Mo Denis
{{short description|President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mo Denis
|image = Moises Denis LV.jpg
|office = President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate
|term_start = November 9, 2016
|term_end = November 9, 2022
|predecessor = Joe Hardy
|successor = Pat Spearman
|office1 = President of the Nevada Senate
|status1 = Acting
|term_start1 = September 17, 2021
|term_end1 = December 16, 2021
|predecessor1 = Kate Marshall
|successor1 = Lisa Cano Burkhead
|office2 = Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate
|term_start2 = February 4, 2013
|term_end2 = November 5, 2014
|predecessor2 = Steven Horsford
|successor2 = Michael Roberson
|state_senate3 = Nevada
|district3 = 2nd
|term_start3 = November 3, 2010
|term_end3 = November 9, 2022
|predecessor3 = Maggie Carlton
|successor3 = Edgar Flores
|state_assembly4 = Nevada
|district4 = 28th
|term_start4 = November 3, 2004
|term_end4 = November 3, 2010
|predecessor4 = Vonne Chowning
|successor4 = Lucy Flores
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|8|9}}
|birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Susan Cook
|children = 5
|education = Brigham Young University {{small|(BA)}}
}}
Moises Denis (born August 9, 1961) is an American politician who served as President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate between 2016 and 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 2nd district in the Nevada Senate between 2010 and 2022, covering parts of the eastern Las Vegas Valley. He was previously a member of the Nevada Assembly from 2004 to 2010, representing Assembly District 28 in the same area.
Biography
Denis was born in New York City to parents who had immigrated from Cuba. Denis is Mormon. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay. He studied at Brigham Young University. He has also served as a bishop in the LDS Church as well as in other positions. He is a cousin of United States Senator from Florida Marco Rubio.{{cite news|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|title=Rubio went to a Mormon church as a kid|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/02/rubio-went-to-a-mormon-church-as-a-kid-115330.html|access-date=26 February 2012|newspaper=Politico}}{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=Marco Rubio returns to his roots in Nevada|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-35635008|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=BBC News|date=February 23, 2016|quote=Michelle's older brother, Moises Denis, didn't attend the Sunday night rally and, as a Democratic politician representing Las Vegas in the Nevada Senate, is on the opposite side of the political divide from his relative.}} In 2019, an interview with Denis' sister stated that she was concerned for those unable to afford housing and living out of their cars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2019/10/19/20897026/living-in-car-seattle-homeless|title=People who can't afford rent are living in their cars, and cities aren't sure what to do about them|last=Graham|first=Jennifer|date=2019-10-19|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=2022-01-26}} Denis is a computer technician.{{cite web |url= https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Library/Documents/LegislatorDB/Bios/Haller,K1993.pdf |title= Nevada Legislators |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
Political career
Denis served three terms in the Nevada Assembly from 2004 to 2010, and served three term as a state senator between 2010 and 2022. He has frequently run unopposed or won lopsided victories. Denis led his caucus' re-election efforts in the 2012 cycle and served as Senate Majority Leader from 2013 to 2014.{{cite news|last1=Vogel|first1=Ed|title='Mo' Denis ready to lead legislative Democrats|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/mo-denis-ready-to-lead-legislative-democrats/|access-date=January 26, 2022|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 14, 2011}} In December 2011, Denis resigned from his job with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission following an alleged conflict between his executive and legislative roles.{{cite news|last1=Schwartz|first1=David McGrath|title=Mo Denis, target of suit challenging public employees in Legislature, leaving job with state|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/dec/19/mo-denis-target-suit-challenging-public-employees-/|access-date=January 26, 2022|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=December 19, 2011}} Denis is the first Latino person to serve as Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate (or leader of any caucus).
Electoral history
- 2018 Denis was unopposed in the primary election.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2018StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2018 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}} He defeated Republican candidate Cal Border in the general election with 13,717 votes (79.50%).{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2014StateWideGeneral/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2014 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2014 Denis was unopposed in the primary election.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2014StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2014 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}} He defeated Independent American Party candidate Louis Baker in the general election with 5,683 votes (76.37%).{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2014StateWideGeneral/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2014 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2010 Incumbent Senator Maggie Carlton was term-limited out of Senate District 2, which overlapped with Denis' Assembly district.{{cite news|last1=Schwartz|first1=David McGrath|title=Lawmakers' eyes widen at term limit vacancies|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/08/lawmakers-eyes-widen-term-limit-vacancies/|access-date=January 26, 2022|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=July 8, 2009}} Denis ran to replace her and was unopposed in both the primary and general elections.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2010StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2010 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2010StateWideGeneral/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2010 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2008 Denis was unopposed in the primary.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2008StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2008 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}} He defeated Republican candidate Tino Mendoza in the general election with 4,664 votes (78.86%).{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2008StateWideGeneral/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2008 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2006 Denis was unopposed in both the primary and general elections.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2006StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2006 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2006StateWideGeneral/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2006 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2004 After incumbent Vonne Chowning did not seek re-election in Assembly District 28, Denis won the primary with 800 votes (51.38%) against Eddie Flores and Rosa Mendoza.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2004Primary/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2004 Statewide Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}} He then won the general election with 4,218 votes (75.51%) against Republican nominee Benjamin Bell.{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2004General/ElectionSummary.aspx |title= 2004 Statewide General Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
- 2002 Denis ran in the Democratic primary for Assembly District 28, but was defeated by incumbent Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning who had 601 votes (52.72%) compared to Denis' 539 votes (47.28%).{{cite web |url= https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2002Primary/Clark.aspx |title= 2002 Clark Primary Election Results |publisher= Secretary of State of Nevada |location= Carson City, Nevada |accessdate= January 26, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://senatormodenis.com/ Campaign website]
- [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=43820 Project Vote Smart - Assembly Member Moises 'Mo' Denis (NV)] profile
- Follow the Money - Mo Denis
- {{C-SPAN|104983}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nv-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=Steven Horsford}}
{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate|years=2013–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Michael Roberson}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Joe Hardy}}
{{s-ttl|title=President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate|years=2016–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Pat Spearman}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Kate Marshall}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the Nevada Senate
Acting|years=2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Lisa Cano Burkhead}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denis, Mo}}
Category:21st-century members of the Nevada Legislature
Category:American politicians of Cuban descent
Category:Brigham Young University alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Nevada Assembly
Category:Democratic Party Nevada state senators
Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Nevada
Category:Latter Day Saints from Nevada
Category:Latter Day Saints from New York (state)