2022 United States Senate election in Nevada

The 2022 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Nevada. Incumbent Democratic senator Catherine Cortez Masto won re-election to a second term, narrowly defeating Republican former state attorney general Adam Laxalt. Nevada's election results were slowed due to state law that allowed voters to submit mail-in ballots until November 12, and allowed voters to fix clerical problems in their mail-in ballots until November 14, 2022. No Republican has won this specific U.S. Senate seat since Adam Laxalt's grandfather Paul Laxalt won a second full term in 1980.

According to exit polls, Cortez Masto won 83% of Black voters, 62% of Hispanic voters, 64% of young voters, and 52% of women.

Cortez Masto made protecting abortion rights a central issue of her campaign. Many experts and forecasters saw Nevada as Republicans' best chance to pickup a seat in the Senate. Despite Laxalt leading in most polls, Cortez Masto narrowly won re-election by a little less than 8,000 votes.

Cortez Masto flipped Washoe County, improving her 2016 voteshare by 1.7%, although Laxalt improved on Joe Heck's margin in rural counties, and performed slightly better in Clark County. The incumbent Democrat's improvements in Washoe compared to 2016 proved to be decisive, as her victory margin there was slightly larger than in Nevada as a whole. With a narrow margin of 0.78%, this was the closest Senate race of the 2022 election cycle and the closest Senate election in Nevada since 1998.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee Catherine Cortez Masto, incumbent U.S. senator (2017–present) and former attorney general of Nevada (2007–2015)

Eliminated in primary Stephanie Kasheta Corey Reid Allen Rheinhart, Black Lives Matter activist and candidate for governor in 2014, U.S. Senate in 2016, and Nevada's 1st congressional district in 2020

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee Adam Laxalt, former attorney general of Nevada (2015–2019), nominee for governor in 2018, son of former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici and grandson of former U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt

Eliminated in primary Sam Brown, U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, candidate for Texas's 102nd House of Representatives district in 2014, and great-grandson of Paul Brown William "Bill" Conrad, retired combat veteran Bill Hockstedler, vice president of Ambient Clinical Analytics, sheriff's office volunteer, and U.S. Air Force veteran Sharelle Mendenhall, pageant queen Tyler Perkins Carlo Poliak, retired sanitation worker and perennial candidate Paul Rodriguez

Declined Mark Amodei, U.S. representative for (2011–present) (ran for re-election) Heidi Gansert, state senator for the 15th district (2016–2024) Dean Heller, former U.S. senator (2011–2019) and former U.S. representative for (2007–2011) (ran for governor) Ben Kieckhefer, state senator for the 16th district (2010–2021) Brian Sandoval, president of the University of Nevada, Reno (2020–present) and former governor of Nevada (2011–2019)

Debates 2022 United States Senate Republican primary election in Nevada debatesDateOrganizerLocationKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee WithdrawnSourceSam BrownBill ConradBill HockstedlerAdam LaxaltSharellen Mendenhall1April 7, 2022Redmove NevadaAtlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno A P P A P2May 9, 2022Nevada NewsmakersNevada Newsmakers Studio, Reno P N N P N

Endorsements

Polling

Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated SamBrown BillHockstedler AdamLaxalt SharelleMendenhall OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsApril 25 – June 7, 2022June 10, 202230.3%1.0%51.3%3.0%24.4%Laxalt +21.0 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SamBrown BillHockstedler AdamLaxalt SharelleMendenhall Candidates Other UndecidedOH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsJune 6–7, 2022525 (LV)± 4.4%34%1%48%3%2%3%9%University of Nevada RenoUniversity of Nevada RenoMay 17–27, 2022368 (LV)± 5.9%31%5%57%7%–––OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsMay 10–12, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%30%0%45%3%8%2%11%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeApril 30 – May 2, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%27%1%50%4%–3%15%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)April 25–28, 20221,071 (LV)± 3.0%26%1%50%3%–5%15%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)April 24–26, 2022503 (LV)± 4.4%20%1%57%1%9%–12%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)March 13–15, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%19%1%57%1%–3%15%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsJanuary 19–26, 2022230 (RV)± 6.5%14%–37%–––49%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DeanHeller AdamLaxalt Other UndecidedWPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)December 9–11, 2020300 (LV)± 5.7%25%44%6%25%

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared Neil Scott, accountant

Independent American primary

Candidates

Declared Barry Rubinson, nominee for in 2020

Independents

Candidates

Declared Barry Lindemann, asset manager

Not on ballot J. J. Destin, truck driver Gretchen Rae Lowe

General election

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report March 4, 2022 Inside Elections February 24, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022RCP November 1, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022DDHQAugust 22, 2022538September 22, 2022The EconomistNovember 6, 2022

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated Catherine AdamLaxalt (R) UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 24 – November 7, 2022November 8, 202245.4%48.8%5.8%Laxalt +3.4FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightOctober 5 – November 8, 2022November 8, 202245.9%47.3%6.8%Laxalt +1.4270towin270towinOctober 27 – November 7, 2022November 8, 202245.0%48.8%6.2%Laxalt +3.8Average45.4%48.3%6.3%Laxalt +2.9

