Election Commission and the Election Assistance Commission. The Committee oversees Senate procedures, rules, and buildings, and leads the planning of the Presidential Inauguration at the Capitol through the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

New Legislation

Issues

Source: Campaign page

atherine Cortez Masto is an independent voice for Nevada who works with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to strengthen our economy, create good-paying jobs, lower health care costs, and keep Nevadans safe.

Democracy & Governance

PROTECTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS

Catherine understands the value of every dollar. After becoming a first generation college graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, she worked at a construction company to save up money so she could pay for her dream of going to law school. When Catherine returned to Las Vegas, she helped her grandmother balance her checkbook every week — helping her figure out how she was going to make it off of her Social Security and Medicare benefits to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Those experiences shaped Catherine and taught her to respect Nevadans’ hard-earned money. In the Senate, she’s eliminated taxpayer subsidies for lobbyists and spearheaded efforts to reduce Medicare and unemployment fraud. She worked with Republican Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Jeff Flake of Arizona on legislation to eliminate wasteful government spending.

Economy & Jobs

STRENGTHENING NEVADA’S ECONOMY

Catherine is focused on making sure Nevada’s economy works for everyone, from small business owners to workers and the travel and tourism industry that supports so many jobs across the state. She was the deciding vote to pass an average of $3,000 in middle-class tax cuts to Nevada families because she knows Nevadans deserve to keep more of the money they earn.

When the coronavirus crushed Nevada’s economy, Catherine stood up and fought for emergency relief to save Nevada’s small businesses, workers, and communities that were hurting. She supported sending $1,400 stimulus checks to more than 1.6 million Nevadans. She personally fought for and secured millions in relief for communities and businesses that rely on tourism and she provided relief to help over 118,000 Nevada businesses keep their doors open and their employees paid.

In the Senate, Catherine works every day to strengthen Nevada’s economy and create more jobs for people in every community of the state. She voted to raise the minimum wage and worked with Democrats and Republicans to strengthen American manufacturing and set up a domestic supply chain of critical minerals, helping us compete with the Chinese government while creating jobs in Nevada.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill Catherine passed is making a big difference for communities across Nevada, helping spur our economic recovery and bringing thousands of new jobs to the state while funding critical road and bridge construction.

Environment & Energy

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

Catherine has been a champion for renewable energy, leading the fight for a solar tax credit that helps tackle climate change and create Nevada jobs. She also passed key provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill to help combat climate change by promoting electric vehicle development.

She has been steadfast in protecting Nevada’s public lands and natural resources. When the Trump administration wanted to dump nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, she blocked them repeatedly, and she’s leading legislation to make sure the failed Yucca Mountain project is never revisited again. She’s worked to protect the pristine Ruby Mountains from speculative drilling and to strengthen our $4 billion outdoor economy that supports 50,000 jobs in the state. She also worked with Nevada Republicans to prevent homes and businesses from flooding in the Truckee Meadows.

COMBATING DROUGHT AND WILDFIRES

As a lifelong Nevadan, Catherine has seen our state’s challenges with drought and wildfires get worse and worse, and she has led efforts to help Nevada fight back. She passed bipartisan legislation to address the wildfires blanketing our state in smoke and threatening Nevada communities and jobs, helping deliver a historic $3.4 billion to prevent and combat wildfires. She secured critical support for our heroic firefighters, including a pay raise and funds to hire additional firefighters, so they have the resources they need.

Catherine delivered bipartisan legislation to protect Nevada’s water supply. She secured $450 million for large-scale water recycling, funding a local project that will produce enough water to serve more than 500,000 households in the region.

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Catherine grew up in Nevada and wants to make sure every Nevada family can afford a safe place to live and call home. That’s why she has been a leader pushing to expand affordable housing, help families, seniors, and veterans access affordable housing, and combat housing discrimination.

After the financial crisis, Catherine worked to hold the Big Banks accountable and delivered $1.9 billion in relief to Nevada homeowners. She has made homeownership easier for thousands of Nevada families by working directly with the Treasury Department to secure down payment assistance for Nevadans in communities hit hardest by foreclosures.

