Top 12 Influential Nevada Politicians Since the 1800s

Nevada has had some of the most ambitious policymakers, political influencers, and public servants ranging from writing amendments in the constitution to making big changes for Nevada today.  Through their political station and social impact, they are among the most influential figures in the Idaho political game.

Taking into consideration political office, achievements, and overall political and social influence, we have compiled a list of the most noteworthy Nevada politicians since the 1800’s.

#12 Dean Heller 

Dean Heller grew up in Carson City, Nevada but moved to California graduating with his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1985. Heller started his political career serving in the Nevada Assembly from 1990-1994. After his time there he was elected the Nevada Secretary of State and held that position for eight years. During his time as secretary, Heller also decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Heller ran a total of three times, winning all three times. After senator John Ensign announced he was resigning, Heller took the opportunity to run for Senate. He ran again in 2018, after a first victory, and was endorsed by Donald Trump, but was defeated by Jacky Rosen. During his time in the Senate, Heller served on multiple committees, focusing on housing, veterans, and taxes. Some of Heller’s achievements include being ranked 5th most bipartisan senator, encouraged women to join STEM programs through the INSPIRE Women Act, brought attention to post-partum depression, and helped pass the Mortgage Debt Tax Relief Act, which helped homeowners in 2015 and 2016.

#11 Sue Wagner

Wagner understood politics from an early age since her dad was active in the Republican parties in Maine. Wager received her political science degree in Arizona and her master’s in history at NorthWestern Univerity. After working as a reporter and teacher her family moved to Reno where she began her career in politics starting as a campaign manager for Pat Hardy. After working on the Mayor’s advisory board for a year she was elected to the Nevada Assembly and served there from 1975-1980. 1980 was the year Wagner was elected to the Senate and served in the Senate from 1989. During her time in the Senate, Wagner focused on subjects including women’s rights, education, and the environment. Wagner introduced more bills than most Senators ever did and she was considered one of the top ten Republican Legislators. In 1990 Wagner ran for Lieutenant Governor, being the first woman to win the election but not the first to hold the position, as that was Maude Frazier. Wagner’s career ended earlier than anticipated due to a plane crash that caused severe injuries. Due to her injuries, she worked with the gaming commission in Nevada for 12 years and was then inducted into the Nevada Hall of Fame in 2013.

#10 Paul Laxalt

Laxalt was born in Carson City, Nevada in 1922. He attended school in California before enlisting in the army as a medic for WW2. After he was out of the military Laxalt went back to school, studying law. His political career began in 1962 when he was elected as the lieutenant governor. Two years later he ran for Senate but was defeated by Howard Cannon, only losing by 48 votes. When he ran in 1966 the FBI was interested in what each candidate was planning on doing with the gaming industry, Laxalt said they should be concerned while his opponent, Grant Sawyer said they should stay out of it. Laxalt then won the election by a landslide and served his term from 1967-1971. During his time in office, he reformed the gaming industry, helped protect Lake Tahoe and worked on prison reform. In 1974, Laxalt was pressured by Ronald Reagan, one of his closest friends to run for office. Despite how the watergate scandal affected Republicans everywhere, Laxalt won, and then again in 1980. Laxalt made a small attempt for the presidency in 1987, but eventually retired from politics and passed away in 2018.

#9 Richard Bryan

Bryan was born in Washington D.C. but moved to Nevada for college. He then went off to California to finish his law degree, then moved back to Nevada to practice law in 1963. In 1979 Bryan became the Attorney General and held the position until being elected Governor of Nevada from 1983-1989.  After serving his terms for Governor Bryan ran for Senate and held the position from 1989-2001. During his time in the Senate, Bryan was on committees that focused on finance and banking but he also focused on Yucca Mountain from becoming a nuclear waste site.  Bryan has since kept a low profile, and continues to practice law but endorsed candidate Joe Biden for the 2020 presidential campaign. Bryan said he got to know Biden during his time in the Senate and believed he could bring the country back together.

#8 Dina Titus

Titus is a Democratic Congresswoman serving in the 1st district in Nevada. Titus started her political career as a minority leader from 1993-2008. During this time she focused on issues such as education and renewable energy. She is currently in her sixth term as a representative and has co-sponsored multiple bills that have been passed into law. She is currently serving on ten committees including one’s for transportation and foreign affairs. Titus is one of the only women who has served in the legislative service for twenty years. Titus was also inducted into the Senate Hall of Fame in 2009.

#7 Jacky Rosen

Rosen went into politics with no experience. Harry Reid had asked her to run, and she won 60% of the votes and was sworn into office in 2017. Since being sworn in Rosen has helped raise pay for military members, and has introduced other bills to help them find jobs after their service is over. She has introduced multiple bills covering a variety of subjects from healthcare, education, and clean energy. Rosen was also named the 5th most bipartisan member in the House and has overall received respect from other members.

