Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you. Check it out!

Nevada State Senate

From Ballotpedia
Revision as of 17:16, 13 January 2018 by Matt Latourelle (contribs) (Text replacement - " '''<nowiki>*</nowiki>The map below may be malfunctioning.<nowiki>*</nowiki>'''" to "")
Jump to: navigation, search


Nevada State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:  Democrat
Session start:  No regular legislative session
Session end:  No regular legislative session
Term length:  4 years
Term limits:  3 terms (12 years)
Redistricting:  Legislative control
Salary:  $150.71/day[1] + per diem
Members
Total:  21
Democrats:  7
Republicans:  3
Other:  0 (Independent)
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
President:  Stavros S. Anthony (R)
Maj. Leader:  Nicole Cannizzaro (D)
Min. Leader:  Robin Titus (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2016
Next election:  November 6, 2018

The Nevada State Senate is the upper chamber of the Nevada State Legislature. Alongside the Nevada State Assembly, it forms the legislative branch of the Nevada state government and works alongside the governor of Nevada to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Nevada State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

  • A total of 11 seats out of the chamber's 21 seats were up for election in 2018. Click to read more »
  • In the November 2016 elections, Democrats gained one seat and control of the chamber. Democrats went from a 10-11 minority to a 11-10 majority.
  • Nevada currently operates under divided government. Throughout the country, there are 13 states with divided governments. A total of 21 states have Republican trifectas, while 16 states have Democratic trifectas. A state government trifecta is a term used to describe a single-party government where one political party holds the governor's office and a majority in both chambers of the state legislature.

    • What you will find on this page

    This page contains information on the Nevada State Senate that is curated and updated by Ballotpedia staff. Click on the arrows (▼) below for information and research on party control, elections, members, legislation, sessions, procedures, committees, and districts.

    Party Control: current and historical information on party control of the Nevada State Senate

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Nevada State Senate as of January 2026:

    Partisan composition, Nevada State Senate
    As of January 2026
    PartyMembers
    Democratic13
    Republican8
    Other0
    Vacancies0
    Total21

    History of partisan control

    Democrats won control of the Nevada State Senate in 2016. In 2024, they won a 13-8 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Nevada Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Nevada State Senate election results: 1992-2024

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22 '24
    Democrats 10 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 12 11 11 10 11 13 12 13 13
    Republicans 11 13 12 12 12 12 12 11 9 10 10 11 10 8 9 8 8

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Republicans in Nevada held a state government trifecta for two years between 1992 and 2017. During the same period of time, Democrats held a trifecta for one year. The table below shows state government trifectas in Nevada from 1992 to 2017.

    Nevada Party Control: 1992-2026
    Five years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
    Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R
    Senate D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D
    House D D D S S D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D

    Elections: election data from 2000 to the present

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Nevada state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Nevada holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2026

    See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2026

    Elections for the Nevada State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is June 9, 2026. The filing deadline is March 13, 2026.

    2024

    See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2024

    Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 11, 2024. The filing deadline was March 15, 2024.

    Prior to the 2024 election, Democrats held a 13-7 majority. There was one vacant seat previously held by a Republican. Following the election, the Democrats held a 13-8 majority.

    Nevada State Senate
    Party As of November 5, 2024 After November 6, 2024
         Democratic Party 13 13
         Republican Party 7 8
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 21 21

    2022

    See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2022

    Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 14, 2022. The filing deadline was March 18, 2022.

    Democrats grew their majority from 11-9 with one vacancy to 13-8 in the 2022 election.

    Nevada State Senate
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 11 13
         Republican Party 9 8
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 21 21

    2020

    See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Nevada State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline was March 13, 2020.

    Heading into the 2020 general election, there were 13 Democrats and eight Republicans in the chamber. Democrats lost one seat in the election, giving them a 12-9 majority.

    Nevada State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 13 12
         Republican Party 8 9
    Total 21 21

    2018

    See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2018

    Elections for the Nevada State Senate took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on June 12, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2018.[2]

    In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Nevada State Senate from 10-8 to 13-8.