And when Nevadans were struggling to make rent and pay for their mortgages during the pandemic, it was Catherine who stood up for them and delivered emergency housing relief so they could stay in their homes. She helped pass the American Rescue Plan and made sure to include emergency rental and mortgage assistance for Nevadans, helping protect our rural and tribal communities as well.

Catherine knows Nevadans deserve access to safe, affordable housing, so she’s leading the fight to stop housing discrimination that often targets women, people of color, and rural Nevadans. This includes shady lending practices that could leave Nevadans without a roof over their head.

DELIVERING FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

Catherine is always fighting for Nevada’s rural communities, working with anyone to deliver for them. She took on her own party and led the Senate fight to protect Nevada’s family farms and ranches from an unfair tax hike. She stood strong for Nevada’s mining industry, single-handedly stopping new mining taxes which would have hurt a critical rural industry and the tens of thousands of good-paying Nevada jobs it supports.

Catherine passed a bipartisan bill to ensure rural Nevadans have access to reliable high-speed internet, so students can achieve their academic potential and small businesses can grow and create jobs. And in response to a shortage of health care providers in rural Nevada, Catherine is leading the fight to increase the number of physicians in rural hospitals. She has also championed legislation to prevent insurers from leaving rural counties while stabilizing healthcare premiums.

Catherine also helped pass a bipartisan bill improving rural veterans’ access to mental health care by expanding locations where VA telehealth services are available. For nearly 10 long years, veterans waited as senators from both parties tried and failed to get a veterans cemetery built in Elko for rural Nevadans. Senator Cortez Masto worked with both parties and Nevada veterans to secure a deal with the VA to build the cemetery.

Health & Education

EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

Catherine repeatedly voted to defend the Affordable Care Act, blocking an “Age Tax” on older Nevadans and saving health care protections for 487,000 Nevadans with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, and cancer.

In the Senate, Catherine has focused on lowering health care costs so that quality care is more accessible for Nevada families. She successfully repealed a painful 40% tax on many middle class Nevadans’ health plans, a promise from her 2016 Senate campaign. When the coronavirus hit, she helped to cut the cost of health care coverage by an average of $444 per month and made over 40,000 Nevadans eligible for coverage. She made sure health insurance for thousands of out of work Nevadans was available at no cost.

Catherine has been the Senate leader on addressing mental health issues, focusing on delivering crisis services and improving student wellness after Nevada faced a surge of teen suicides during the pandemic. She wrote a bill to improve virtual peer-to-peer programs for Nevadans struggling during the pandemic – including kids, health care workers, and seniors, and with a Texas Republican, she introduced legislation to expand behavioral health crisis services in Nevada and across the country.

After watching her grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s, Catherine made it her mission to help those living with the disease and their caregivers. She co-authored bipartisan legislation, which was signed into law, that made historic public investments in the fight against Alzheimer’s. And she’s secured $1 million to get caregivers the support they deserve.

Catherine has consistently pushed to lower prescription drug costs by holding big pharmaceutical companies accountable for skyrocketing prices. She has pushed legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and to cap the cost of lifesaving insulin so that every Nevadan can get the medicine they need at an affordable price.

ENSURING NEVADA STUDENTS CAN ACCESS A QUALITY EDUCATION

Catherine grew up in Las Vegas and attended public schools. Throughout her time in public service, she has worked to protect students and make sure they can access the same great education she had. When Las Vegas faced a student suicide crisis during the pandemic, Catherine led efforts in the Senate to deliver funding so Nevada schools could safely reopen for in person learning, and she made sure to deliver funding to get students the mental health support they need. Catherine also led efforts in the Senate to deliver funding for more school counselors, increased teacher pay, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for teachers and students, and expanded after-school programs focused on students’ emotional well-being.

Catherine has worked to ensure all K-12 students in Nevada have internet access and delivered critical funding through pandemic relief and the bipartisan infrastructure law to ensure they can get online in and out of the classroom. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included her bipartisan bills to increase safety for student pedestrians, to improve air quality in schools, and to expand broadband in rural classrooms. She is leading bipartisan legislation with Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas to train more teachers to teach English learners.

