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Heidi Gansert
Heidi Gansert (Republican Party) was a member of the Nevada State Senate, representing District 15. She assumed office on November 9, 2016. She left office on November 6, 2024.
Gansert (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Nevada State Senate to represent District 15. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Gansert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Gansert earned her B.S. in engineering from the University of Santa Clara in 1985 and her M.B.A. from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1990. Her professional experience includes working as executive director of external relations for the University of Nevada, Reno, as a medical practice consultant, as treasurer/financial adviser for Brian Sandoval for Attorney General, and as a planning engineer for the Sierra Pacific Power Company.[1][2]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Gansert was assigned to the following committees:
- Finance Committee
- Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee
- Revenue and Economic Development Committee
2021-2022
Gansert was assigned to the following committees:
- Finance Committee
- Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee
- Revenue and Economic Development Committee
2019-2020
Gansert was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
- Revenue and Economic Development Committee
- Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee
While in the Nevada Assembly, Gansert served on the following committees:
| Nevada committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Elections, Procedures, Ethics, and Constitutional Amendments |
| • Ways and Means |
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Nevada committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Commerce, Labor and Energy |
| • Legislative Operations and Elections |
| • Revenue and Economic Development |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
- See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2024
Heidi Gansert did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Nevada State Senate District 15
Incumbent Heidi Gansert defeated Wendy Jauregui-Jackins in the general election for Nevada State Senate District 15 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Heidi Gansert (R)  | 51.8 | 39,325 |
 | Wendy Jauregui-Jackins (D) | 48.2 | 36,605 | |
| Total votes: 75,930 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Catana Barnes (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Wendy Jauregui-Jackins advanced from the Democratic primary for Nevada State Senate District 15.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kristie Strejc (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Heidi Gansert advanced from the Republican primary for Nevada State Senate District 15.
2016
- See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016. Incumbent Greg Brower (R) resigned from the state Senate on February 20, 2016. Jesse Haw (R) was appointed to the seat on September 27, 2016.
Heidi Gansert defeated Devon Reese and David Colborne in the Nevada State Senate District 15 general election.[3][4]
| Nevada State Senate, District 15 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Heidi Gansert |
52.96% | 33,822 | |
| Democratic | Devon Reese | 41.92% | 26,773 | |
| Libertarian | David Colborne | 5.11% | 3,266 | |
| Total Votes | 63,861 | |||
| Source: Nevada Secretary of State | ||||
Devon Reese ran unopposed in the Nevada State Senate District 15 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Nevada State Senate District 15, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Devon Reese (unopposed) | |
Heidi Gansert defeated Eugene Hoover in the Nevada State Senate District 15 Republican primary.[5][6]
| Nevada State Senate District 15, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Heidi Gansert |
56.91% | 5,105 | |
| Republican | Eugene Hoover | 43.09% | 3,866 | |
| Total Votes | 8,971 | |||
2008
- See also: Nevada State Assembly elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, Gansert won re-election to the District 25 Seat in the Nevada Assembly, defeating Robert Townsend.[7]
Gansert raised $350,929 for her campaign.[8]
| Nevada State Assembly, District 25 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Heidi Gansert (R)
|
19,680 | 60.16% | ||
| Robert Townsend | 13,034 | 39.84% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Heidi Gansert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gansert's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno and Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Santa Clara University.
Prior to serving in public office, I led a successful 20-year career in the private sector, including as a resource planning engineer and a medical practice management consultant. I currently serve as Executive Director of External Relations for the University of Nevada, Reno. In my role, I work closely with economic development agencies throughout the state to develop business and outreach partnerships between the University and the community.
I began my work in the public sector when I was elected to the state assembly in 2004. I went on to become the first female Republican leader in the history of Nevada's legislature. In 2010, I joined Governor Brian Sandoval's administration as his first Chief of Staff and served in that role as Nevada recovered from the recession. I was elected to the State Senate in 2016 and I'm seeking re-election to Senate District 15.- I'm running for re-election to continue my work to improve everyday lives for Nevadans while fighting for accountable, transparent and fiscally responsible government.
- Education is an important issue to me and I've a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to protecting our children and ensuring they grow, learn and thrive in a safe and secure environment. I support efforts to ensure every student has access to an education that best meets their needs.
- My extensive experience in both the public and private sectors coupled with my ability to bridge the gap between the two have helped me develop a clear understanding of the issues impacting the growth and success of our state. My problem-solving skills and leadership will be necessary to navigate the tough decisions and uncertainty that the legislature is certainly going to face in the upcoming 2021 legislative session.
Education is a top issue to me and I've a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to protecting our children and ensuring they grow, learn and thrive in a safe and secure environment. I passed legislation to implement Nevada's early warning system in k-12 schools called Safe Voice to make students and schools safer. In the first year, over 1,000 reports related to self harm, harm to others or suicidal thoughts were received. I also created a dual reporting system to make sure abuse in schools is addressed. I support efforts to ensure every student has access to an education that best meets their needs.
I also successfully passed legislation impacting public safety and healthcare. My efforts to make our communities safer have included strengthening child luring statutes and requiring DNA testing of convicted felons. I've also supported legislation to ensure pre-existing conditions were covered and increase behavioral health services for Nevadans while advocating for the modernization of our mental health system to increases its effectiveness.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2016
Gansert's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[9]
| “ | The former Republican Leader of the Nevada Assembly and Chief of Staff to Governor Brian Sandoval is running for Nevada Senate to bring accountability, fiscal responsibility and leadership to state government.[10] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Nevada scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Nevada State Legislature was not in session.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2023, the Nevada State Legislature was in session from February 6 to June 5.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Nevada State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Nevada State Legislature was in session from February 1 to June 1.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2020, the Nevada State Legislature was not in session. It was in special session from July 8 to July 19 and from July 31 to August 5.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Nevada State Legislature was in session from February 4 through June 3.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2018, the Nevada State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2017, the Nevada State Legislature was in session from February 6 through June 5.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Nevada State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Heidi Gansert," accessed November 24, 2014
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 27, 2020
- ↑ Nevada Secretary of State, "2016 Master Statewide Certified List of Candidates," accessed August 19, 2016
- ↑ Nevada Secretary of State, "2016 general election results," accessed November 25, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nevada Secretary of State, "2016 Election Certified List of Candidates," accessed May 16, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nevada Secretary of State, "Official Primary election results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Nevada Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions to Heidi Gansert," accessed November 24, 2014
- ↑ gansert4nevada.com, "Meet Heidi," accessed May 9, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jesse Haw (R) |
Nevada State Senate District 15 2016-2024 |
Succeeded by Angie Taylor (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Nevada State Assembly District 25 2004-2010 |
Succeeded by - |