    Nevada State Senate
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 10 13
         Republican Party 8 8
         Independent 1 0
         Vacancy 2 0
    Total 21 21

    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. A total of 11 seats out of the 21 seats in the Nevada State Senate were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Republicans held an 11-10 majority. Democrats won control of both the Nevada State Senate and the Nevada State Assembly in the general election. This broke the Republican trifecta previously held in the state. Democrats were able to flip one Senate seat, which was all that they needed to gain control of the chamber. Assembly Democrats were also able to win a majority, picking up 10 seats and moving to a 12-seat majority.

    State Senator Patricia Farley said shortly after the election that she would change her party affiliation from Republican to nonpartisan with the intention of caucusing with Democrats.[3] The change in Farley's party affiliation gave the Democratic Caucus a three-seat majority.

    Nevada State Senate
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 10 11
         Republican Party 11 10
    Total 21 21

    Members: current leadership and membership list and information on salaries and qualifications

    Members

    Leadership

    The Lieutenant Governor serves as the President of the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie. If the Lieutenant Governor is not present, the President Pro Tempore presides and has the power to make commission and committee appointments. The President Pro Tempore is elected to the position by the majority party. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.[10][11]

    Current leadership and members

    Current members, Nevada State Senate (21)
    District Senator Party Assumed office
    1 Patricia Spearman Democratic 2013
    2 Moises Denis Democratic 2011
    3 Richard "Tick" Segerblom Democratic 2013
    4 Kelvin Atkinson Democratic 2013
    5 Joyce Woodhouse Democratic 2013
    6 Nicole Cannizzaro Democratic 2016
    7 David Parks Democratic 2009
    8 Patricia Farley Nonpartisan 2015
    9 Becky Harris Republican 2015
    10 Yvanna Cancela Democratic 2016
    11 Aaron Ford Democratic 2013
    12 Joseph Hardy Republican 2011
    13 Julia Ratti Democratic 2016
    14 Don Gustavson Republican 2013
    15 Heidi Gansert Republican 2016
    16 Ben Kieckhefer Republican 2011
    17 James Settelmeyer Republican 2011
    18 Scott Hammond Republican 2013
    19 Pete Goicoechea Republican 2013
    20 Michael Roberson Republican 2011
    21 Vacant

    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2025[12]
    SalaryPer diem
    $130/legislative dayThe exact amount members received for per diem was unavailable.

    When sworn in

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Nevada legislators assume office the day after the election.

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    To be eligible to serve in the Nevada State Senate, a candidate must be:[13]

    • A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
    • 21 years old at the filing deadline time
    • A one-year resident of Nevada preceding the election
    • A resident for 30 days of the senate district from which elected at the filing deadline time
    • A qualified election. A qualified voter is someone who is:
    * A U.S. citizen
    * A resident of Nevada for at least 6 months prior to the next election, and 30 days in the district or county
    * At least 18 years old by the next election

    Legislation: all legislation passed by the chamber in the current or most recent legislative session

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Nevada State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. Information on legislation provided below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. The tracker is fully interactive. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read its text in full and see its voting history. You can click the headings to sort the content in the column. You can also rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Finally, in the bottom-left corner of the tracker is a magnifying glass, which, when clicked, will allow you to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Sessions: legislative sessions dates, special sessions, and key events

    Sessions

    About legislative sessions in Nevada

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[14] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Nevada State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by vote of the people in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Nevada by year

    2025

    See also: 2025 Nevada legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

    In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 3, 2025, and adjourn on June 2, 2025.


