Steven Horsford

Steven Horsford
Born	Steven Alexzander Horsford 29 4, 1973
Birthplace	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	First African American to represent Nevada in Congress; first African American Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate
Education	University of Nevada, Reno (BA)
Children	3
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Steven Alexzander Horsford (born April 29, 1973) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 4th congressional district since 2019, having previously held the same seat from 2013 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Horsford has built a career defined by a series of historic firsts in Nevada politics. He was the first African American elected to represent the state of Nevada in the United States Congress, and earlier in his career he became the first African American to serve as Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate, a position he held from 2009 to 2013. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Horsford represented Nevada's 4th state senate district in Clark County from 2005 to 2013 before entering the congressional arena. He served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2023 to 2025 and was elected to the Democratic Caucus leadership team in July 2025. Outside of public office, Horsford worked for the Las Vegas-based business and marketing consulting firm R&R Partners. His legislative work has focused on housing affordability, labor rights, immigration oversight, and economic relief for Nevada families.

Early Life

Steven Alexzander Horsford was born on April 29, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He grew up in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, in Clark County, Nevada, during a period of rapid growth for the region. Details about his parents and early family life remain limited in available public records, though his upbringing in Southern Nevada shaped much of his later political focus on issues affecting working families in the region.

Horsford's early life in Las Vegas exposed him to the economic dynamics of a city built on the tourism and hospitality industries. These experiences would later inform his legislative priorities in both the Nevada Senate and the U.S. Congress, where he frequently advocated for workers in the service and hospitality sectors. His background as an African American growing up in a state with a relatively small Black population also positioned him as a trailblazer when he entered politics, as Nevada had historically elected few African Americans to prominent statewide or federal office.

Education

Horsford attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His time at the university provided him with a foundation that he would carry into both his business and political careers. The University of Nevada, Reno is the state's oldest institution of higher education, and Horsford's attendance there connected him to a broader network of Nevada political and civic leaders.

Career

Early Career and Business

Before entering elected politics, Horsford was involved in business and consulting work in the Las Vegas area. He was associated with R&R Partners, an international business and marketing consulting firm headquartered in Las Vegas. R&R Partners is known for its work in marketing and communications, including the creation of the well-known "What Happens Here, Stays Here" advertising campaign for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Horsford's work with the firm provided him with experience in business strategy, communications, and stakeholder engagement that he later applied to his political career.

Nevada Senate (2005–2013)

Horsford was elected to the Nevada Senate in 2004, representing the 4th district in Clark County. He succeeded Joe Neal, a longtime African American state senator who had represented the district for decades. Horsford took office on February 7, 2005, and served in the Nevada Senate for eight years, through January 3, 2013.

During his tenure in the state senate, Horsford rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus. In February 2009, he was elevated to the position of Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate, succeeding longtime Republican leader William Raggio. This appointment made Horsford the first African American to serve as Majority Leader in the history of the Nevada Senate, a milestone in the state's political history. He held the Majority Leader position until the end of his state senate tenure in January 2013 and was succeeded in the role by Mo Denis.

As Majority Leader, Horsford was responsible for managing the legislative agenda of the Democratic majority in the Nevada Senate. A December 2011 profile in the Las Vegas Sun examined whether his collegial style of leadership could be effective in the often contentious environment of state politics, noting the challenges of leading a caucus through difficult economic times in Nevada. The state was particularly hard-hit by the Great Recession, experiencing one of the highest foreclosure rates and unemployment levels in the nation, and Horsford's leadership during this period required navigating severe budget constraints and economic pressures.

Horsford's time in the Nevada Senate was not without controversy. In November 2009, he was reported to have been cited for illegally parking in a handicapped-accessible parking spot, an incident covered by local media outlets. Additionally, during his time in the state legislature, questions arose regarding lawmakers' relationships with the online poker company PokerStars. Reports in the Las Vegas Sun indicated that PokerStars had taken lawmakers on trips to the Bahamas and England in connection with efforts to influence internet gambling legislation in Nevada, and that multiple lawmakers, including Horsford, had received campaign contributions from the company. The Las Vegas Review-Journal also reported on Horsford's criticism of PokerStars for its political involvement in Nevada.

His successor in the Nevada Senate's 4th district was Kelvin Atkinson.

First Congressional Term (2013–2015)

In October 2011, Horsford announced his candidacy for the newly created Nevada's 4th congressional district, which had been established following the 2010 Census and subsequent redistricting process. The new district encompassed a large geographic area, including portions of Clark County as well as rural areas of central and northern Nevada. Media outlets noted that Democrats hoped to pick up new seats in Nevada through the redistricting process.

During the campaign, Horsford vowed to help Nevada families recover from the economic downturn that had devastated the state. Local media commentators observed Horsford's congressional ambitions as a natural progression from his state senate leadership role.

Horsford won the 2012 general election for the newly created 4th congressional district, becoming the first African American to represent Nevada in the United States Congress. He took office on January 3, 2013. As the district's first representative, he had no direct predecessor in the seat.

