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Dina Titus

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Dina Titus
Titus, c. 2015
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byShelley Berkley
Constituency1st district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byJon Porter
Succeeded byJoe Heck
Constituency3rd district
Member of the Nevada Senate
from the 7th district
In office
1988–2008
Preceded byHerbert Jones
Succeeded byDavid Parks
Personal details
Born
Alice Constandina Titus

(1950-05-23) May 23, 1950 (age 75)
Thomasville, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Thomas Wright
​
(m. 1979)​
EducationCollege of William and Mary (BA)
University of Georgia (MA)
Florida State University (PhD)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website
Titus's voice
Titus supporting the 2013 Small Airplane Revitalization Act.
Recorded July 16, 2013.

Alice Constandina "Dina" Titus (/ˈtaɪtəs/ TY-təss; born May 23, 1950) is an American politician who has been the United States representative for Nevada's 1st congressional district since 2013. She served as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2011, when she was defeated by Joe Heck. Titus is a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the Nevada Senate and was its minority leader from 1993 to 2009. Before her election to Congress, Titus was a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She was the Democratic nominee for governor of Nevada in 2006.

Early life, education, and career

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Titus was born in Thomasville, Georgia. She graduated from the College of William & Mary with a bachelor's degree in political science. Titus earned a master's degree from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.[1]

Titus taught in the political science department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), retiring in 2011.[2]

Nevada Senate

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Titus during the
111th Congress

First elected in 1988, Titus served for 20 years in the Nevada Senate, representing the 7th district.

In December 2010, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed her to a six-year term on the United States Commission on Civil Rights.[3]

Titus authored a bill banning "universal default clauses" that have enabled some credit card issuers to boost interest rates by 30% or more. The bill passed the Senate and Assembly, but was vetoed by Gibbons. Credit card providers Citibank and Chase rolled back or eliminated universal default clauses due to political pressure in the U.S. Congress.[4]

2006 gubernatorial election campaign

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Titus at the 2008 Nevada Democratic State Convention
See also: 2006 Nevada gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn could not run again in 2006 due to strict absolute lifetime term limit laws. Titus won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Republican Congressman Jim Gibbons. Titus won Clark County, but her margin there was not enough to overcome Gibbons's landslide margin in the 2nd district.

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2008

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Dina Titus in Las Vegas, November 2008
See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 3

Democrats were heavily targeting 3rd district Republican incumbent Jon Porter. Their top candidate was Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, but Daskas dropped out in April for family reasons. Democrats then recruited Titus, who had won the district in her unsuccessful 2006 run for governor. Titus defeated Porter in November, 47% to 42%, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district. She was a major beneficiary of the overall anti-Bush sentiment in the Las Vegas area.[citation needed] She was elected Regional Whip in the 111th Congress.[5]

2010

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See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 3

Republican former State Senator Joe Heck defeated Titus by less than 2,000 votes.[citation needed]

2012

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See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

On October 31, 2011, Titus entered the Democratic primary for Nevada's 1st congressional district, where her home had been placed by redistricting. The incumbent, Democrat Shelley Berkley, gave up the seat to run for the United States Senate. While the 3rd is considered a swing district, the 1st is far and away Nevada's safest Democratic seat.[6] Titus initially faced a challenge from State Senator Ruben Kihuen in the primary. Kihuen dropped out in February 2012, reportedly due to trailing in polls and fundraising.[7] This all but assured Titus's return to Congress after a two-year absence. She easily defeated her Republican challenger, Chris Edwards.

2014

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See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

Titus was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Annette Teijeiro with 56.9% of the vote.[8] After this election, she became the only Democratic member of Nevada's U.S. House delegation, as fellow Democrat Steven Horsford was defeated.

2016

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See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

Titus defeated Republican nominee Mary D. Perry with 61.9% of the vote to Perry's 28.8%; independent Reuben D'Silva received 7.4%.[8] This election saw Democrats pick up two U.S. House seats in Nevada.

