The 2016 United States Senate election in Nevada was held November 8, 2016 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Nevada, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The state primary election was held June 14, 2016.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Minority Leader and former Senate Majority Leader, initially said he would seek re-election to a sixth term, but announced on March 26, 2015, that he would retire instead. Democratic former State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto defeated Republican U.S. Representative Joe Heck in the general election on November 8, 2016. Heck won sixteen of the state's seventeen counties; however, since Cortez Masto won Clark County, which comprises nearly three-quarters of the state's population, she defeated Heck statewide by almost 27,000 votes, and became the first female and first Latina senator in Nevada's history. As of 2025, this would be the last time Washoe County voted for a Republican Senate candidate.
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Catherine Cortez Masto, former Nevada Attorney General Bobby Mahendra Liddo Susan O'Briant, instructional assistant Allen Rheinhart, Black Lives Matter activist and candidate for governor in 2014
Withdrew Harry Reid, incumbent U.S. senator
Declined Shelley Berkley, former U.S. representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Lucy Flores, former state assemblywoman and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014 (lost primary for NV-04) Steven Horsford, former U.S. representative John Lee, Mayor of North Las Vegas, former state senator and candidate for NV-04 in 2012 Kate Marshall, former state treasurer of Nevada, nominee for Nevada's 2nd congressional district in 2011 and nominee for Secretary of State of Nevada in 2014 Ross Miller, former secretary of state of Nevada and nominee for Nevada Attorney General in 2014 Rory Reid, former Clark County Commissioner, nominee for governor in 2010 and son of U.S. Senator Harry Reid Steve Sisolak, chairman of the Clark County Commission Dina Titus, U.S. representative and nominee for Governor of Nevada in 2006 (running for re-election)
Democratic endorsements
Results
Republican primary Candidates Declared Sharron Angle, former state assemblywoman, nominee for this seat in 2010 and candidate for NV-02 in 2006 D'Nese Davis, artist and teacher Eddie Hamilton, retired auto executive and perennial candidate Joe Heck, U.S. representative Thomas "Sad Tom" Heck, retired air force officer Robert Leeds, author, retired Merchant Marine and perennial candidate Carlo "Mazunga" Poliak, retired sanitation worker and perennial candidate Juston Preble, sales consultant Bill Tarbell, retired minister and candidate for governor in 2014
Withdrawn Bob Beers, Las Vegas City Councilman, former state senator and candidate for governor in 2006
Declined Mark Amodei, U.S. representative (running for re-election) Greg Brower, state senator and former United States Attorney for the District of Nevada Barbara Cegavske, Secretary of State of Nevada, former state senator and candidate for NV-04 in 2012 Heidi Gansert, former state assemblywoman and former chief of staff to Governor Brian Sandoval Cresent Hardy, U.S. representative (lost re-election to NV-04) Steve Hill, executive director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development Mark Hutchison, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and former state senator Ron Knecht, Nevada State Controller, former regent of the University of Nevada, Reno and former state assemblyman Brian Krolicki, former lieutenant governor of Nevada Adam Laxalt, Nevada Attorney General Michael Roberson, Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate (running for NV-03) Wayne Allyn Root, former member of the Libertarian National Committee and Libertarian Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2008 Brian Sandoval, Governor of Nevada Dan Schwartz, state treasurer and candidate for NV-04 in 2012
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JoeHeck SharronAngle Other UndecidedPublic Opinion StrategiesPublic Opinion Strategies March 28–30, 2016 500 ± 4.38% 67% 11% 3% 17%
Results
Independent American primary Candidates Declared Tom Jones, retired businessman and perennial candidate
Libertarian primary Candidates Declined Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch (running for the State Senate)
Independents Candidates Declared Tony Gumina, physician and businessman Tom Sawyer, retired railroad worker G.A. Villa (not on final ballot) Jarrod M. Williams, veteran
General election Debates Dates Location Cortez Masto Heck LinkOctober 14, 2016North Las Vegas, NevadaParticipantParticipantFull debate
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2016
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeHeck (R) Candidates Other UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 1,207 (LV) ± 4.6% 50% 45% — — 5%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing November 3–6, 2016 1,158 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 43% — — 8%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31 – November 6, 2016 1,124 (LV) ± 4.6% 49% 46% — — 5%Emerson CollegeEmerson College November 4–5, 2016 600 (LV) ± 3.9% 48% 47% – 3% 1%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28 – November 3, 2016 1,016 (LV) ± 4.6% 49% 46% — — 5%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27 – November 2, 2016 937 (LV) ± 4.6% 48% 47% — — 5%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) October 31 – November 1, 2016 688 (LV) ± 3.7% 47% 44% — — 9%JMC Analytics & Polling (R)JMC Analytics & Polling (R) October 28 – November 1, 2016 600 (LV)± 4.0% 45% 43% 3% 1% 7%The Times Picayune/LucidThe Times Picayune/Lucid October 28 – November 1, 2016 892 (LV) ± 3.0% 47% 41% — — 13%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 27 – November 1, 2016 790 (LV) ± 3.5% 47% 49% — 3% 1% 860 (RV) 47% 48% — 4% 1%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkeyOctober 26 – November 1, 2016994 (LV)± 4.6%47%47%——6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkeyOctober 25–31, 20161,010 (LV)± 4.6%47%47% — —6%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 26–27, 2016 550 (LV) ± 4.1% 44% 48% – 3% 6%Gravis Marketing (R)Gravis Marketing (R) October 25, 2016 875 (RV) ± 3.3% 50% 44%— — 6%Marist CollegeMarist College October 20–24, 2016 707 (LV) ± 3.7% 42% 49% – 4% 5% 985 (RV) ± 3.1% 42% 47% – 4% 6%Bendixen & Amandi InternationalBendixen & Amandi International October 20–23, 2016 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 45% 44%– 2% 9%Rasmussen Reports (R)Rasmussen Reports (R) October 20–22, 2016 826 (LV) ± 3.5% 43% 41%– 7% 8%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 14–17, 2016 413 (LV) ± 4.8% 42% 45% 5% 4% 4%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 10–15, 2016 698 (LV) ± 3.5% 52% 45% — 2% 1% 862 (RV) 50% 44% — 4% 2%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov October 12–14, 2016 996 (LV) ± 4.5% 39% 39%–4% 18%JMC Analytics & Polling (R)JMC Analytics & Polling (R) October 10–13, 2016 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 40% 35% 4% 6% 16%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R) October 11–12, 2016 600 (RV) ± 4.0% 44% 47% 2% 2% 5%Clarity Campaign Labs (D)Clarity Campaign Labs (D) October 10–11, 2016 1,010 (LV) ± 3.1% 41%40%–8%11%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) October 10–11, 2016 986 (LV) ± 3.1% 43%39% — — 18%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 2–4, 2016700 (LV) ± 3.6% 41% 45%– 7% 7%Hart Research Associates (D)Hart Research Associates (D)September 27 – October 2, 2016700 (LV) ± 3.2% 46% 47% — — 7%Bendixen & Amandi InternationalBendixen & Amandi International September 27–29, 2016 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 45% 47%—— 8%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University September 27–29, 2016 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 35% 38% 4% 5% 18%Fox NewsFox News September 18–20, 2016 704 (LV) ± 3.5% 36% 43% 5% 7% 8% 805 (RV) 34% 41% 8% 7% 10%Rasmussen Reports (R)Rasmussen Reports (R)September 16–18, 2016800 (LV)± 4.0% 40% 44%–6%11%Insights WestSeptember 12–14, 2016398 (LV)± 4.9%39% 43%—4% 14%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth UniversitySeptember 11–13, 2016406 (LV)± 4.9%43% 46%3%4%4%GQR Research (D)GQR Research (D)September 6–8, 2016600 (LV)± 4.0% 49%47%——4%Marist CollegeMarist College September 6–8, 2016 627 (LV)± 3.9% 45% 47%–1%7%915 (RV)± 3.2% 46%45%–1%8%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)September 6–7, 2016815 (LV)± 3.4% 42%41%——16%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityAugust 15–17, 2016500 (LV)± 4.4%37%37%6%6%14%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGovAugust 2–5, 2016993 (LV)± 4.6%35% 38%—4%23%Rasmussen Reports (R)Rasmussen Reports (R)July 29–31, 2016750 (LV)± 4.0%41% 42%–6%11%Rasmussen Reports (R)Rasmussen Reports (R)July 22–24, 2016750 (LV)± 4.0%37% 46%–5%12%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth UniversityJuly 7–10, 2016408 (LV)± 4.9%40% 42%6%6%7%GQR Research (D)GQR Research (D)June 11–20, 2016300 (LV)± 5.7%41% 46%——–Gravis MarketingGravis MarketingMay 24–25, 20161,637 (RV)± 2.0% 45%43%——12%Gravis MarketingGravis MarketingFebruary 14–15, 20161,366 (LV)± 3.0%41% 44%–—15%Gravis MarketingGravis MarketingDecember 23–27, 2015909 (LV)± 3.0%37% 47%––16%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)July 13–14, 2015677 (V)± 3.8% 42%41%——–
with Harry Reid Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror HarryReid (D) BrianKrolicki (R) Other UndecidedGravis MarketingGravis Marketing February 21–22, 2015 955 ± 3% 45% 46% — 8%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror HarryReid (D) AdamLaxalt (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing February 21–22, 2015 955 ± 3% 46% 48% — 6%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror HarryReid (D) BrianSandoval (R) Other UndecidedHarper PollingHarper Polling July 26–29, 2014 602 ± 3.99% 43% 53% — 4%
with Dina Titus Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DinaTitus (D) SharronAngle (R) Other UndecidedGravis MarketingGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 54% 31% — 14%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DinaTitus (D) AdamLaxalt (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 46% 44% — 10%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DinaTitus (D) MichaelRoberson (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 48% 41% — 12%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DinaTitus (D) BrianSandoval (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 37% 55% — 8%
with Catherine Cortez Masto Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CatherineCortez Masto (D) SharronAngle (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing February 14–15, 2016 1,366 ± 3% 46% 33% — 21%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing December 23–27, 2015 909 ± 3% 45% 32% — 22%Gravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 53% 30% — 17%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CatherineCortez Masto (D) AdamLaxalt (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 44% 39% — 17%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CatherineCortez Masto (D) MichaelRoberson (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 47% 35% — 19%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CatherineCortez Masto (D) BrianSandoval (R) Other UndecidedGravis Marketing March 27, 2015 850 ± 3% 37% 53% — 10%
Results Cortez Masto won her bid to succeed Harry Reid 47% to 45%, or by 2.43%, running 0.01% better than Hillary Clinton.
By county CountyCatherine Cortez Masto DemocraticJoe Heck RepublicanNone of these CandidatesTom Jones Independent AmericanThomas Sawyer IndependentTony Gumina IndependentJarrod Williams