2020 Nevada General Election Legislative Results – Final

All the ballots cast in Nevada have now been counted and the various county commissions have finalized the canvas of votes. The composition of the 21^st Legislative Session is now set. The complete list is below this email.

The Republicans had a strong election down-ballot. The GOP held every seat it was defending and flipped four total seats (one in the Senate, three in the Assembly). However, even with these gains the Democrats still hold strong majorities in both houses.

The State Senate will be 12 – 9 Democrats to Republicans. Carrie Buck (R) narrowly defeated Kristee Watson (D) to pick up Senate District 5, which had been held by termed out Senator Joyce Woodhouse (D). With Senator Heidi Gansert (R) holding her district – which had the closest voter registration of all senate districts, the Republicans go into 2021 in a slightly stronger position. Ultimately though, blocking the 2/3rds majority simply means any new tax or revenue will need to secure at least two Republican votes in the Senate to reach Governor Steve Sisolak’s (D) desk.

The State Assembly will be 26 – 16 Democrats to Republicans. With pick-ups in Assembly District 4 where Richard McArthur (R) defeated incumbent Connie Munk (D), Assembly District 31 where Jill Dickman (R) defeated incumbent Skip Daly (D), and Assembly District 37 where Andy Matthews (R) defeated incumbent Shea Backus (D), the GOP has broken their super-minority status. As with the Senate, the new numbers in the Assembly mean any tax or revenue measure will require the support of at least two Republicans in that house as well.

While Republicans did gain seats and a larger voice in tax and revenue measures, the Democrats have significant majorities and hold the Governor’s Office. So, many of the same priorities of the majority that were seen in 2019 – worker protection and classification, health care access and expansion, and regulation of business practices are likely to return. How these priorities may intersect with the significant shortfall in revenue from the pandemic is unknown.

Additionally, with the COVID-19 pandemic currently spiking, it appears likely, at this time, that the 2021 Session will be held virtually – like this summer’s special sessions. In a “normal” legislative session, about 1,000 bills are considered. For comparison, between the two virtual special sessions 16 bills were considered in 19 days. It would seem that the 2021 Session, if done similarly, will be far smaller in scope given the constraints of technology and stakeholder participation.

Incumbents in bold italics. New legislators in underline. *Prior legislative service.