Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is at the vanguard of a changing Nevada, and the state is not changing in a good way. Trump easily won the state 50.6%-47.5% in the 2024 election, the culmination of the state moving rightwards since Obama left the scene.
Could tariffs, the lack of international travelers, and an economic downturn change the fortunes of Nevada once again? That’s the alarm Cortez Masto is sounding in Washington, D.C.
Lawmakers at both the state and federal levels are intensifying their efforts to counter what they describe as "government overreach" by the Trump administration.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto recently met with local small business owners to discuss the impact of rising tariffs on their operations.
The senator has introduced the Tariff Transparency Act, which seeks to compel the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate the effects of President Trump's tariffs.
The act would also require the commission to publish the impact these tariffs have on the American public.
Cortez Masto expressed concern that the increasing prices of groceries, energy, and other products could potentially drive some businesses to close. "This administration is lawless ... small businesses like this," she said.
The tariffs imposed by President Trump on Canada and Mexico are particularly affecting the local economy, as these countries are the region's largest trading partners.
U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen say they voted to block tariffs from taking effect.
The resolution was put up for a vote in the Senate on Wednesday and was defeated by Republicans. If passed, it would have overridden the Trump administration’s emergency declaration that it is using as a legal justification for the tariffs.
“President Trump’s reckless policies are raising costs on hardworking families and threatening Nevada small businesses. While I believe targeted tariffs on our adversaries can be a useful tool to protect American jobs and support our national security, these blanket tariffs do the opposite,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The president is abusing his power to bypass both Congress and common sense. Today, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in a vote to rein in Donald Trump, and I’ll continue to fight for our businesses and workers.”
She made it the theme of her 100 days of Trump 2.0 speech in the Senate as well.
Tariffs come up again and again in her broadsides against the Trump regime’s trade representative at a confirmation hearing.
But by no means is Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto a one-trick pony. But who is this Nevada native of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus? What are her other priorities? What legislation has she sponsored or co-sponsored? Join me in learning about Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto below the fold!
Personal History
Sen. Cortez Masto was former Sen. Harry Reid’s handpicked successor for his Senate seat.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was born on March 29, 1964 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike many of the CHC, she was politically connected from birth. Her father, Manny Cortez, was a prominent attorney and also a politician who served on the Clark County Commission and served as the head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The elder Cortez was also a close friend of the legendary Sen. Harry Reid. Her grandfather was the one who emigrated from Mexico to seek a better life.
Cortez Masto would then go to school at the University of Nevada-Reno and earn a finance degree. She would further receive a JD degree from the University of Gonzaga in 1990. She would serve as a civil attorney for four years and then serve a further two in the Washington, D.C. US Attorney Office. She would also serve as Gov. Bob Miller’s final chief of staff. Finally, in 2003 she was named to a prominent position in the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Cortez Masto made her move into elected politics in 2006 when she sought the office of Attorney General. She crested the blue wave that year and easily won her first election. Her most notable action as Attorney General of Nevada was to go after Bank of America for “deceptive marketing and lending practices” that led to the subprime mortgage crisis.
The attorney general of Nevada is accusing Bank of America of repeatedly violating a broad loan modification agreement it struck with state officials in October 2008 and is seeking to rip up the deal so that the state can proceed with a suit against the bank over allegations of deceptive lending, marketing and loan servicing practices.
In a complaint filed Tuesday in United States District Court in Reno, Catherine Cortez Masto, the Nevada attorney general, asked a judge for permission to end Nevada’s participation in the settlement agreement. This would allow her to sue the bank over what the complaint says were dubious practices uncovered by her office in an investigation that began in 2009.
In her filing, Ms. Masto contends that Bank of America raised interest rates on troubled borrowers when modifying their loans even though the bank had promised in the settlement to lower them. The bank also failed to provide loan modifications to qualified homeowners as required under the deal, improperly proceeded with foreclosures even as borrowers’ modification requests were pending and failed to meet the settlement’s 60-day requirement on granting new loan terms, instead allowing months and in some cases more than a year to go by with no resolution, the filing says.
This lawsuit was settled in 2012 for $750M and a reduction in liens and short sales.
She wisely skipped out on the 2014 red wave election that decimated Democrats in the state despite being term-limited. Instead, she she her sights on replacing the legendary Sen. Harry Reid as he finally called it quits in 2016. The Harry Reid machine was still influential at the time and he put the full weight of his endorsement to work. She would win 47-45%, becoming the first Latina to serve in the Senate.
As documented in a very early article of mine, she ran for re-election in 2022 against Attorney General Adam Laxalt. With Nevada creeping towards the right politically, it was expected to be an extremely close race. It was, with Cortez Masto holding off Laxalt 49-48%, or about 9000 votes.
Issue Positions and Work in Congress
Sen. Cortez Masto grills Treasury Secretary Bessent at his confirmation hearing.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is shifting with the political winds of her state. She is taking more moderate-to-conservative votes in the 119th Congress to stay abreast of the changes happening in Nevada. The best evidence of this shift is her support for the Laken Riley Act despite showing an openness to comprehensive immigration reform before that vote.
In terms of ideology, her DW Nominate score is -0.354, which puts her as the 23rd most liberal Senator and 77th most conservative one. She is about in the middle of the pack now in terms of the Democratic caucus after being left-of-center in previous Congresses. She has generally still voted against Trump regime legislation while having a mixed record on his nominees.