Catherine and her sister were the first in their family to graduate from college, and she has worked to make higher education more affordable for students across Nevada. As Attorney General, she helped secure a major settlement from shady companies deceiving veterans into attending for-profit colleges and shut down their operations. Catherine knows the student loan system is broken and has fought to protect student borrowers, improve access to student loans, and allow students to refinance their loan debt at lower rates. She has led efforts to make it easier for members of our military to access public service loan forgiveness, and is pushing to ensure loans are forgiven for students who were victims of fraudulent colleges and universities. During the pandemic, Catherine’s legislation to allow student veterans to access their full housing benefit while attending classes online was signed into law.

Human Rights

DEFENDING A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Catherine has been a fierce leader in the fight for reproductive freedom, earning a 100% score in National Abortion Rights Action League’s (NARAL) Congressional Record on Choice every year she has served in the Senate. She is helping lead legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into law on a federal level and has vowed to protect women’s access to a full range of health care services no matter what.

She has helped lead the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine Roe protections into federal law and guarantee equal access to abortion in every corner of the nation.

Catherine was a vocal opponent of the Trump administration’s efforts to limit access to family planning and reproductive health care. She worked to block federal court nominees whose records showed they would roll back women’s health care and reproductive freedoms.

Public Safety

SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KEEPING NEVADA SAFE

As Nevada’s Attorney General, Catherine worked hand-in-hand with law enforcement to crack down on crimes and keep our communities safe. She led the fight to combat sex trafficking and introduced historic legislation that Republican Governor Brian Sandoval signed into law to enhance penalties on traffickers and expand resources for victims. Protecting Nevada’s seniors, homeowners, and veterans from fraud and abuse were among her top priorities. In 2012, she held the Big Banks accountable for their part of the financial crisis and secured $1.9 billion in relief for Nevada homeowners.

In the Senate, Catherine has worked tirelessly to get Nevada law enforcement the support and resources they need to keep our communities safe. She led both Democrats and Republicans and in calling to fully fund the largest source of assistance to local law enforcement agencies. And she secured federal funding to help the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the wake of the Route 91 massacre.

Catherine has been a Senate leader in the fight to protect women and girls. She helped pass bipartisan legislation making sure law enforcement has the necessary resources to fight sex trafficking and is leading a bill to ensure sexual assault survivors receive the help they deserve. Throughout her career, Catherine has worked to keep Native women safe, and she has led bipartisan efforts in the Senate with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to end the epidemic of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. Her landmark Savanna’s Act and Not Invisible Act to address this crisis were signed into law in 2020.

Catherine has led efforts to highlight the epidemic of law enforcement suicide, and her bipartisan legislation to combat this crisis was signed into law in 2020. She recently wrote and passed bipartisan legislation with Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa to expand access to much-needed mental health counseling for law enforcement officers to address the growing crisis of police suicides, which was signed into law in November 2021.

STRENGTHENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND SUPPORTING BATTLE BORN

VETERANS

Nevada has a long history of supporting our national security, and Catherine has helped lead efforts to protect the men and women serving our nation overseas. She helped pass two of the largest pay raises for service members in a decade, and works every year to make sure our Nevada military bases get the federal support they need.

For nearly 10 long years, veterans waited as senators from both parties tried and failed to get a veterans cemetery built in Elko — then Nevadans elected Catherine, and she delivered. Catherine worked with both parties and Nevada veterans to secure a deal with the VA to build the cemetery. When it comes to helping veterans, Catherine doesn’t take no for an answer.

Catherine has passed multiple bills to help veterans by extending benefits to our heroes harmed by Agent Orange, promoting critical treatments for veterans struggling with mental illnesses, and significantly overhauling U.S. military housing.

STANDING WITH DREAMERS AND FIXING OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

Catherine believes we can and must allow Nevadans who who work hard — and play by the rules — to have a chance to succeed. That’s why she’s proud to stand with Dreamers and continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform — including a pathway to citizenship.

In the Senate she has voted for billions of dollars in border security funding in order to stop the flow of drugs across our border, just as she did as Nevada’s Attorney General. She is determined to fix our broken immigration system by funding border security and protecting our immigrant communities, including a path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, essential workers, and farm workers who have been forced to live in the shadows.

Catherine is leading legislation that would make essential fixes to our broken immigration system as well as crack down on fraudsters that take advantage of hard-working immigrant families. She has pushed administrations of both parties to make sure that DACA is working to protect Dreamers, and she fought back when the Trump administration forcibly separated babies from their mothers.

