Cortez Masto entered the 2022 midterm elections as one of the most threatened sitting senators as Republicans sought to take advantage of poor economic conditions and an unpopular Democratic president. After a historically expensive Senate race that saw tens of millions of dollars pour into Nevada airwaves, he has come out on top — if only, ahead by less than 1 percentage point as of Monday afternoon. Now, the nation’s first Latina senator returns to a divided Washington, amid expectations that Republicans will have a slim majority in the House and that the Democratic majority in the Senate will not be able to expand beyond 50 or 51 seats, depending with the results of the Georgia Senate runoff next month. Cortez Masto spoke with The Nevada Independent in a phone interview Monday to discuss the election, how she plans to work with Republicans in Nevada and on Capitol Hill, and her legislative priorities for a second term. Editor’s Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. The Nevada Independent: Has Adam Laxalt called you or are you waiting for him to concede? Cortez Masto: No, he hasn’t called me. But you know, I didn’t get a call from my last opponent [Republican Rep. Joe Heck] when I ran for the Senate. We’re still counting votes, but it looks like you’ll beat President Biden in many rural counties in the state — though not all, and they still lean heavily Republican. Why do you think this happens? I learned from my father [former four-term Clark County Commissioner Manny Cortez] And growing up in Nevada and running for office in the past, you just don’t take any voter for granted. You have to go out, talk to them, listen to them, ask for their support and their vote, and then make sure you follow through. A lot of the work I’ve done, whether it’s on the wildfires or the drought or bringing broadband to the community or addressing mental health issues, has been informed by the people of Nevada because of the work we’ve done together. And I was able to really show the work I’ve done to bring meaningful resources and support to the state. But, really, the key is just to get out and talk to the people of Nevada. When you look at the two statewide races in Nevada, why do you think your campaign succeeded where Governor Sisolak’s campaign did not? The only thing I can tell you is, I know from my perspective, in the past and running and just being in Nevada, just trying to be everywhere and showing up for it. I think it is so important that I will represent the people of Nevada whether they endorsed me or not. I have to show up and go where they are, whether it’s in our urban areas or our rural areas, and that’s why every August, when I get a chance to be out of DC and back home in Nevada, I go into rural communities. I drive there and show up and this is true in our urban areas. I think it’s important that I not only provide support to so many Nevadans when they need the help and they can call my office and email it or they can or show up in person, but I also go to them. And for me, that’s how it should be when you represent a state. Even at the height of the pandemic, [when] I couldn’t get into the rural communities, I was on Zoom calls to make sure I was hearing what they needed. And then to be in Washington, DC, fighting for the resources we needed in our community at the height of the pandemic. So I think that’s part of it. Always, constantly interacting and conversing with the people of Nevada. There will be a divided government in Nevada and a Republican in the governor’s office. How do you plan to work with Governor-elect Lombardo? The same way I worked [Republican Gov. Brian] Sandoval when I was attorney general. I think there is a way we can work together. We are all looking out for Nevada’s best interests and solving problems for Nevada and the people and businesses in Nevada. There will always be an opportunity to work together. I will work with anyone who truly wants to solve problems and work on behalf of the people in business in the state of Nevada. I did it with Governor Sandoval and I look forward to doing it with Governor-elect Lombardo. You’ve pledged to block any attempt at a federal abortion ban, but what do you think, realistically, is the likelihood that this kind of ban will come before Congress? One hundred percent. They’ve already tried it. [Republican South Carolina Sen.] Lindsey Graham already tried to present it. So they are not going to stop. Of course they will continue. Look, we had a 50-50 Senate, the Democrats are in control, and Lindsey Graham still brought it in to try to do something. So, yes, I think we need to be vigilant and make sure that we’re not only standing up for the people of Nevada—in which Nevada is a pro-choice state—and fighting to make sure that not only doctors but [inaudible] get the support and not be criminalized for providing it — whether it’s accessing that health care as a doctor or as a woman seeking that kind of reproductive freedom. You have fought as his defender [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] and Dreamers. But DACA’s legal foundation is on shaky ground. Assuming Democrats won’t be able to pass immigration reform on their own in Congress, what’s the path forward for Dreamers? We keep fighting. And I’m not giving up… I’ve already had calls and meetings with the White House and will continue to do so. There is an opportunity, in some of my fellow Republican colleagues, who claim to want to work and support Dreamers and work on legislation. You are welcome to work together and I will look for them to stand up and fight, but I am not giving up. This is such an important issue that I know we can absolutely ensure that DREAMers and TPS recipients, so many who have been on the front lines of this pandemic, are on a path to citizenship. We can fix our broken immigration system and treat people with dignity, while protecting our borders. We can do both. I know, I was attorney general. For eight years, I worked on these border issues with Mexico’s AG’s, from drug trafficking to human trafficking. So yes, I will continue to fight for resources to make sure we do everything we can to address these issues at the border. But we can also fix this broken immigration system and treat people with dignity. It’s worth fighting for. You said in your victory speech that Nevada “rejected far-right politicians” this election. They’re still counting votes so it could change, but right now [Adam Laxalt] is doing about 1.5 to 2 points better than [Trump] in 2020. Even if Democrats won key races, why do you think more Nevadans support Republicans in 2022? What’s the difference? I’ll leave the technical to other people. Here’s what I know in my tribe and why it’s so important, what I’ve seen: You’re in a state where the people of Nevada voted pro-choice, to make sure women have that right to choose. You’re in a state where voters have fought so that we can make sure that everyone has the right to vote and a vote that’s safe and secure for them, and they can vote in Spanish, English, and Tagalog because people care about securing everyone has access. The people of Nevada want people elected to represent them. They also want people elected who will be the backstop for these far right Republicans who are still peddling these conspiracies and lies or want to try to roll back women’s rights in this country. And just like this election where, for me, being elected and having control of the Senate with the Democrats is a statement in itself by the people of Nevada. It’s a backstop against the federal abortion ban it’s trying to push through the Senate floor. Again, that’s what the voters in Nevada want and I think [it] it is important to listen to them.
