Catherine Cortez Masto is the senior United States senator from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Born and raised in Las Vegas, she is the daughter of Manny Cortez, a prominent attorney and longtime head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority whose father immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico. Before the Senate, she served two terms as Nevada's Attorney General from 2007 to 2015.
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Serving
Catherine Cortez Masto
U.S. SenateDemocrat
NV-NV Senior Senator U.S. Senate
About
Family & Heritage
Granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant from Chihuahua, Mexico. Father Manny Cortez was an attorney and head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Mother Joanna (nee Musso) is of Italian descent. Born and raised in Las Vegas.
Political Career
Before Politics
Civil attorney in Las Vegas for 4 years; criminal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. for 2 years; assistant county manager of Clark County; chief of staff to Nevada Governor Bob Miller; Nevada Attorney General (2007-2015)
Education
B.S. in Finance, University of Nevada, Reno, 1986; J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1990
Key Issues & Priorities
Immigration reform and ICE oversight
lowering cost of living for Nevada families
protecting Medicaid and healthcare access
climate change and clean energy (solar power)
rural community support
Indian Health Services