PROTECTING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

Catherine has dedicated her career to protecting women from violence and sexual assault, and in the Senate, she has led efforts to address the epidemic of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. Teaming up with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Catherine passed two bills, Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act. They were signed into law in 2020 to ensure that the federal government is better equipped to prevent violent crime against Indigenous women and girls.

Catherine has worked to provide Native American communities across Nevada with access to quality health care, securing coronavirus relief funding for the Indian Health Services and additional funding for tribes and urban Indian health organizations to address mental health needs for these communities. She is leading legislation to address dire doctor and nurse shortages in Indian Country, and helped push legislation to address health disparities for Native Americans in urban areas.

Catherine has focused on delivering federal resources to improve transportation, roads, bridges, schools, and housing in Native communities. Through the American Rescue Plan, Catherine helped secure the largest investment in Native programs in history, including Native education and housing, which she has helped deliver to tribes across Nevada. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law she supported included historic funding for tribal transportation programs, including aging tribal bridges, improved access to clean water for Indian Country, and improved tribal broadband.

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

Wikipedia

In this article, the surname is Cortez Masto, not Masto.

Catherine Marie Cortez Masto (born March 29, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Nevada, a seat she has held since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Cortez Masto served as the 32nd attorney general of Nevada from 2007 to 2015.

Cortez Masto graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and Gonzaga University School of Law. She worked four years as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and two years as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. before being elected Nevada attorney general in 2006, replacing George Chanos. Reelected in 2010, she was not eligible to run for a third term in 2014 because of lifetime term limits established by the Constitution of Nevada.

Cortez Masto narrowly defeated Republican Joe Heck in the 2016 United States Senate election in Nevada to replace outgoing Democratic senator Harry Reid, becoming the first woman elected to represent Nevada in the Senate and the first Latina elected to serve in the upper chamber.[1] She took office on January 3, 2017, and became Nevada’s senior senator in January 2019, when Dean Heller left the Senate following his defeat. She was narrowly reelected in 2022, defeating Republican nominee Adam Laxalt.[2]

Early life and education

Cortez Masto was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, the daughter of Joanna (née Musso) and Manny Cortez.[3] Her father, an attorney, was the longtime head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and served as a member of the Clark County Commission.[4] Now deceased, Manny Cortez had a long-standing friendship with Harry Reid.[5] Her father was of Mexican descent, and her mother is of Italian ancestry.[6][7] Her paternal grandfather, Eduardo Cortez, immigrated to Nevada from Chihuahua, Mexico.[8][9][10]

Cortez Masto attended Ed W. Clark High School,[11] and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1986 and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1990.[12]

Early career

Cortez Masto was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1990, the U.S. District Court, the District of Nevada in 1991, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1994. Her career includes four years as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and two as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. She also served as former Nevada Governor Bob Miller‘s chief of staff.[5]

In November 2003, Cortez Masto was named executive vice chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education. There was some controversy, because she was hired directly by the chancellor, not the university system’s board of regents; the chancellor said the regents had recommended that he hire an assistant, and in December the board voted unanimously to approve her annual salary of $215,000.[13][14]

Nevada Attorney General

Cortez Masto with then-California Attorney General (and later Senate colleague and vice president) Kamala Harris in December 2011

Cortez Masto was the Democratic nominee for state attorney general in 2006 and defeated Republican nominee Don Chairez 59% to 36%, with 5% for “None of these”.[15] She was reelected in 2010, defeating Republican Travis Barrick 52% to 36%, with 8% for Independent American candidate Joel F. Hansen and 4% for “None of these”.[16]

In 2009, Cortez Masto’s office launched an investigation into Brian Krolicki, then Nevada’s Republican lieutenant governor. Krolicki faced felony charges related to allegations that he mishandled the Nevada College Savings Trust Fund when he was state treasurer. During the investigation, the Las Vegas Review-Journal discovered that Cortez Masto’s husband, Paul, planned to host a fundraising party for Robert S. Randazzo, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, four days before the attorney general’s office was scheduled to prosecute Krolicki. Cortez Masto said she was unaware of the fundraising party.[17] The charges against Krolicki were ultimately dismissed in Clark County District Court.[18] The dismissal of charges against Krolicki was regarded as a political setback for Cortez Masto, who, according to the Las Vegas Sun, “opened herself to charges of politicizing her office and prosecutorial misconduct”.[19]

