Diversity in the Nevada Legislature

African American legislators

The Nevada Legislature has included twenty self-identified African-Americans, the first being elected in 1966. As of the 78th Regular Legislative Session in 2015 there are five African Americans serving.

Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes
Woodrow Wilson Republican Clark No. 4 1966-1972 - Later served on the Clark County Commission
Rev. Marion D. Bennett Democrat Clark No. 6 1972-1982 -
Cranford L. Crawford Jr. Democrat Clark No. 7 1972-1974 -
Joe Neal Jr. Democrat Clark No. 4 - 1972-2004 First African American elected to the Senate
Retired
Lonnie Chaney Democrat Clark No. 7 1974-1984 -
Eugene Collins Democrat Clark No. 6 1982-1986 - Changed party affiliation on 8/27/1965
Morse Arberry Jr. Democrat Clark No. 7 1984-2010 - Term Limited
Thomas Batten Republican Washoe No. 27 1994-1996 -
Bernice Mathews Democrat Washoe No. 1 - 1994-2010 First African American woman elected to the Senate
Retired
Term Limited
Rev. Maurice Washington Republican Washoe No. 2 - 1994-2010 Retired
Term Limited
Wendell Williams Democrat Clark No. 6 1986-2004 -
Kelvin Atkinson Democrat Clark No. 17 (Assembly)
District No. 4 (Senate) 		2002-2012 2012- First African American elected to serve in both Houses of the Legislature
William Horne Democrat Clark No. 34 2002-2014 -
Harvey Munford Democrat Clark No. 6 2004- -
Steven Horsford Democrat Clark No. 4 - 2004-2012 Successfully ran for the Nevada's 4th congressional district
Steven Brooks Democrat District No. 17 2010-2013 - Expelled 3/28/2013 for violent behavior
Jason Frierson Democrat District No. 8 2010-2014 -
Dina Neal Democrat District No. 7 2010- - Daughter of Senator Joe Neal
First African American woman elected to the Assembly
Patricia Spearman Democrat District No. 1 - 2012- First openly gay woman in the Senate
First openly gay person of color in the Legislature
Aaron D. Ford Democrat District No. 11 - 2012-

Hispanic/Latino legislators

The Nevada Legislature has included twenty self-identified Hispanic/Latino legislators, the first being elected in 1874 with 70 years until the next Hispanic legislator was elected. As of the 78th Regular Legislative Session in 2015 there are nine Hispanic/Latino legislators serving.

Legislator Party District/Area Represented Assembly Term Senate Term Notes
Pablo Laveaga Democrat Humboldt County 1874-1878 -
William Martinez Democrat White Pine County 1944 - 1948 - Served as Speaker Pro Tempore in 1945
Bob Coffin Democrat Clark No. 9 (Assembly)
Clark No. 3 (Senate) 		1982-1986 1986-2010 First Hispanic to serve in both houses of the Legislature
Term Limited in 2010
Successfully ran for Las Vegas City Council
Brian Sandoval Republican Washoe No. 25 1994-1998 - Elected Governor of Nevada in 2010
John Oceguera Democrat Clark No. 16 2000-2012 - Served as Speaker of the Assembly in 2011
Ran unsuccessfully for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2012
Mo Denis Democrat District No. 28 (Assembly)
District No. 2 (Senate) 		2004-2010 2010- Served as Senate Majority Leader (2013), first Hispanic to do so
Ruben Kihuen Democrat District No. 11 (Assembly)
District No. 10 (Senate) 		2006-2010 2010-
Irene Bustamante Adams Democrat District No. 42 2010- -
Lucy Flores Democrat District No. 28 2010-2014 -
Olivia Diaz Democrat District No. 11 2010- -
Teresa Benitez-Thompson Democrat District No. 27 2010- -
Richard Carrillo Democrat District No. 18 2010- -
Steven Brooks Democrat District No. 19 2010-2013 - Expelled from the Assembly on 3/28/2013 for violent behavior
Edgar Flores Democrat District No. 28 2014- -
Nelson Araujo Democrat District No. 3 2014- -
Victoria Seaman[1] Republican District No. 34 2014- -

Asian American legislators

There have been two 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,[2] " Angle never in fact identified herself as Asian American.

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 - Lost her 2008 Primary Election for reelection

LGBT legislators

The Nevada Legislature has had five members who identify with the LGBT community, all serving concurrently as of the 2013 regular legislative session.

Legislator Party Area Represented/District Assembly Term Senate Term Notes
David Parks Democrat District 41 (Assembly)
District 7 (Senate) 		1996-2008 2008- Term Limited in the Assembly
Successfully ran for Senate in 2008
Lost a Primary Election to succeed Rory Reid on the Clark County Commission in 2010, remained in the Senate
James Healey Democrat District 35 2012-2014 -
Andrew Martin Democrat District 9 2012-2014 -
Patricia Spearman Democrat District 1 - 2012- Defeated sitting Senator John Lee in a Democratic Primary[3]
Kelvin Atkinson Democrat District 17 (Assembly)
District 4 (Senate) 		2002-2012 2012- Came out during floor debate on the repeal of the ban of same gender marriage in April 2013[4]
Nelson Araujo Democrat District 3 2014- -

See also

References

  1. ↑ "G.O.P. Gains by Tapping Democrats' Base for State Candidates". The New York Times. November 29, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Ralston, Jon (October 18, 2010). "Angle to Hispanic children". Las Vegas Sun.
  3. ↑ Miller, Ross (June 12, 2012), Nevada Primary Election Results, Nevada Secretary of State, retrieved January 9, 2013
  4. ↑ Damon, Anjeanette. "In split vote, Nevada Senate passes measure to begin repeal of gay marriage ban - Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
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