#6 Catherine Cortez Masto

Masto started her career in law before being elected as the Nevada attorney general in 2006. She held that position until 2014 and then decided to run for Senate. Cortez was the first woman and the first Latina to hold the position in the state of Nevada. She was endorsed by Harry Reid and ended up beating her opponent, Joe Heck, by 3%. Masto’s main focus in her time in office is breaking up sex trafficking rings, helping law enforcement, and protecting seniors in Nevada from identity theft and abuse. Masto also fights for universal healthcare, affordable housing, women’s rights, and fixing the immigration system in the U.S.

#5 Steven Horsford

Horsford is a representative serving his second term in Nevada’s 4th district. Horsford is the first African American to be elected as a congressman in the state of Nevada, and started his career becoming a majority leader in 2009. The main issue Horsford fights for is gun control, including the fight for required background checks. The issue is personal since he lost his father at the age of 19 from gun violence. Horsford was able to position Nevada as the leader in renewable energy after his bill Clean Energy Jobs Initiative was passed into law. Hosford worked hard to get where he is at today. His mom was a drug addict and he helped raise his younger siblings. He worked multiple jobs and did not start his college education right away to help finish raising his siblings. He became the first man in his family to receive a college degree and got into politics after his time at the Culinary Academy.

#4 William Stewart

Starting out, Stewart was a lawyer for many years until he became an elected official in 1863. He was re-elected twice more as a Republican, in 1865 and 1869. Stewart had many accomplishments including pushing to make Nevada an official state and was one of the authors of the 1866 mining act. One of the most influential things Stewart did in his time in office became one of the authors for the 15th amendment which allowed any race the right to vote. He was then elected again in 1893 and 1899 and because his views were not considered Republican, Stewart formed the Silver Party.

#3 Sadie Dotson Hurst

Hurt’s early life started out in Iowa but relocated to Nevada in the early 1900s with her two sons. Hurst’s career began as the president of the Washoe County Equal Franchise Society in 1914 and created new societies in surrounding areas. After Hurst turned 61 she was asked if she was planning on running for assembly and after some influence, she decided to run for Washoe County. She was endorsed by the Women’s Citizen’s Club, but other than that she received little press and did very little campaigning. Despite everything, Hurst became the first woman to become part of the legislation in Nevada. Hurst was assigned four committees; Education, State Institutions, Federal Relations, and State Prison and Insane Asylum. In 1919, Hurst proposed the bill that would amend the constitution, which was passed, giving all future women their rights. Hurst went on to accomplish many other things during her time in office including the passing of bill AB 59 which was an act for the prevention of cruelty to animals defining certain terms and fixing the grade of crimes for violation thereof. Sadie tried to run again but was defeated in 1920 by Mr. Addenbrooke. Shortly after Hurst moved to California, passing away in 1952.

#2 Pat McCarran

Before his time as a senator, Nevada McCarren practiced law for thirty years. His father was his first client and he went on specializing in criminal law, but also helped people accused of murder, prostitutes, and abortionists. McCarran was a very skilled lawyer, especially for the defense, and was also known for becoming a great divorce lawyer. From 1902-1932 McCarran ran for five different races and only won three with the highest office being the Supreme Court from 1913-1918. He had been deemed a failure when it came to politics,  one reason being his personality was considered uncooperative. Finally in 1932, when McCarran was given the Democratic nomination, deemed to lose to his opponent, he won due to the number of workers from the Hoover Dam. This changed the course of politics and McCarran was then elected three more times, mainly because his focus was on the people of Nevada, not foreign affairs. During his campaign, he would know people by name and had Eva Adams run his D.C. office instead of relocating there. He helped young men from the state of Nevada go through law school, then gave them jobs back in their state. 

#1 Harry Reid

Reid was a Democratic senator in Nevada from 1987-2017. After six years in the Senate, Reid became one of the Democratic Party Whips. A whip in the Senate is someone or assistant leader is someone who rounds up party members for votes and may stand in for majority or minority leaders. In 2005 he became the minority leader and then in 2007 Reid became the majority leader.  During his time in the Senate, he worked with Nevada’s other senator  Republican Dean Heller on issues that only concerned Nevada. The two worked on preserving Lake Tahoe and making sure Yucca Mountain did not become a place for nuclear waste.  What Reid might be most known for is fighting for universal healthcare. Reid worked effortlessly to pass Obamacare. The fight became personal for him since his dad ended up committing suicide, not being able to afford the proper healthcare he needed. Overall, Reid has the most respect from his former politicians them noting he is tough and knowledgeable.