Catherine Cortez Masto Biography: Journey To Becoming A First Woman Senate of Nevada

As we delve through Catherine Cortez Masto biography, we get to learn that women’s participation in positions of power is a fundamental obligation for gender equality and democracy. Catherine, a strong advocate for women’s rights, became the first woman elected to represent Nevada in the U.S. Senate. Further, she is also the first Latina to be elected to the higher assembly room.

From her tenure at the attorney general’s office to winning the 2016 U.S. Senate election, Masto has always fought and supported women’s constitutional and fundamental rights. She took the senate’s office in 2017 and later became the senior senator in 2019, reelected further in 2022.

Stay with us readers to appreciate Catherine Masto, U.S. Senator, journey as a fierce leader who made history as the first woman from Nevada to enter the upper legislature.

Getting To Know Her Family and Education

Catherine Marie Cortez Masto was born on March 29, 1964, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S, to parents Joanna Cortez and Manuel “Manny” Cortez. She comes from a mixed heritage family, as her mother was of Italian descent, while her father was Mexican. Cortez is 59 years old as of July 2023.

From a young age, Catherine became engaged with politics as her late father was the Las Vegas’ Clark County Commissioner. He was the one who gave permission for the city’s most famous slogan, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (originally, What happens here, stays here).” Further, he encouraged his daughters to pursue higher education.

In 1986 Catherine Cortez graduated with a finance degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Likewise, in 1990, she graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D) degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. Masto and her older sister Cynthia Cortez were the first in their family to graduate from college.

Catherine Cortez Masto Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

After graduating, the Las Vegas native worked four years as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and two years as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. From 1995-1999, she worked as a chief of staff to the late Bob Miller (26th Nevada Governor).

Husband and Married Life of Over 24 Years

Catherine Cortez Masto’s husband is a former secret agent Paul Masto. The lifetime government careerist couple has been married for over 24 years as of 2023.

Somewhere in the late 90s, Catherine met her future spouse while she was working as chief of staff. At the time, Paul, a special agent, was coordinating his Nevada visit for former president Bill Clinton. The two, who were embarking on their public career, instantly developed a bond and later got married in September 1998.

On February 15, 2023, Cortez shared a sweet Instagram post wishing Valentine’s Day where she praised Paul, calling him a better partner. Similarly, during the previous Valentine’s Day, she shared a sweet throwback picture.

On September 26, 2022, the Nevada senator shared a throwback picture of her wedding day on Instagram along with a caption, “Celebrating 24 years with my best friend.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Catherine Cortez Masto (@cortezmasto)

Catherine Cortez Masto’s partner, Paul, is the owner of a private security firm in Las Vegas. Previously, he worked for U.S. Secret Service’s office in Las Vegas. In addition, he does contract security work for Merletti Gonzales International, a security service agency.

While Paul provides security for major businesses, his wife, Catherine, runs Nevada as a senator. The duo worked together for several philanthropy and charity work in Nevada and across the states.

Unfortunately, the information about their kids is relevantly hidden despite the parents being in constant media attention.

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Catherine Cortez Masto Net Worth

It is a fact that millionaire lawmakers have always been a part of the congressional story. On a similar note, the U.S senator for Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto net worth is estimated to be $7 million as of September 2022. The financial figures are the general values that are calculated as per Cortez’s assets and liabilities.

Cortez’s largest sources of income came from two single-family rental properties, one in Las Vegas worth between $250,000 and $500,000 and another in Reno worth between $500,000 and $1 million. In addition, Catherine also listed a retirement plan with the Nevada Public Employees’ Retirement System worth between $250,000 and $500,000.

Catherine Cortez Masto Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

As per the DailyWire investigation reports, Nevada Senator and her spouse, Paul, have a net worth of up to $7 million as of late 2022. The reports claimed that the couple had over $1 million in one bank account alone.

