Primary Election Date: 06/12/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

My family moved to Southern Nevada nearly five decades ago, driving across the country in search of a better life. We stopped in Las Vegas for the night on the way to California and never left. My father got a job as a waiter at the Sands Hotel. On a waiter’s salary, he put food on the table, a roof over our heads and helped put me and my sister through college. It is my job to make sure that current and future generations of Nevadans have the same opportunities that my family had.

My family’s experience has given me a deep sense of commitment to the people of my state and a determination to provide a better future for Nevada’s families. I didn't just grow up in Nevada, I grew up with Nevada. Unfortunately, my state is hurting right now and that is why we need leaders who will make job creation a priority. In Congress I have done just that -- championing legislation to make Nevada a national leader in clean energy jobs, fighting to close tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas, and supporting tax credits for small businesses.

I am now running for the United States Senate to make sure that Nevadans have the leadership they deserve.

Why Am I Running?

I am running for Congress because Nevada needs leaders who are focused like a laser on job creation. Nevadans are suffering under the highest unemployment rate in the nation and the highest mortgage foreclosure rate in the country. Unfortunately Wall Street Republicans are pushing an extreme agenda that is blocking progress on job creation. Instead of focusing on creating jobs, they are protecting billionaires and millionaires at the expense of middle-class Nevadans.

My opponent, Dean Heller, voted not once but twice for the extreme Ryan budget plan that would end Medicare as we know it by turning it over to profit-hungry insurance companies. He even said he was “proud” to be the only politician to vote for the budget twice. Instead of being proud, he should be ashamed to throw seniors under the bus in order to protect tax breaks for the very wealthy.

Nevada cannot afford pro-Wall Street politicians like Dean Heller who consistently side with Wall Street millionaires and billionaires at the expense of middle-class families.

Hold Me Accountable!

My number one, two and three priorities are jobs, jobs, jobs. Our country is suffering and Nevadans are suffering most of all. Nevada has the highest unemployment in the nation.

We can get our economy back on track and create jobs by supporting small businesses, ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and Big Oil companies making record profits, and investing in clean energy jobs of the future.

I will also protect Medicare and Social Security programs that our seniors depend on and oppose efforts to turn Medicare over to private insurance companies. Republicans in Washington have sought to end Medicare as we know it in order to protect tax giveaways to oil companies and corporations that ship jobs overseas. That’s just wrong.

Nevadans will have a clear choice in this election between myself, a candidate dedicated to creating jobs and turning our economy around and Dean Heller who sides with Wall Street millionaires and billionaires at the expense of middle class families.

My DFA values:

These values are the underpinning of my campaign for Senate. My job is to make sure that current and future generations of Nevadans and Americans have the same opportunities that my family had – the ability to put food on the table, pay the bills and put their kids through college.

We need leaders in Congress who stand up for middle-class families, protect Social Security, and find solutions to our country's jobs crisis. We must balance our nation’s budget, but not on the backs of our veterans and seniors. Instead, we can end tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas and big oil companies making record profits.

I have fought throughout my career to promote equality for all people, regardless of race, gender, creed or ethnicity. That is why I have supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, worked to strengthen penalties for hate crimes and led efforts to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I have also fought against attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive and preventive care, opposing Republican efforts to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.

I have been a leader on national security. As a former member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have a deep understanding of the security threats facing our nation. I have worked to promote peace in the Middle East, protect and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Israel, and have pushed for tough sanctions against North Korea, Syria and Iran. Most recently, I have led efforts to invest in green energy in Nevada, which will reduce our dependence on foreign oil while creating good-paying jobs that cannot be shipped overseas.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

I believe that a successful campaign must be built on grassroots principles. We are reaching out to Nevadans from all walks of life through our volunteer program and social media campaigns. We have launched online petitions to stand up for Nevada’s Hispanic community in the wake of insults from my Republican opponent and to protect women’s access to reproductive care in light of efforts to pass a so-called “Personhood” amendment in this state.

As I travel across the state, I have found that it doesn’t matter if you’re from Las Vegas or Winnemucca, Reno or Pahrump – Nevadans want leaders who will focus on creating jobs and securing a better future for the people of our state. That is what my campaign is all about.