The Horsford for Congress campaign announced the formation of “Women for Horsford,” a group of women leaders in Nevada that are supporting State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford in his congressional race because of his longstanding record of standing up and fighting for women’s rights.

“I am thankful for the strong base of support from women in our community for my husband,” said Sonya Horsford, Chair of Women for Horsford. “I know that every time he casts a vote or works on legislation he thinks about what it means for our daughter and asks how his actions can make her future, and the future of all women, brighter.”

“Working in the State Senate, I fought to improve the lives of women in Nevada,” said State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford. “Our state now requires insurance companies to cover the HPV vaccine that decreases the risk of cervical cancer, and we have laws on the books that increase penalties for domestic violence. Women’s rights affect us all: these issues are dear to us because our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters are dear to us. As someone who always puts family first, I will stand up for the equal treatment of women in Washington.”

“I want Steven Horsford to be my representative in Congress because he will fight to guarantee equal pay for equal work for women, to protect women’s reproductive rights, and to get Nevadans back to work with good jobs that provide families financial security and peace of mind,” said local activist Jenna Morton.

Meanwhile, Danny Tarkanian would rather have the federal government make women’s health decisions for them. In his attempt to run to the right of Sharron Angle in 2010, Tarkanian took the position that abortion should be illegal even in the cases of rape and incest, and he criticized another primary opponent for her past support of Roe v. Wade.

Senator Horsford wants to protect a woman’s right to choose, while Danny Tarkanian would like to make choices for women: it couldn’t be clearer which candidate will stand up for women’s rights in Washington.

Steering Committee, Women for Horsford

Sonya Horsford – Chair
Loretta Arrington
Caroline Ciocca
Pam Egan
Sandra Morgan
Jenna Morton
Julie Murray
Debra Nelson
Maureen Schafer
Diane Pollard
Debra Toney
Rita Vaswani

State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford has a proven record of fighting for women’s issues.

Senator Horsford sponsored legislation requiring coverage of the HPV vaccine. In 2007, Senator Horsford sponsored legislation requiring health insurance plans to cover expenses for the human papillomavirus vaccine, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer for women. [Sponsor, SB 409, 2007]

In 2009, Senator Horsford supported increased penalties for domestic violence. Horsford sponsored legislation to increase penalties for battery committed during acts of domestic violence. [Sponsor, AB 164, 2009]

In 2007, Senator Horsford sponsored legislation to increase the effectiveness of restraining orders. In 2007, Senator Horsford was the prime sponsor of legislation that authorized courts to require a person subject to a restraining order resulting from domestic violence to surrender any firearms in their possession. [Prime Sponsor, AB 194, 2007]

In his attempt to run to the right of his 2010 U.S. Senate Republican Primary opponents, Danny Tarkanian said he is against a woman’s right to choose even in cases of rape and incest. In 2010, Jon Ralston of the Las Vegas Sun reported that Tarkanian tried to paint his opponents as not being conservative enough on women’s health issues. "And what better issue to use than abortion, where Tarkanian claims he is against it except when the life of the mother is endangered.” [Las Vegas Sun, 12/16/09]