Before standing in an election, candidates are required to show their financial reports to the government. In 2016, Cortez Masto filed disclosure reports showing she and her husband, Paul Masto had a net worth between $1.24 million and $2.88 million. The major assets for her fortune are a rental property in Las Vegas and an undeveloped land worth nearly $500,000.

Table Source: Open-secrets.org

As a senator, Catherine Masto earns an annual salary of $174,000. From 2017 until now, she has earned over $1,218,000 from her salary alone.

Talking about the senator’s previous earnings, she received a yearly salary of $215,000 as vice-chancellor in 2014 for the Nevada System of Higher Education. Likewise, she used to make $140,688 a year from her career as an attorney general.

Nevada, I promised you after Roe v. Wade was overturned that I would fight like hell to defend women’s reproductive rights.

This is about a woman’s freedom to make her own health care decisions. I’m not backing down. pic.twitter.com/X4WstZrZjD

— Catherine Cortez Masto (@CortezMasto) June 24, 2023

In 2017, Catherine Cortez Masto financial assets were estimated at $11,065,047. She had invested in businesses such as finance, insurance, and real estate, which totaled $5.41 million. Likewise, her fortune in 2018 was $4,601,020. She had investments in real estate worth $1,125,501 and securities and investments worth $441,002.

In 2021, Catherine Cortez’s financial disclosure report showed total net assets between $2.1 million and $7.6 million. However, the $7.6 million was inflated by the sale of undeveloped property for $283,000 in 2020.

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Becoming a Multimillionaire While in Office

In late 2022, Nevada senator Masto was dragged into a controversy when Republican Adam Laxalt and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (N.R.S.C) accused her of putting her own financial interest into becoming a multimillionaire.

Adam and the committee claimed that Cortez had taken gifts and other donor presents worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, the financial disclosure reported nothing wrongdoing about her financial fortune.

Catherine Cortez Masto Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

But it was reported that she took some gifts as Nevada’s attorney general from 2007 to 2015. The reports stated that the gifts were meals, airfare, and hotel costs to attend conferences held by such organizations as the Conference of Western Attorneys General, the Democratic Attorneys General Association, and the National Association of Attorneys General.

Further, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Clark County paid Paul $27,000 as part of a federal rental-assistance program. Nevertheless, Cortez and her family have been serving as government officials for a long time.

Catherine Masto Making History, Implementing Powerful Bills

After winning the 2016 U.S senate election in Nevada, Catherine became the first woman elected to represent Nevada in the Senate. The ‘first Latina in the U.S. Senate’ took office on January 3, 2017. Throughout her professional career, the Democratic party member has done quite a distinguished work for women’s and children’s rights.

In 2008 Masto created the Mortgage Fraud Strike Force Unit to investigate and prosecute fraudulent foreclosure rescue and modification scams. She secured an estimated $1.8 billion from the nation’s banks as part of the National Mortgage Settlement. Moreover, as an attorney, she served as the chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General from 2012-2013 and a committee member of the National Association of Attorneys General.

The National Notary Association named Catherine Masto as its 2012 March Fong Eu Achievement Award recipient for her dedication to protecting Nevadians. Similarly, the Las Vegas Weekly Reader’s Choice named her as the 2012 Best Public Official.

Masto as a lifelong advocate for women and children, has always worked on strengthening laws to prevent sex trafficking. She has raised her voice multiple times to address the violence against women and to protect kids from predators.

Catherine Cortez Masto Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

In 2013 the former attorney general introduced and passed Assembly Bill 67, a sex trafficking bill that establishes that the crime of sex trafficking of children and adults allows victims to receive assistance and gives them the right to sue their traffickers. Also, she introduced a bill to organize a multi-disciplinary team to review domestic violence victims’ fatalities. There is no doubt that a girl who came from an immigrant family has now become one of the most famous politicians in the U.S.

In conclusion, Catherine Cortez Masto biography shows us that she is a force to reckon with in the sea of politics. Further, we believe she will continue to do good in society with or without being associated with the position of power.