Cortez Masto has been the primary sponsor of 6 pieces of legislation that have become laws. Probably the most important one is the Not Invisible Act of 2019, which mandated that the FBI coordinate with tribal governments to reduce crime on tribal lands and against Native Americans. Other laws include reauthorizing the cleanup of Lake Tahoe and a law to collect data on law enforcement suicides.
In the 119th Congress, Cortez Masto has sponsored a dizzying array of legislation. She has sponsored 36 pieces of legislation ranging from protecting the Ruby Mountains to cracking down on cryptocurrency to a tax cut for American workers. She has further co-sponsored 192 pieces of legislation in the 119th Congress. She is definitely a workhorse in the Senate!
As indicated in the opening, Sen. Cortez Masto is working overtime to protect Nevada from the capricious whims of the Trump regime. That is mostly through legislation as she keeps a low profile when it comes to appearing on network TV shows. She has launched Three Things with CCM as indicated below.
Here is a clip of Cortez Masto grilling RFK, Jr. in his confirmation hearing.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was the chosen one by Sen. Harry Reid to carry on his legacy. That legacy is increasingly in peril as the state of Nevada changes back into a more conservative swing state. While she was able to eke out a close win in 2022, she may not be so lucky in 2028 when she faces a Presidential electorate and six more years of change. This is why she is moderating her issue positions as to give her the best chance of survival.
Congressional Chronicle: Week of May 5, 2025
The latest on Capitol Hill when it comes to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Sat/Sun, May 3-4
A brief interlude during the weekend where a HUGE town hall was held in southern California by the CHC. There was a special guest in Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries!
x
Today’s Steering & Policy Town Hall is just the first of the conversations @HouseDemocrats.bsky.social will have with the American people.
And we will speak to ALL Americans — because Republicans and Democrats alike will hurt from Trump and House Republicans’ harmful budget plan.
[image or embed]
— Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (@repbarragan.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Rep. Robert Garcia was the highlight of a town hall in vulnerable Rep. Ken Calvert’s district!
Monday, May 5
.
The Senate voted for a motion to proceed on H.J. Res 61 — rejecting pollution standards on tire manufacturing. The motion to proceed was confirmed (51/43/6) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
Tuesday, May 6
.
The House voted to confirm the rules package for the week. H. Res 377 was confirmed (213/209/11) with the entire CHC voting NAY.
.
The Senate voted to pass H.J. Res 61 — rejecting pollution standards on tire manufacturing. The resolution was passed (55/45) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
The Senate voted for a motion to proceed on S.J. Res 13 — rejecting regulations made under the Bank Merger Act. The motion to proceed was confirmed (53/46/1) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
The Senate voted to confirm to nomination of Frank Bisignano to Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The nomination was confirmed (53/47) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
The Senate voted for a motion to proceed on S.J. Res 7 — rejecting regulations regarding the E-Rate program. The motion to proceed was confirmed (53/47) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
The Senate voted for a motion to proceed on H.J. Res 60 — rejecting regulations on motor vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The motion to proceed was confirmed (53/47) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
Wednesday, May 7
.
The House voted to pass H.R. 881 — the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. The bill was passed (266/153/14) with a mixed vote in the CHC. Too many to list in either direction…
.
The Senate voted to pass S.J. Res 13 — rejecting regulations made under the Bank Merger Act. The resolution was passed (52/47/1) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
Thursday, May 8
.
The House voted to reject a motion to recommit on H.R. 276 — the Gulf of America Act. The motion to recommit was rejected (203/213/16) with the CHC voting NAY. Reps. Trahan and Velazquez did not vote.
.
The House voted to pass H.R. 276 — the Gulf of America Act. The bill was passed (211/206/16) with the CHC voting NAY. Rep. Trahan did not vote.
.
The House is adjourned until Monday, May 12th.
.
The Senate voted to pass S.J. Res 7 — rejecting regulations regarding the E-Rate program. The resolution was passed (50/38/12) with Sen. Lujan voting NAY. Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, and Padilla did not vote.
.
The Senate voted to pass H.J. Res 60 — rejecting regulations on motor vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The resolution was passed (50/43/7) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla voting NAY.
.
The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed on S.1582 — the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins. Cloture on the motion to proceed failed (48/49/3) with Sens. Cortez Masto, Gallego, Lujan, and Padilla all voting NAY.
.
The Senate adjourned until Monday, May 12th.
.
Friday, May 9
.
I cannot hold the sins of the father against the son any longer. Especially since it sounds like Rep. Robert Menendez defused a situation where two Black members of Congress were about to be arrested along with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
x
Menendez Jr: They feel no weight of the law and no restraint on what they should be doing. And that was shown in broad daylight today when they not just arrested the Mayor of Newark but when they put their hands on two members of congress standing behind me. How is this acceptable?
[image or embed]
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
x
What I saw today in Newark is a scene I never imagined experiencing in my lifetime. But I refuse to believe today reflects who we are as a country. We must all commit to correcting the course our country is on. Standing side by side, I know we can achieve those better tomorrows - together.
[image or embed]
— Rep. Rob Menendez (@menendez.house.gov) May 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
