Nicole Cannizzaro
American politician (born 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicole Jeanette Cannizzaro (born January 19, 1983) is an American Democratic politician currently serving in the Nevada Senate. She represents the 6th district, which covers parts of Las Vegas.
Nicole Cannizzaro | |
|---|---|
| Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate | |
| Assumed office March 5, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kelvin Atkinson |
| Member of the Nevada Senate from the 6th district | |
| Assumed office November 9, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Lipparelli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 19, 1983 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nate |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Nevada, Reno (BA) University of Nevada, Las Vegas (JD) |
Cannizzaro is the first woman to serve as Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate.[1] Cannizzaro is the Democratic nominee for Nevada Attorney General in the 2026 elections.[2]
Biography
Cannizzaro was born in Las Vegas.[3] She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006, and a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2010.[4] Following graduation, she worked as a legal clerk and then began practicing law in Las Vegas. She joined the Clark County District Attorney's Office in 2011 where she served as a Chief Deputy District Attorney.[5] After more than a decade at the Clark County District Attorney's Office, she returned to private practice in 2022.[6]
Cannizzaro was elected to the Senate in 2016 by a narrow margin, defeating Republican Victoria Seaman.[5][7] She was reelected in 2020 and 2024.[8][9] In July 2025, Cannizzaro announced she would run for Nevada Attorney General in the 2026 statewide election.[2] She defeated State Treasurer Zach Conine in the primary.[10]
Legislative initiatives
Cannizzaro has sponsored legislation on a variety of topics during her three terms in the Nevada Senate.
Public Safety:
- Senate Bill 263: Banning the possession, production, or distribution of AI generated child pornography
- Senate Bill 343: Increasing criminal penalties for trafficking fentanyl
- Senate Bill 440: Awarding back pay to state police and other state employees
Health care:
- Senate Bill 420:Creating a more affordable public health care option to be sold in Nevada's individual health care market
- Senate Bill 232:Expanding coverage for postpartum services for new mothers
Education:
- Senate Bill 231: Providing funding for 20% raises for public school teachers
Reproductive Rights:
- Senate Bill 131:Banning government agencies in Nevada from assisting other states' prosecutions of abortion patients or providers
- Senate Joint Resolution 7: Adding reproductive rights to the Nevada Constitution
- Senate Bill 179: Removing outdated criminal penalties for abortion from Nevada law
- Senate Bill 190: Expanding contraceptive access by allowing pharmacists to directly dispense birth control
Personal life
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nicole Cannizzaro | 28,733 | 50.92 | |
| Republican | Victoria Seaman | 27,697 | 49.08 | |
| Total votes | 56,430 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nicole Cannizzaro | 33,895 | 50.47 | |
| Republican | April Becker | 33,264 | 49.53 | |
| Total votes | 67,159 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nicole Cannizzaro | 37,171 | 51.69 | |
| Republican | Jill Douglass | 32,730 | 45.51 | |
| Independent American | Brad Lee Barnhill | 2,017 | 2.8 | |
| Total votes | 71,918 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nicole Cannizzaro | 112,561 | 60.7 | |
| Democratic | Zach Conine | 65,256 | 35.2 | |
| Total votes | 185,587 | 100.00 | ||