Steven Horsford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steven Horsford
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| Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Joyce Beatty |
| Succeeded by | Yvette Clarke |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Ruben Kihuen |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Cresent Hardy |
| Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate | |
| In office February 9, 2009 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | William Raggio |
| Succeeded by | Mo Denis |
| Member of the Nevada Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office February 7, 2005 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Neal |
| Succeeded by | Kelvin Atkinson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Steven Alexzander Horsford
April 29, 1973 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Nevada, Reno (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Steven Alexzander Horsford (born April 29, 1973) is an American politician and businessman. He represents Nevada's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served in this role since 2019, and also from 2013 to 2015. From 2023 to 2025, he was the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
A member of the Democratic Party, Horsford served in the Nevada Senate from 2005 to 2013. He represented the 4th district in Clark County. He made history as the first African American to serve as Majority Leader in the Nevada Senate (2009–2013). He was also the first African American to represent Nevada in Congress.
After his first term in Congress, Horsford joined R&R Partners, a business and marketing consulting firm. He had worked there before starting his political career. In 2018, he ran again for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election, defeating former U.S. Representative Cresent Hardy.
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Early Life and Education
Horsford was born and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. His mother, Pamela Horsford, moved to the U.S. from Trinidad when she was a teenager.
While attending Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas, Horsford worked at a Pizza Hut. He also cleaned kennels at a veterinarian's office.
When Horsford was 19, his father, Gary Shelton, passed away. Horsford temporarily left the University of Nevada, Reno. He had been studying political science and communications there. He returned to college the next year and earned his degree in 2014.
Business Career
Horsford was the CEO of the Culinary Training Academy. This program helps people get job training. He also served on the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board. In 1996, he started working at R&R Partners in Las Vegas.
Nevada Senate Service
Becoming a State Senator
In 2004, the Democratic State Senator for Clark County's 4th Senate district, Joe Neal, decided to retire. Horsford ran for the open seat. He won against Republican Mabel Florence Lucier.
He became the fourth African American to serve as a state senator in Nevada's history. In 2008, he was reelected for a second term.
Time as Majority Leader
Horsford served in several special and regular sessions of the Nevada legislature. In February 2009, he became the Nevada Senate Majority Leader.
In August 2011, Horsford appointed Senator Mo Denis to lead the caucus election efforts.
Committee Work
In his last session in the Nevada Senate, Horsford chaired the Senate Finance Committee. He also served on the Senate Committee on Revenue. Additionally, he was on the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.
U.S. House of Representatives Service
Congressional Elections
2012 Election
In October 2011, Horsford announced he would run for Congress. He chose to run in the newly created Nevada's 4th congressional district. This district includes northern Clark County and parts of several rural counties.
He won the Democratic primary without opposition. In November, he defeated Republican businessman Danny Tarkanian. Horsford won by carrying Clark County, where most of the district's voters live.
2014 Election
Horsford was narrowly defeated by Republican State Assemblyman Cresent Hardy. Hardy later lost his own reelection bid in 2016.
2018 Election
In January 2018, Horsford announced he would run again for the 4th congressional district seat. The previous representative, Ruben Kihuen, decided not to run for a second term. Horsford won the Democratic primary in June. He then defeated Republican nominee Cresent Hardy in the general election. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2019.
2020 Election
Horsford ran for reelection against Republican former State Assemblyman Jim Marchant. In the November general election, Horsford won by five points.
2022 Election
Horsford won reelection in 2022. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. He defeated Republican Sam Peters by about 5%.
Time in Congress
Horsford's first two-year term in Congress began on January 3, 2013. He is a member of the House Progressive Caucus. He also supported a resolution in 2013 that delayed a part of the Affordable Care Act.
According to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, Horsford voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress.
Political Views
On February 9, 2023, Horsford voted against a resolution that condemned the District of Columbia's plan to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.
COVID-19 Policies
On January 31, 2023, Horsford voted against a bill that would lift COVID-19 vaccine requirements for healthcare workers. On February 1, 2023, he voted against ending the COVID-19 national emergency.
Immigration Views
Horsford helped introduce a bill that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. He believes Congress needs to address immigration comprehensively. He supports increased border security but thinks a southern border wall alone won't solve immigration issues.
Health Care Views
Horsford believes that health care is a right for everyone. He thinks all Americans should have access to health care similar to what veterans and senior citizens receive.
Gun Control Views
Horsford supports a package of gun control measures. These include background checks for gun sales and banning certain types of weapons. He also supports increasing funding for mental health programs.
Federal Lands Views
During his first term, Horsford helped create the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. He also helped designate about 50,000 acres of wilderness in Nevada. He does not support transferring federal land in Nevada to state control. He believes the state would struggle to manage it.
Minimum Wage Views
Horsford supports increasing the federal minimum wage. In March 2014, he worked undercover with a UPS driver. He did this to understand the lives of working people and to support raising the minimum wage.
Reparations Views
Horsford supports a bill to create a commission to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans. This commission would look into reparations for descendants of enslaved people.
Syria Policy
In 2023, Horsford voted against a resolution that would have required President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria.
Committee Assignments
- Committee on Financial Services (118th Congress)
- Committee on Ways and Means (116th-117th Congress)
- Subcommittee on Health
- Committee on the Budget
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Black Caucus (chair)
- Black Maternal Health Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Problem Solvers Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
Other Political Activities
2008 Presidential Election
Horsford helped arrange for Nevada to host the second national presidential caucus in 2008. He supported Barack Obama early on and co-chaired Obama's campaign in Nevada.
National Committees
Horsford was the national vice chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. He also served as the Democratic National Committeeman for Nevada. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee's Change Commission and its Rules & Bylaws Committee.
Career Between House Terms
In April 2015, Horsford returned to work at R&R Partners. In his role there, he helped MGM Resorts International ensure that a large portion of the workforce for the MGM National Harbor in Maryland would be local residents. He also worked to ensure contracts with minority-owned businesses.
Personal Life
Horsford married Sonya Douglass, a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 2000. They have three children.
In 2013, Horsford had heart surgery to treat a condition he inherited.
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Steven Horsford
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