Harris campaign tabs Nevada’s Horsford as national co-chair

U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., was named a national co-chair for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, the Las Vegas resident announced in a social media post today.

“Together, we will fight and we will win. We’re not going back!” Horsford posted on X.

Horsford wrote in a statement that the election stakes were high because Republican nominee Donald Trump was looking to “ban abortion, hurt the middle class and threaten our democracy.”

“Every vote, especially in key battleground states like Nevada, is going to be critical. I’m looking forward to doing everything to protect our future by electing Vice President Harris and Governor (Tim) Walz, electing a Democratic Congress and Senate and electing Democrats up and down the ballot,” Horsford wrote.

He’s part of a slate of five newly named national co-chairs; the others being Harris’ fellow Californians, Sen. Laphonza Butler and Reps. Ted Lieu and Robert Garcia, as well as Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas.

The co-chairs will continue to be high-level surrogates, traveling and engaging with voters on behalf of the campaign, said a Harris campaign official.

Horsford, 51, is also the chairman of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus, a caucus made up of Black members of Congress.

Walz, the Minnesota govenor and Harris’ vice-presidential running mate, made an impromptu appearance last week during a Nevada caucus meeting at the Democratic National Convention.

“Coach Tim Walz, who I’ve had the honor of serving with in the House of Representatives, he’s just all-American in so many ways,” Horsford said in a conversation with the Sun during the convention. “Football coach, teacher, veteran, elected official who has constantly been trying to address some of the most critical issues.”

Horsford has been a leading voice in the party’s efforts to flip voting control in the U.S. House during November’s election, which would mean Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., would become speaker of the House. Republicans currently hold a four-member edge.

Horsford, who has held his seat representing Nevada’s 4th Congressional District since 2019, is also on the ballot in November against former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee.

Horsford said that it would be important for Democrats to continue their ground game — especially when it comes to reaching voters who may have been previously disillusioned with the electoral process.

“For young people who have felt like ‘nobody’s fighting for me,’ we have to reach them,” Horsford said. “We have to remind them that their voice in this process actually really does matter and they have the power to determine the future of this country.”

Horsford said that the United States is in a historic moment, not with just the potential to elect the first woman as president, but with the opportunity of “electing people up and down the ballot who also reflect the diversity of who we are.” He added that he was especially proud of Nevada and his district because he believes it’s reflective of the demographics of the country.

“I believe that diversity is our strength,” Horsford said. “And that when all of us can participate and see ourselves in the positions — whether it’s in school board, the legislature, in Congress or in the White House — we can truly look our kids in the face and say, ‘Yes, this is for you too.’ ”

 

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