2018

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See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

Titus defeated Republican nominee Joyce Bentley with 66.2% of the vote, her highest percentage to date.[8]

2020

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

Titus won a rematch with Bentley, this time with 61.8% of the vote to Bentley's 33.4%.[8]

2022

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

Titus was redistricted into a much more competitive district. She faced progressive Amy Vilela in the Democratic primary, winning with 79.8% of the vote; in the general election, Titus defeated Republican nominee Mark Robertson, 51.6% to 46.0%. Most poll aggregators rated the race a tossup.[8]

2024

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Titus won the general election with 52.0% of the vote in a rematch with Mark Robertson.[8]

Tenure

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Titus and Rep. John Katko (R-NY) watch President Joe Biden sign a bill they sponsored.

On December 18, 2019, Titus voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[9]

Titus voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[10]

Titus supported a 2022 rule change which allowed congressional staff to unionize. However, when her own staff voted to form a union in 2023, Titus quashed the effort. According to The Nevada Independent, the failed unionization effort "left staffers disappointed, but unsurprised." The Independent wrote that "ex-staffers described Titus as a vindictive and harsh boss, quick to berate staffers, who ran an office culture that many called toxic and raised ethical questions." Four former staffers said they had wanted to unionize because they were worried they were being asked to do work, including unpaid campaign work, that violated ethics laws. The Hatch Act requires that members of Congress separate their official business from their campaign work, limiting the politicization of taxpayer-funded work. Titus said accusations against her were "unsubstantiated claims by former, anonymous, disgruntled employees." Titus continued, "Jobs in my office are hard jobs and I have high standards.... I'm not apologizing for this. People don't send us back here and pay our salaries to drink lattes and view Tik-Tok from 9-5, Mon.-Fri."[11]

Committee assignments

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For the 119th Congress:[12]

Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Abortion

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In 2014 Titus received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood for opposing a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks and supporting abortion access in the District of Columbia and through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[22][better source needed]

Agriculture

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Titus supports reforms to agricultural commodity checkoff programs. She has authored the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, which would require federal checkoff programs to publish budgets, submit to audits, and refrain from contracting with organizations engaged in lobbying or anticompetitive behavior.[23][24]

In 2024, Titus introduced legislation to improve animal welfare standards in livestock transportation by strengthening enforcement of time limits for transporting animals and prohibiting the interstate transportation of sick and injured animals.[25]

Animal welfare

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In 2019, Titus authored legislation that would have required entities governed by the Animal Welfare Act to create a viable plan to protect their animals in case of natural disaster.[26]

Titus is a founder of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, which supports policies to protect wild horses and promote humane methods of conservation and population control.[27] In 2024, Titus introduced legislation to prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from using helicopters and airplanes to round up wild horses and burros.[28] In 2025, she criticized a Trump administration proposal to cut funding for wild horse management and allow horses in federal custody to be sold for slaughter.[29]

Armenia–Azerbaijan war

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In September 2020, Titus started a successful petition to rename a Library of Congress heading from "Armenian massacres" to "Armenian genocide" in the wake of Armenian genocide recognition by the United States Congress in 2019.[30][31]

On October 1, 2020, Titus co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that condemned Azerbaijan's offensive operations against the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, denounced Turkey's role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and called for an immediate ceasefire.[32]

Immigration

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In 2025, Titus was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.[33]

Redistricting

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On December 16, 2021, Titus expressed her frustration with the process of redrawing Nevada's congressional districts to make them more electorally competitive. According to the Nevada Current, she told an AFL-CIO town hall, "I totally got fucked by the legislature on my district." She added, "I'm sorry to say it like that, but I don't know any other way to say it." Democrats who control the state legislature in Nevada gerrymandered districts to make two swing districts stronger for Democrats. She warned that three safe seats were then at risk of turning Republican in the 2022 election.[34][35]

Voting rights

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On February 9, 2023, Titus voted against H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 which condemns the District of Columbia's plan that would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.[36][37]

Syria

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In 2023, Titus voted against H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[38][39]

Personal life

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Titus has been married to Thomas C. Wright since 1979. Wright is a retired professor of history at UNLV. His studies in Latin American history have taken the couple on extended journeys throughout Central and South America and to Spain.[40]

She is Greek Orthodox.[41]

