Gansert was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2004, representing District 25 (part of Washoe County).[4] She became assistant minority leader in 2007 and minority leader in 2009. Gansert opted not to seek reelection in the 2010 elections.[5]
Gansert was elected to the Nevada Senate in the 2016 elections, representing southwestern Washoe County.[7] Her Republican colleagues chose her to be the minority leader of the senate in November 2022.[8] In August 2023, Gansert announced that she would not seek reelection in 2024.[9]
Political positions
Gansert has displayed a mix of moderate and conservative policy positions during her time in public office. For instance, in 2017 Gansert voted for a budget compromise worked out between Republican Governor Sandoval and the Democratic leadership of the Legislature, despite strong conservative criticism at the imposition of a tax on marijuana and a lack of funding for private schools.[10] However, Gansert has also displayed conservative positions, such as her opposition to the decriminalization of abortion in Nevada, on the grounds that the parental notification requirement and other restrictions should remain in place.[11]
2016 After Republican incumbent Greg Brower's resignation, Gansert won the Republican primary election for Senate District 15 with 5,105 votes (56.91%) against Eugene Hoover.[14] Gansert won the general election with 33,822 votes (52.96%) against Democratic nominee Devon Reese and another candidate.[15]
2008 Gansert was unopposed in the primary and won the general election with 19,680 votes (60.16%) against Democratic nominee Robert Townsend.[16][17]
2006 Gansert was unopposed in both the primary and general elections.[18]
2004 After Republican incumbent Dawn Gibbons left the Assembly in order to run for Congress, Gansert won the Republican primary election for Assembly District 25 with 4,724 votes (59.32%) against Robin Levy and another candidate.[19] Gansert then won the general election with 19,167 votes (66.58%) against Democratic nominee Dan Meyer.[20]