African-American legislators The Nevada Legislature has included 29 self-identified African-Americans, the first being elected in 1966. There are ten African-American legislators serving as of the 2020 special sessions, including Speaker Jason Frierson.
Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes Woodrow WilsonRepublican Clark No. 4 1966-1972 - Later served on the Clark County Commission Marion D. Bennett Democratic Clark No. 6 1972-1982 - Cranford L. Crawford Jr. Democratic Clark No. 7 1972-1974 - Joe Neal Democratic Clark No. 4 - 1972-2004 First African American elected to the SenateRetiredTerm Limited Lonnie Chaney Democratic Clark No. 7 1974-1984 - Eugene Collins Democratic Clark No. 6 1982-1986 - Changed party affiliation on August 27, 1965 Morse Arberry Jr. Democratic Clark No. 7 1984-2010 - RetiredTerm Limited Thomas Batten Republican Washoe No. 27 1994-1996 - Bernice Mathews Democratic Washoe No. 1 - 1994-2010 First African American woman elected to the SenateRetiredTerm Limited Maurice Washington Republican Washoe No. 2 - 1994-2010 RetiredTerm Limited Wendell Williams Democratic Clark No. 6 1986-2004 - RetiredTerm Limited Kelvin Atkinson Democratic Clark No. 17 (Assembly)District No. 4 (Senate) 2002-2012 2012-2019 First African American elected to serve in both Houses of the LegislatureServed as Senate Majority Leader in 2019First openly LGBT Senate Majority Leader in NevadaResigned after being charged with campaign finance felony William Horne Democratic Clark No. 34 2002-2014 - RetiredTerm Limited Harvey Munford Democratic Clark No. 6 2004-2016 - RetiredTerm Limited Steven Horsford Democratic Clark No. 4 - 2004-2012 First African-American Senate Majority LeaderRan for Nevada's 4th congressional district in 2012 and won; lost re-election in 2014 and then regained the seat in 2016 Steven Brooks Democratic District No. 17 2010-2013 - Expelled from the Assembly on March 28, 2013 for crimes committed while in office Jason Frierson Democratic District No. 8 2010-2014, 2016- - Speaker of the Assembly since 2017 (first African-American to serve as Speaker of the Nevada Assembly) Dina Neal Democratic District No. 7 2010- - Daughter of Senator Joe NealFirst African American woman elected to the Assembly Patricia Spearman Democratic District No. 1 - 2012- First openly gay woman in the SenateFirst openly gay person of color in the Legislature Aaron D. Ford Democratic District No. 11 - 2012-2018 Senate Majority Leader from 2014-2018 Ran for Nevada Attorney General in 2018 and won Tyrone Thompson Democratic District No. 1 2013-2019 - Appointed in 2013 to replace Steven BrooksDied in office William McCurdy II Democratic District No. 6 2016- - Brittney Miller Democratic District No. 5 2016- - Daniele Monroe-Moreno Democratic District No. 1 2016- - Alexander Assefa Democratic District No. 42 2018- - First African-born person in the Legislature Howard Watts III Democratic District No. 15 2018- - Dallas Harris Democratic District No. 11 - 2018- Marcia Washington Democratic District No. 4 - 2019- Kasina Douglass-Boone Democratic District No. 17 2020- -
Hispanic/Latino legislators The Nevada Legislature has included 22 self-identified Hispanic/Latino legislators, the first being elected in 1874 with 70 years until the next Hispanic legislator was elected. There are ten Latino legislators currently serving as of the 2020 special sessions.
Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes Pablo Laveaga Democratic Humboldt County 1874-1878 - William Martinez Democratic White Pine County 1944-1948 - Served as Speaker Pro Tempore in 1945 Bob Coffin Democratic Clark No. 9 (Assembly)Clark No. 3 (Senate) 1982-1986 1986-2010 First Hispanic to serve in both houses of the LegislatureTerm Limited in 2010Successfully ran for Las Vegas City Council Brian Sandoval Republican Washoe No. 25 1994-1998 - Ran for Governor of Nevada in 2010 and won and later won re-election in 2014 John Oceguera Democratic Clark No. 16 2000-2012 - Served as Speaker of the Assembly in 2011Ran for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2012 and lost Mo Denis Democratic District No. 28 (Assembly)District No. 2 (Senate) 2004-2010 2010- Served as Senate Majority Leader in 2013 (first Latino Majority Leader in Nevada) Ruben Kihuen Democratic District No. 11 (Assembly)District No. 10 (Senate) 2006-2010 2010-2016 Ran for Nevada's 4th congressional district in 2016 and wonResigned from Congress due to sexual harassment committed during Nevada legislative career Irene Bustamante Adams Democratic District No. 42 2010-2018 - Lucy Flores Democratic District No. 28 2010-2014 - Ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada in 2014 and lost Olivia Diaz Democratic District No. 11 2010-2018 - Ran for Las Vegas City Council in 2019 and won. Teresa Benitez-Thompson Democratic District No. 27 2010- - Richard Carrillo Democratic District No. 18 2010- - Steven Brooks Democratic District No. 19 2010-2013 - Expelled from the Assembly on March 28, 2013 for crimes committed while in office Edgar Flores Democratic District No. 28 2014- - Nelson Araujo Democratic District No. 3 2014-2018 - Ran for Secretary of State of Nevada in 2018 and lost Victoria Seaman Republican District No. 34 2014-2016 - Ran for re-election and lostRan for Las Vegas City Council in 2019 and won Sandra Jauregui Democratic District No. 41 2016- - Daniele Monroe-Moreno Democratic District No. 1 2016- - Yvanna Cancela Democratic District No. 10 - 2016- Susie Martinez Democratic District No. 12 2018- - Selena Torres Democratic District No. 3 2018- - Bea Duran Democratic District No. 11 2018- -
Asian American legislators There have been three self-identified Asian Americans to serve in the Nevada Legislature. Although Sharron Angle said at a campaign stop in 2010 when running against Harry Reid for the United States Senate that, "I've been called the first Asian legislator in our Nevada State Assembly, " Angle never in fact identified herself as Asian American. One Asian-American legislator is currently serving as of the 2020 special sessions.
Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes Robert Wong Republican Clark No. 15 1990-1992 - Francis Allen Republican Clark No. 4 2004-2008 - Defeated in the 2008 primary election Rochelle Nguyen Democratic District No. 10 2018- -
Native American legislators The Nevada Legislature has had one self-identified Native American member, with none serving as of the 2020 special sessions. Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes John Oceguera Democratic District No. 16 2000-2012 - Enrolled member of Walker River Paiute TribeSpeaker of Assembly in 2011 (first Native American Speaker in Nevada)
LGBT legislators The Nevada Legislature has had six members who identify with the LGBT community, with two serving as of the 2020 special sessions.
Legislator Party Area Represented/District Assembly Term Senate Term Notes David Parks Democratic District 41 (Assembly)District 7 (Senate) 1996-2008 2008- Term Limited in the Assembly Successfully ran for Senate in 2008Lost a Primary Election to succeed Rory Reid on the Clark County Commission in 2010, remained in the Senate James Healey Democratic District 35 2012-2014 - Ran for re-election and lost Andrew Martin Democratic District 9 2012-2014 - Ran for Nevada State Controller in 2014 and lost Patricia Spearman Democratic District 1 - 2012- Defeated sitting Senator John Lee in a Democratic Primary Kelvin Atkinson Democratic District 17 (Assembly)District 4 (Senate) 2002-2012 2012-2019 Came out during floor debate on the repeal of the ban of same gender marriage in April 2013 Senate Majority Leader in 2019 (first openly LGBT Majority Leader)Resigned in 2019 due to federal campaign finance charges Nelson Araujo Democratic District 3 2014-2018 -
See also Nevada State Capitol Nevada Assembly Nevada Senate
References