In 2010, Cortez Masto’s office began investigating Bank of America, accusing the company of raising interest rates on troubled borrowers. Her office sought to end Nevada’s participation in a loan modification settlement in order to sue the bank over deceptive marketing and lending practices. Bank of America denied any wrongdoing.[20] The lawsuit was settled in 2012 for $750 million for lien reductions and short sales.[21]

Cortez Masto defended the state of Nevada in the lawsuit Sevcik v. Sandoval. The suit challenged Nevada’s denial of same-sex marriage, as prohibited by the state’s constitution and statutory law. After initially defending the same-sex marriage ban,[22] Cortez Masto and the state abandoned their defense in light of a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[23]

U.S. Senate

Cortez Masto being sworn in as a U.S. senator by Vice President Joe Biden
Cortez Masto during the 115th Congress
Maggie Hassan speaking with Cortez Masto at a Senate committee hearing in June 2017

Elections

2016

Main article: 2016 United States Senate election in Nevada

Cortez Masto declined to run for governor of Nevada in the 2014 election.[24] When U.S. Senator Harry Reid decided not to run for reelection in the 2016 election, he endorsed her as his successor.[5] Cortez Masto’s campaign relied heavily on the political infrastructure Reid had assembled.[25] Her Republican opponent was U.S. Representative Joe Heck.

Cortez Masto, who supports increased investments in renewable energy technology, was supported by the League of Conservation Voters.[26] She was also financially supported by pro-choice groups, such as EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood, and by End Citizens United, a political action committee seeking to overturn Citizens United v. FEC.[27]

Cortez Masto won 47% of the vote (520,658 votes) to Heck’s 45% (494,427 votes). While Heck carried 16 of Nevada’s counties and its equivalents, Cortez Masto won Clark County, home to over 70% of the state’s population, by over 82,000 votes, over three times her statewide margin of 27,000 votes.[1] She took office on January 3, 2017, becoming the first Latina in the U.S. Senate.[28]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States Senate election in Nevada

On February 24, 2021, Cortez Masto announced that she would run for reelection in 2022.[29] Among her challengers was her successor as attorney general and 2018 nominee for governor Adam Laxalt.[30] Cortez Masto trailed in many polls and was widely seen as the most vulnerable incumbent Democratic U.S. senator. But she narrowly defeated Laxalt, securing a second term.[2][31]

Tenure

Cortez Masto was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. She was on the Senate floor, preparing to speak, when the Capitol was breached. Cortez Masto could hear the attackers just outside the chamber, which was secured by Capitol Police. As the attackers neared the chamber, she and her fellow senators were moved to an undisclosed secure location.[32] Cortez Masto tweeted while sheltering in place, calling the attack “un-American and unacceptable”.[33]

119th United States Congress Committee assignments

Source:[34]

Caucus memberships

Nomination of Adeel Mangi to Federal Appeals Court

In March 2024, Cortez Masto announced she would not support President Biden’s nomination of Adeel Mangi to the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, citing his association with the Alliance of Families for Justice, a criminal justice reform group that advocates on behalf of families affected by mass incarceration.[37] His nomination remained blocked, and in November 2024 it was withdrawn, leaving the position open for the incoming Trump administration to fill.[38]

Political positions

As of October 2022, Cortez Masto has voted in line with Joe Biden‘s stated position 92.9% of the time.[39]

Cannabis

Cortez Masto cosponsored the bipartisan STATES Act proposed in the 115th U.S. Congress by senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Gardner that would exempt individuals or corporations in compliance with state cannabis laws from federal enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act.[40]

Environment

Cortez Masto recognizes the existence of human-caused climate change and believes that the federal government should limit power plants’ greenhouse gas emissions.[41] She supports the growth of green jobs and increasing Nevada’s reliance on solar power and other forms of clean energy. She opposes the use of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.[42] Cortez Masto was a member of the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, which published a report of its findings in August 2020.[43]

Filibuster

Cortez Masto supports reforming the filibuster of the United States Senate into a talking filibuster.[44][45][46]

Foreign policy

In October 2017, Cortez Masto condemned the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and called for a stronger response to the crisis.[47]