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Catherine AdamLaxalt (R) Candidates Other UndecidedThe Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)November 5–7, 20221,089 (LV)± 2.9%45%50%–2%2%Research Co.Research Co.November 4–6, 2022450 (LV)± 4.6%46%47%–2%5%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)November 2–6, 20221,100 (LV)± 3.0%47%49%1%3%–InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)November 4, 2022550 (LV)± 4.2%44%50%–2%5%KAConsulting (R)KAConsulting (R)November 2–3, 2022501 (LV)± 4.4%45%44%–1%9%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)November 1–2, 2022600 (LV)–43%46%–5%6%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 26–29, 20222,000 (LV)± 2.1%45%50%1%2%3%46%51%1%3%–Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityOctober 24–28, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%45%44%3%4%5%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsOctober 24–27, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%43%41%1%5%10%Susquehanna Polling and Research (R)Susquehanna Polling and Research (R)October 24–27, 2022500 (LV)± 4.3%43%48%<1%4%5%Echelon InsightsEchelon InsightsOctober 24–26, 2022500 (LV)± 4.9%45%45%–2%8%46%48%––6%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)October 21–24, 20221,100 (LV)± 2.9%46%50%–3%2%Siena Research/NYTSiena Research/NYTOctober 19–24, 2022885 (LV)± 4.2%47%47%–2%4%Phillips AcademyPhillips AcademyOctober 22–23, 20221,052 (LV)± 3.0%49%47%––4%InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)October 20, 2022550 (LV)± 4.2%46%48%–2%4%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGovOctober 14–19, 20221,057 (LV)± 4.4%48%49%–3%–Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)October 13–19, 2022819 (LV)± 3.0%48%49%–2%1%BSP Research/Shaw & Co.BSP Research/Shaw & Co.October 12–19, 20221,000 (RV)± 3.1%44%42%–5%10%University of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Nevada, RenoOctober 5–19, 2022586 (LV)± 4.0%52%39%–3%5%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)October 16–18, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%43%45%–6%–Rasmussen Reports (R)Rasmussen Reports (R)October 13–17, 2022707 (LV)± 4.0%43%48%–4%5%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityOctober 4–7, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%46%44%3%3%5%WPA Intelligence (R)October 2–4, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%44%42%–4%10%CNN/SSRSCNN/SSRSSeptember 26 – October 2, 2022926 (RV)± 4.7%47%44%2%3%1%828 (LV)± 5.0%46%48%2%3%–OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsSeptember 20–29, 2022741 (LV)± 3.6%43%45%3%2%7%InsiderAdvantage (R)InsiderAdvantage (R)September 20, 2022550 (LV)± 4.2%43%46%–2%9%Big Data Poll (R)Big Data Poll (R)September 18–20, 2022750 (LV)± 3.4%44%46%–––The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)September 17–20, 20221,086 (LV)± 2.9%43%47%–5%5%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)September 14–19, 2022874 (LV)± 3.0%46%47%–6%2%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeSeptember 8–10, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%41%42%–4%11%Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)August 16–24, 20221,332 (LV)± 4.4%44%40%3%4%9%48%47%––6%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)August 15–18, 20221,082 (LV)± 2.9%44%47%–4%6%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityAugust 14–17, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%45%38%3%3%12%Beacon Research (D)Beacon Research (D)July 5–20, 2022479 (RV)± 4.5%49%39%–1%7%301 (LV)± 5.6%51%45%–1%2%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJuly 7–10, 20222,000 (RV)± 2.1%44%41%–6%9%Change Research (D)Change Research (D)June 24–27, 2022701 (LV)± 3.7%46%43%––12%University of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Nevada, RenoMay 17–27, 20221,098 (A)± 3.4%48%27%–11%14%McLaughlin & Associates (R)McLaughlin & Associates (R)April 18–20, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%46%47%––7%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive InsightsApril 1–9, 2022748 (RV)± 4.4%43%35%––22%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityApril 2–6, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%40%43%3%–14%Blueprint Polling (D)Blueprint Polling (D)March 21–24, 2022671 (LV)± 3.8%40%47%––13%Change Research (D)March 2022– (LV)–44%46%––10%OH Predictive InsightsJanuary 19–26, 2022755 (RV)± 3.6%44%35%––21%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)November 24–29, 20211,034 (LV)± 3.0%41%44%––15%NRSC (R)NRSC (R)November 14–17, 2021571 (LV)± 4.1%42%46%––12%The Mellman Group (D)The Mellman Group (D)September 15–22, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%46%41%3%–10%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)September 11–15, 2021504 (LV)± 4.4%37%39%12%–12%VCreek/AMG (R)VCreek/AMG (R)August 9–14, 2021567 (RV)± 4.1%32%42%––26%

Catherine Cortez Masto vs. Sam Brown Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Catherine SamBrown (R) Candidates Other UndecidedUniversity of Nevada, RenoMay 17–27, 20221,098 (A)± 3.4%47%24%–13%16%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive Insights April 1–9, 2022748 (RV)± 4.4%42%34%––24%Suffolk UniversityApril 2–6, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%39%40%5%–17%

Results Cortez Masto won urban Clark County and Washoe County, home to Las Vegas and Reno respectively. Combined, these two counties contain more than 80% of the state's total population. While her margin in Clark County fell from 11% in 2016 to 8% in this election, she flipped Washoe County, which she lost by less than 1% in 2016, with a 4% margin of victory. Laxalt won by landslide margins in Nevada's rural counties, but they are lightly populated and cast less than 16% of the total vote. In the end, Cortez Masto's victories in the state's two largest counties gave her too large a lead for Laxalt to overcome in rural Nevada. Lee Zeldin, in a CNN interview on February 27, 2024, also noted how snow in northern Nevada might have affected rural turnout, giving Masto an advantage. As of 2025, no Republican has won any U.S. Senate race in Nevada since 2012.

By county