Nevada U.S. Senator (Class 3) — Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto is a Democrat from Nevada who has served as a U.S. Senator since 2017, becoming the first woman from Nevada and first Latina ever elected to the Senate. She previously served as Nevada's 32nd Attorney General (2007-2015) and worked as a federal prosecutor and civil attorney. Cortez Masto earned her B.S. in Finance from University of Nevada-Reno (1986) and J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law (1990).
Address inflation and rising costs for Nevada families, particularly on housing, food, and energy
Status: ongoing
Cortez Masto made cost-of-living relief central to her 2022 campaign, focusing on inflation and housing affordability. She voted for the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), which included deficit reduction, lower prescription drug costs, and climate investments. She re-introduced the Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act (2023) targeting oil price gouging. For housing, she secured $500 million for middle-class housing in Nevada, championed the HOME Act and PRICE Act to address affordable housing crisis, and pressured the Federal Home Loan Bank system for Nevada support. However, Nevada remains short approximately 78,000 affordable rental units, and housing costs remain elevated.
Protect Social Security and Medicare, fight Big Pharma price gouging
Status: ongoing
Cortez Masto has consistently voted to protect Social Security and Medicare. In 2022 campaign, she emphasized combating Big Pharma price gouging. The Inflation Reduction Act she supported includes provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $35/month for insulin. She co-sponsored legislation to expand Medicare's drug-price negotiation powers.
Support clean energy and fight climate change, create green jobs in Nevada
Status: ongoing
Cortez Masto serves as Subcommittee Chair of Public Lands, Forests, and Mining on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She voted for the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), which included historic climate investments, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021). She secured provisions for Nevada's mining and battery industries and renewable energy tax credits. However, she has faced criticism for supporting her Clark County lands bill, which would expand public land sales for development, a position critics argue contradicts her climate and conservation rhetoric. The bill has drawn opposition from environmental groups and constituents.
Support reproductive rights and protect abortion access
Status: completed
Throughout 2022 campaign, Cortez Masto made abortion access a key campaign pillar. She stated she 'fully supports' abortion rights and was endorsed by Planned Parenthood. After Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, she continued vocal support for abortion access, highlighting Nevada's statute protecting abortions up to 24 weeks.
Fight for immigrant rights and repair broken immigration system, support Dreamers
Status: ongoing
Cortez Masto campaigned on supporting Dreamers and comprehensive immigration reform. In January 2026, she introduced the PUBLIC SAFETY Act to redirect ICE funding to community police departments after concerns over ICE use of force. In February 2025, she declared opposition to Trump's birthright citizenship proposal. However, critics note she also voted to increase CBP and ICE budgets in 2022 fiscal year and initially opposed Biden's Title 42 lift, illustrating more centrist positioning on immigration enforcement.