Bibliography

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Titus is the author of Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics[42] and Battle Born: Federal-State Relations in Nevada During the Twentieth Century.[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cohen, Ariel (1 February 2013). "Alumna Dina Titus re-elected as representative of Nevada". Flat Hat News. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. ^ Calderon, Jannelle (13 May 2022). "Titus facing hardest race in recent years to retain seat in newly competitive district". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  3. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (December 3, 2010). "Harry Reid names Dina Titus to U.S. Commission on Civil Rights". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Fehd, Amanda (17 May 2007). "Bill targeting high credit card rates goes to governor". Nevada Appeal. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  5. ^ Usufzy, Pashtana (December 1, 2008). "Titus appointed regional whip". Rebel Yell. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  6. ^ Myers, Laura (October 31, 2011). "Titus to announce new bid for Congress". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  7. ^ "Kihuen out in 1st Congressional District". February 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Titus, Dina". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider.
  10. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (2021-04-22). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  11. ^ Birenbaum, Gabby (22 June 2025). "Why longtime labor ally Dina Titus quietly helped kill efforts to unionize her office, ex-staff say". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  12. ^ "List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  13. ^ "Caucus Members". Black Maternal Health Caucus. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Membership". Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "About Dina Titus". titus.house.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  19. ^ "Congressional Medicare for All Caucus". Legistorm. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  20. ^ "Congressional Blue Collar Caucus". Legistorm. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  21. ^ "Legistorm". American Citizens Abroad. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  22. ^ "2014 Congressional Score Card". Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  23. ^ Spivak, Cary (10 February 2020). "Odd political couple of Matt Gaetz and Mark Pocan join in support of bill to reform ag checkoff program". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Checkoff reform legislation reintroduced". FarmProgress. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  25. ^ Lyubomirova, Teodora (17 June 2024). "US bill seeks to bolster animal welfare of livestock in transit". Dairy Reporter. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  26. ^ Olvera, Lola (25 March 2020). "When Natural Disaster Strikes, Wildlife Pays A Heavy Price". Sentient. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  27. ^ Sheridan, Kevin (8 May 2025). "Nevada's Titus helps launch caucus for wild horses". KOLO. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  28. ^ Elliott, Philip (2 June 2024). "The Stealth Lobbying Cause You've Never Heard of: Wild Horses". Time. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  29. ^ Gentry, Dana (4 June 2025). "Trump's budget a 'bullet to the head' of America's wild horses, say animal activists". Nevada Current. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Rep. Titus Leading U.S. House Drive Urging the Library of Congress to use Armenian Genocide Subject Heading". Armenian National Committee of America. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  31. ^ "BREAKING: Library of Congress Corrects "Armenian Massacres" Subject Heading to "Armenian Genocide"". The Armenian Weekly. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  32. ^ "Senate and House Leaders to Secretary of State Pompeo: Cut Military Aid to Azerbaijan; Sanction Turkey for Ongoing Attacks Against Armenia and Artsakh". The Armenian Weekly. October 2, 2020.
  33. ^ Rashid, Hafiz (January 22, 2025). "The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans' Racist Immigration Bill". The New Republic. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  34. ^ Shabad, Rebecca (2021-12-16). "In profane rant, Nevada congresswoman blames fellow Democrats for competitive race". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  35. ^ Lyle, Michael (2021-12-16). "Titus unloads on fellow Nevada Democrats, says they botched redistricting". Nevada Current. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  36. ^ "House votes to overturn D.C.'s illegal immigrant voting plan". The Washington Times.
  37. ^ "H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia … -- House Vote #118 -- Feb 9, 2023".
  38. ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  39. ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". US News & World Report. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  40. ^ Goldberg, Delen (June 23, 2011). "Dina Titus retires from UNLV with $162,000 buyout". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  41. ^ "Members". Roll Call. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  42. ^ Titus, A. Constandina (2001-02-01). Bombs In The Backyard: Atomic Testing And American Politics (2nd ed.). Reno: University of Nevada Press. ISBN 9780874173703.
  43. ^ Titus, D. (1989-06-01). Titus, A. Costandina (ed.). Battle Born. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt Pub Co. ISBN 9780840352873.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dina Titus.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Nevada
2006 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 3rd congressional district
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 1st congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Democracy Partnership
2023–present
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
98th 		Succeeded by
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