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Cortez Masto officially announces bid for reelection

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto announced her 2022 re-election campaign in a short video posted to social media on Wednesday.

The announcement was not a surprise, as Cortez Masto had said in recent interviews she planned on running again. Her campaign filed its paperwork with the Federal Election Commission in December.

“When I was first elected, I made clear I’d always make Nevada families my top priority in the Senate, and that’s exactly what I’ve done,” Cortez Masto said in the video.

She highlighted votes on affordable health care and immigration and pledged to work “night and day” on providing relief needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cortez Masto is the state’s senior senator and the first Latina elected to Congress’ upper chamber. She defeated Republican Rep. Joe Heck by about 2.5 percentage points in 2016.

She has yet to officially draw a challenger, but Republicans have made it clear she will be targeted in the upcoming cycle. The GOP recently attacked her in a digital ad focused on school reopenings.

Democrats hold a majority in the Senate by the thinnest of margins, 50-50 with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tiebreaking vote.

Contact Rory Appleton at rappleton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0276. Follow @RoryDoesPhonics on Twitter.

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