Cortez Mastro was one of the 23 Democratic Senators, a minority of Senate Democrats, who voted for and supported arms sales to Israel amidst the Gaza starvation in August 2025.[48]

Gun policy

The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has given Cortez Masto an F grade because of her support for gun control.[49] During the 2016 election, the organization spent $1 million on an attack ad against her.[50] Cortez Masto opposes allowing people on the terrorist watchlist to buy guns, saying that “makes no sense”.[51]

In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, she co-sponsored a bill with Dianne Feinstein to ban bump stocks. She said that it can be a start toward decreasing gun violence and mass shootings.[52]

Health care

Cortez Masto does not support the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).[41] She does support improving upon the act, which she has called “imperfect”. She has co-sponsored the Marketplace Certainty Act to bring more stability to the health insurance marketplace.[53]

Immigration

In June 2019, following the Housing and Urban Development Department’s confirmation that DACA recipients did not meet eligibility for federal backed loans, Cortez Masto and 11 other senators introduced the Home Ownership Dreamers Act, legislation that mandated that the federal government was not authorized to deny mortgage loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Agriculture Department solely due to applicants’ immigration status.[54]

In July 2019, Cortez Masto and 15 other Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which mandated that ICE agents get approval from a supervisor ahead of engaging in enforcement actions at sensitive locations, except in special circumstances, and that agents receive annual training in addition to being required to report annually on enforcement actions in those locations.[55]

LGBT rights

Cortez Masto supports same-sex marriage.[41]

Reproductive rights

Cortez Masto supports legalized abortion.[41] In the 2016 election, she was endorsed by Planned Parenthood and funded by their action fund.[56]

She does not believe that companies should be allowed to withhold coverage for birth control based on religious beliefs.[41]

Puerto Rico

In July 2024, Cortez Masto began working with a committee to plan to sponsor legislation granting Puerto Rico a self-determination referendum with federal repeal.[57]

Personal life

Cortez Masto lives in Las Vegas with her husband, Paul Masto, a retired United States Secret Service special agent.[58] She is Roman Catholic.[59][60][61]