    Procedures: rules and procedures for veto overrides, the budget, term limits, and vacancies

    Procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features it own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Nevada are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers

    Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 28 of the 42 members in the Nevada State Assembly and 14 of the 21 members in the Nevada State Senate. Nevada is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    Vetoes can be overridden in a special session or when the next regular session convenes.[20] Two-thirds of members in both chambers must agree to call for a special session.[21]

    Authority: Article 4, Section 35 of the Nevada Constitution

    "Every bill which may have passed the Legislature, shall, before it becomes a law be presented to the Governor. If he approve it, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which House shall cause such objections to be entered upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it; If after such reconsideration it again pass both Houses by yeas and nays, by a vote of two thirds of the members elected to each House it shall become a law notwithstanding the Governors objections."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Nevada state budget and finances
    Nevada on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

    The state operates on a biennial budget cycle that starts July 1 of each biennium. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[22]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in March.
    2. Agencies submit their requests to the governor by September 1.
    3. The governor submits the budget to the Nevada State Legislature in January.
    4. The legislature passes a budget in June. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.

    In Nevada, the governor does not have line-item veto power. However, the governor can veto an appropriations bill in its entirety.[22]

    The governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[22]

    Term limits

    See also: State legislatures with term limits

    The Nevada legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Nevada Term Limits Act in 1996. That initiative said that Nevada senators are subject to term limits of no more than three four-year terms, or a total of twelve years.[23]

    The first year that the term limits enacted in 1996 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office is in 2010.

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Nevada State Legislature, the board of county commissioners in the county representing the seat must decide on a replacement. The board of county commissioners must select a person from the same political party that last held the seat when making its decision. If the vacancy happens before the next legislative session and an election for county officers is scheduled, no replacement is named.[24]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Nevada Const. Art. 4, Sec. 12

    Committees: role and list of current committees

    Committees

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Nevada State Senate has 10 standing committees:


    Districts

    See also: Nevada state legislative districts

    The state of Nevada has 63 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 21 districts and the state House has 42 districts.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.

    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Nevada

    In Nevada, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. The lines are subject to veto by the governor.[25]

    Under a state law enacted in 2019, state prison inmates are counted as residents of their home addresses for redistricting purposes.[26]

    2010 census

    Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[27]

    Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, Brian Sandoval, was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no challenges were made.[28]

    See also

    Elections Nevada State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Nevada State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ $150.71/day for legislators elected in 2017 and $146.29/day for mid-term members. Maximum of 60 session days.
    2. ↑ Clark County NV, "2018 state/federal elections," accessed August 3, 2017
    3. ↑ Las Vegas Sun, "State Sen. Patricia Farley to caucus with Democrats," November 14, 2016
    4. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed December 17, 2013
    5. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada 2008 Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    6. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada 2006 Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    7. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada 2004 Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    8. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada 2002 Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    9. ↑ Follow the Money, "Nevada 2000 Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    10. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Legislative Officers: Nevada Senate," accessed August 4, 2014
    11. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "NV Senate Leadership of the 77th (2013) Session," accessed August 4, 2014
    12. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
    13. ↑ Nevada Secretary of State, "2009-2010 Election Information Guide," accessed December 17, 2013
    14. ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
    15. ↑ Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Nevada legislators flock to special session for Faraday," accessed December 17, 2015
    16. ↑ Las Vegas Review Journal, "Five (other) big issues for the 2015 Nevada Legislature," accessed February 2, 2015
    17. ↑ Kolotv.com, "Nev. Legislature convenes Monday with uncertainty," February 2, 2013
    18. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
    19. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
    20. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Vetoes and Special Sessions," accessed July 3, 2017
    21. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Special Sessions," May 6, 2009
    22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
    23. ↑ termlimits.org, "State Legislative Term Limits," accessed December 17, 2013
    24. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Constitution of Nevada," accessed February 9, 2021 (Article IV, Section XII)
    25. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Nevada," accessed May 5, 2015
    26. ↑ Prison Policy Initiative, "Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signs law ending prison gerrymandering," May 31, 2019
    27. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Nevada's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," accessed August 4, 2014
    28. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting Home," accessed August 20, 2012
    Flag of Nevada
    v • e
    State of Nevada
    Carson City (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Nevada_State_Senate&oldid=7118384"