Harry Reid

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader.

National political career

Nevada had been represented by only one member of the United States House of Representatives since statehood, but tremendous growth in the 1970s resulted in the state being split into two districts. Reid won the Democratic nomination for the 1st Congressional District, based in Las Vegas, in 1982. He was easily elected in November and served two terms there, from 1983 to 1987, being reelected in 1984. He was elected to the Senate in 1986, now succeeding Laxalt. Reid was reelected in 1992, 1998 and 2004. He narrowly defeated his Republican opponent in 1998, future Senator John Ensign (Ensign won Nevada's other Senate seat in 2000), and his Republican opponent in 2004 was Richard Ziser, whom Reid defeated by a vote of 61%-35%. Mike Ensign, Senator Ensign's father, contributed $2,000 to Reid's 2004 Senate campaign. In 1999, Reid became Minority Whip, and the right hand man of Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

Related Topics:
United States House of Representatives - 1982 - 1983 - 1987 - 1984 - 1986 - 1992 - 1998 - 2004 - John Ensign - 2000 - Richard Ziser - Mike Ensign - 1999 - Minority Whip - Tom Daschle - South Dakota

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On November 16 2004, Reid was elected Senate Democratic Leader and Minority Leader for the 109th Congress, following Daschle's defeat in his bid for reelection.

Related Topics:
November 16 - 2004 - Senate Democratic Leader - 109th Congress

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the Congressional recess of 2005, Reid suffered what doctors called a "transient ischemic attack", also known as a mini-stroke. He sought medical help at the advice of his wife, Landra. His press secretary said there would be "no complications or any restrictions on his activities" due to the attack.

Related Topics:
Recess - 2005 - Transient ischemic attack

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~