Electoral history

2006 Attorney General election in Nevada[62]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticCatherine Cortez Masto 339,465 59.04% +25.32%
RepublicanDon Chairez204,81635.62%−22.85%
None of These Candidates30,6945.34%+1.56%
Total votes 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
2010 Attorney General election in Nevada[63]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticCatherine Cortez Masto (incumbent) 372,010 52.89% −6.15%
RepublicanTravis Barrick251,26935.73%+0.14%
IndependentJoel Hansen54,9807.67%
None of These Candidates26,0723.71%-1.63%
Total votes 100%
Democratic hold
2016 United States Senate election in Nevada – Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticCatherine Cortez Masto 81,944 81.0%
DemocraticAllen Rheinhart5,6456.0%
DemocraticNone of these candidates5,4985.0%
DemocraticLiddo Susan O’Briant4,8345.0%
DemocraticBobby Mahendra3,7603.0%
Total votes101,681 100.0%
2016 United States Senate election in Nevada[64]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticCatherine Cortez Masto 521,994 47.10% −3.19%
RepublicanJoe Heck495,07944.67%+0.12%
n/aNone of these Candidates42,2573.81%+1.56%
Independent AmericanTom Jones17,1281.55%+1.11%
IndependentThomas Sawyer14,2081.28%N/A
IndependentTony Gumina10,7400.97%N/A
IndependentJarrod Williams6,8880.62%N/A
Total votes1,108,294 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold
2022 United States Senate election in Nevada[65]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticCatherine Cortez Masto (incumbent) 498,316 48.81% +1.71%
RepublicanAdam Laxalt490,38848.04%+3.37%
None of These Candidates12,4411.22%-2.59%
IndependentBarry Lindemann8,0750.79%N/A
LibertarianNeil Scott6,4220.63%N/A
Independent AmericanBarry Rubinson5,2080.51%−1.04%
Total votes1,020,850 100.0%
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ a b “2016 Nevada Senate Election Results”. Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Korecki, Natasha (November 13, 2022). “Cortez Masto defeats Laxalt in Nevada, handing Democrats control of the Senate”. NBC News. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Las Vegas High School Alumni Association: “MANUEL J. CORTEZ (Class of 1956)” retrieved February 15, 2016.
  4. ^ “Former Las Vegas convention chief Cortez dies at 67”. Las Vegas Sun. June 19, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Drusch, Andrea (March 27, 2015). “Meet the Woman Harry Reid Wants to Replace Him in the Senate”. National Journal. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  6. ^ “Catherine Cortez Masto for Senate — Catherine Cortez Masto Launches Spanish-Language”. Catherinecortezmasto.com. March 14, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  7. ^ Trout, Keith (August 14, 2015). “Senate candidate attends Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner”. Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2020. A Las Vegas native and University of Nevada, Reno graduate, Cortez Masto said she is half-Mexican and half-Sicilian and represents the American dream, noting she was the first in her family to attend college
  8. ^ Everett, Burgess (September 23, 2016). “Cortez Masto seizes on ‘hispandering’ attack”. Politico. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  9. ^ Snyder, Riley (September 23, 2016). “Nevada Republican Senate hopeful Joe Heck launches first TV ad of general election campaign”. KTNV. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  10. ^ “Manuel Cortez-Obituary”. Review Journal Obituaries. September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Kimmel, Jimmy [@jimmykimmel] (November 4, 2022). “Nevada, seriously…” (Tweet). Retrieved November 4, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ “Alumni Profile: Catherine Cortez Masto”. Gonzaga School of Law. March 19, 2014. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  13. ^ McCabe, Francis (November 25, 2014). “Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto named to higher ed post”. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  14. ^ Barnes, Bethany (December 16, 2014). “Regents approve Masto’s $215,000 salary as executive vice chancellor”. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas, NV. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  15. ^ “State Results: Attorney General”. Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. November 9, 2006. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ “Results: Congress, Statewide Offices; Attorney General”. Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. November 9, 2006. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Vogel, Ed (November 24, 2009). “Krolicki case might take twist”. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  18. ^ McCoy, Cara (December 7, 2009). “Charges dismissed against Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  19. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (December 8, 2009). “Cortez Masto’s shining star dims after Krolicki decision”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  20. ^ Morgenson, Gretchen (August 30, 2011). “Nevada Says Bank Broke Mortgage Settlement”. The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  21. ^ Rosenblatt, Joel (February 9, 2012). “Bank of America Settles With Nevada Attorney General Masto”. Bloomberg Business. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  22. ^ Whaley, Sean (January 22, 2014). “Nevada legal brief defends state’s same-sex marriage ban”. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  23. ^ Ford, Zack (February 11, 2014). “Nevada Abandons Its Defense Of Same-Sex Marriage Ban”. ThinkProgress. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  24. ^ Doughman, Andrew (September 19, 2013). “Cortez Masto: I’m not running for governor”. Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  25. ^ Kane, Paul (November 17, 2015). “Harry Reid, retiring but betting big on Nevada for Democratic Senate majority”. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  26. ^ Botkin, Ben (September 25, 2016). “Climate change becoming increasingly visible campaign issue in Nevada”. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  27. ^ Botkin, Ben (October 2, 2016). “Outside spending groups pump millions into political races in Nevada”. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  28. ^ Philipps, Dave (November 9, 2016). “Catherine Cortez Masto Wins Nevada to Become First Latina Senator”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  29. ^ Sanchez, Humberto (February 24, 2021). “Cortez Masto launches 2022 re-election bid”. The Nevada Independent. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  30. ^ Steinhauser, Paul (August 17, 2021). “Nevada Senate race: Laxalt launches Republican run in state that is a top GOP 2022 target”. Fox News.