During his first term, Horsford focused on issues relevant to his diverse district, which included both urban areas of the Las Vegas metropolitan region and vast rural stretches. However, his initial congressional tenure was cut short when he lost his 2014 re-election bid to Republican nominee Cresent Hardy. The 2014 midterm elections were broadly favorable to Republicans nationwide, and Horsford's loss was part of a larger wave that saw the Republican Party gain seats in both chambers of Congress.

Private Sector Return (2015–2018)

Following his 2014 electoral defeat, Horsford returned to the private sector, rejoining R&R Partners, the Las Vegas-based international business and marketing consulting firm where he had worked before entering politics. During this period, he maintained ties to the Nevada political landscape and continued to be active in Democratic Party circles.

Return to Congress (2019–Present)

In January 2018, Horsford announced his candidacy for Nevada's 4th congressional district, which had been vacated by Democratic incumbent Ruben Kihuen, who chose not to seek re-election amid misconduct allegations. The 2018 race set up a rematch between Horsford and Cresent Hardy, the Republican who had defeated him four years earlier. In November 2018, in a political environment more favorable to Democrats than the 2014 cycle had been, Horsford defeated Hardy and reclaimed the seat. He was sworn in on January 3, 2019.

Since returning to Congress, Horsford has been re-elected in subsequent cycles and has taken on increasingly prominent roles within the Democratic caucus. From January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2025, he served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, succeeding Joyce Beatty and being succeeded by Yvette Clarke. In this role, he represented the interests of the caucus's members and helped set its legislative and political agenda.

On July 23, 2025, Horsford was elected by his peers to serve on the Democratic Caucus leadership team, further elevating his position within the House Democratic conference.

Legislative Priorities

Throughout his congressional career, Horsford has focused on a range of policy areas reflecting the needs of his Southern Nevada constituents and broader national concerns.

Housing Affordability

Horsford has been an advocate for housing affordability, a significant issue in the Las Vegas metropolitan area where housing costs have risen considerably. In 2025, he voted in support of the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act, which aimed to advance reforms to improve housing access and affordability.

Labor and Workers' Rights

Horsford has maintained a focus on labor issues, particularly those affecting tipped workers in Nevada's hospitality industry. In 2025, he unveiled the TIP Improvement Act, legislation he described as having been "crafted by workers, for workers." The announcement was made alongside members of Culinary Union Local 226 and tipped workers from across Southern Nevada.

Trade and Tariff Policy

In response to a Supreme Court ruling concerning tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Horsford co-introduced the RELIEF Act alongside Congresswoman Janelle Bynum of Oregon. The legislation proposed providing refunds to businesses affected by the tariff ruling.

Immigration Oversight

Horsford has conducted congressional oversight of immigration enforcement facilities in his district. In August 2025, he inspected the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, Nevada, which is operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the visit, he stated that "Congressional oversight is never optional."

Food Security

In October 2025, Horsford led a letter co-signed by Congresswoman Dina Titus and other Nevada congressional Democrats to Governor Joe Lombardo, urging the governor to protect Nevadans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Personal Life

Steven Horsford has three children. He has maintained his primary residence in the Las Vegas area throughout his political career, reflecting his deep roots in the community he represents. Horsford has been associated with the Las Vegas business community through his work with R&R Partners and other professional endeavors.

Recognition

Horsford's career has been marked by several notable firsts in Nevada political history. He was the first African American to serve as Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate, a position he held from 2009 to 2013. He was also the first African American elected to represent Nevada in the United States Congress when he won the newly created 4th congressional district in 2012.

His election as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 118th Congress (2023–2025) placed him in a leadership role representing one of the most influential caucuses in the U.S. House of Representatives. His subsequent election to the Democratic Caucus leadership team in July 2025 further cemented his standing within the House Democratic conference.

Legacy

Steven Horsford's political career reflects the evolving demographics and political dynamics of Nevada in the early 21st century. As the first African American to hold several significant political positions in the state, he has been a figure in the broader narrative of increasing racial and ethnic diversity in American political representation. His trajectory — from the Nevada Senate to Congress, through an electoral defeat and subsequent return — illustrates the competitive and shifting nature of Nevada's political landscape, particularly in the state's 4th congressional district, which encompasses a diverse mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities.

His focus on issues such as housing affordability, labor rights for tipped workers, trade policy, and food security reflects the economic concerns of his Southern Nevada constituents, many of whom work in the hospitality, service, and tourism industries that form the backbone of the Las Vegas economy. His leadership within the Congressional Black Caucus and the broader Democratic caucus has given him a platform to advocate for these priorities at the national level.

The 4th congressional district, created following the 2010 Census, has been one of Nevada's most competitive districts, and Horsford's ability to win and hold the seat across multiple cycles — despite a loss in 2014 — speaks to his sustained political base in the region. His career continues to evolve as he takes on new leadership responsibilities within the House Democratic conference.