  31. ^ Weisman, Jonathan (November 12, 2022). “Democrats Hold the Senate, as Cortez Masto Ekes Out a Victory in Nevada”. The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  32. ^ Charns, David (January 8, 2021). “‘They said, ‘move, move, move,’ Nevada’s Cortez-Masto details Capitol riot”. KLAS. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  33. ^ McGinness, Brett (January 6, 2021). “Pro-Trump rioters in U.S. Capitol: Where are Nevada’s delegates? What we know now”. Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  34. ^ “U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 119th Congress”. www.senate.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  35. ^ “Members”. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  36. ^ “Members”. Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  37. ^ Raymond, Nate; Raymond, Nate (March 20, 2024). “Senate Democrat opposes Muslim appellate court nominee Mangi”. Reuters. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  38. ^ “Senate Dems sacrifice circuit judges in late-night deal with GOP”. www.courthousenews.com. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  39. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  40. ^ Sadler, John (May 10, 2019). “The status of marijuana lounges, banking and legislation in Nevada”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2022. On a federal level, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., has co-sponsored legislation that would allow marijuana businesses in legal states to bank without fear of money laundering accusation.
  41. ^ a b c d e “Joe Heck vs. Catherine Cortez Masto: Nonpartisan Candidate Guide For 2016 Nevada Senate Race”. Huffington Post. October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  42. ^ Akers, Mick (February 24, 2017). “Cortez Masto, clean energy advocates cite concerns about EPA under Pruitt”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  43. ^ “Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis | Senate Democratic Leadership”. www.democrats.senate.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  44. ^ “Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto on why the filibuster rule should change”. NPR.org. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  45. ^ “Cortez Masto Calls for Filibuster Reform | U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada”. www.cortezmasto.senate.gov. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  46. ^ “Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto Is Latest To Back Filibuster Reform”. HuffPost. March 9, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  47. ^ Hussein, Fatima (October 22, 2017). “Sen. Todd Young urges action to end Muslim genocide in Myanmar”. IndyStar. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  48. ^ Lyle, Michael (August 5, 2025). “Rosen, Cortez Masto back weapons sale to Israel as world shudders at starvation in Gaza”. Nevada Current. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  49. ^ “NRA-PVF | Grades | Nevada”. nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  50. ^ Kerry Eleveld (September 27, 2016). “NRA gears up to drop $1 million-plus attacking Cortez Masto in Nevada”. Daily Kos. Kos Media. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  51. ^ Smith, Anthony (October 2, 2017). “After massacre, Nevada’s members of Congress are sending “thoughts and prayers.”“. Mic. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  52. ^ “Senator Catherine Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill On Gun Control and Releases Statement on Las Vegas Shooting”. 2 News. October 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  53. ^ Gonzalez, Yvonne (July 7, 2017). “Cortez Masto highlights dangers of Obamacare repeal”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  54. ^ Alvarado, Monsy (June 21, 2019). “Bob Menendez, Cory Booker and others introduce bill to protect home loans for DACA holders”. northjersey.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  55. ^ Self, Zac (July 11, 2019). “Bill would block immigration raids at schools, courthouses”. 10news.com.
  56. ^ Messerly, Megan (August 10, 2016). “Cortez Masto ad goes after Heck on abortion stance”. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  57. ^ Acevedo Irizarry, Marielys (July 9, 2024). “Senadora demócrata Catherine Cortez Masto reprogramará audiencia en subcomité para plebiscito de estatus en Puerto Rico”. El Diario. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  58. ^ “About Catherine”. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  59. ^ Hertzke, Allen D.; Olson, Laura R.; Den Dulk, Kevin R.; Fowler, Robert Booth (August 6, 2018). Religion and Politics in America: Faith, Culture, and Strategic Choices. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-94735-3.
  60. ^ “‘It’s About Time’: 1st Latina Senator, 7 new Latinos sworn in House”. NBC News. January 4, 2017.
  61. ^ “As Catholics and Americans, we can’t sit by while our country destroys the planet”. America Magazine. November 30, 2017.
  62. ^ “2006 Attorney General General Election Results – Nevada”. Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. January 30, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  63. ^ “Nevada Election 2010”. New York Times. November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  64. ^ “Silver State Election Night Results 2016”. Nevada Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  65. ^ “Silver State 2022 – General Election Results – U.S. Senate”. Nevada Secretary of State.
Legal offices
Preceded by

 Attorney General of Nevada
2007–2015		Succeeded by

Party political offices
Preceded by

 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Nevada
(Class 3)
2016, 2022		Most recent
Preceded by

 Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
2019–2021		Succeeded by

U.S. Senate
Preceded by

Harry Reid
 United States Senator (Class 3) from Nevada
2017–present
Served alongside: Dean Heller, Jacky Rosen		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

 Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator 		Succeeded by

Preceded by

 United States senators by seniority
62nd


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Cortez_Masto