Ensign resigned from the Senate on May 3, 2011.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.)
- District: Junior Senator from Nevada
- Residence: Las Vegas
- Born: March 25, 1958; Roseville, Calif.
- Religion: Christian
- Family: Wife, Darlene Ensign; three children
- Education: U. of Nevada, Las Vegas, attended 1976-79; Oregon State U., B.S. 1981; Colorado State U., D.V.M. 1985
- Military Service: None
- Political Highlights: U.S. House, 1995-99; sought Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, 1998; U.S. Senate, 2009, 2009, 2001-present
- Elected: Elected: 2000 (2nd term)
- Committee Assignments: Budget; Commerce, Science & Transportation (Aviation Operations, Safety & Security; Communications, Technology & the Internet - Ranking Member; Competitiveness, Innovation & Export Promotion; Consumer Protection, Product Safety & Insurance; Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries & Coast Guard; Science & Space; Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine); Finance (Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Growth; Health Care - Ranking Member; Taxation & IRS Oversight); Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (Disaster Recovery & Intergovernmental Affairs - Ranking Member; Oversight of Government Management)
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State Information: Nevada
Election History
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|
| 2006 | general | John Ensign (R) | 322,501 | 55.4% |
| Jack Carter (D) | 238,796 | 41% |
| David Schumann (IA) | 7,774 | 1.3% |
| Brendan Trainor (LIBERT) | 5,269 | 0.9% |
| 2000 | general | John Ensign (R) | 330,687 | 55.1% |
| Ed Bernstein (D) | 238,260 | 39.7% |
| Kathryn Rusco (GREEN) | 10,286 | 1.7% |
| J.J. Johnson (LIBERT) | 5,395 | 0.9% |
| Ernie Berghof (IA) | 2,540 | 0.4% |
| Bill Grutzmacher (CITFIRST) | 1,579 | 0.3% |
| 1994 | general | Richard H. Bryan (D) | 193,804 | 50.9% |
| Hal Furman (R) | 156,020 | 41% |
| Anna Nevenich (I) | 6,666 | 1.8% |
| Bob Days (LIBERT) | 5,964 | 1.6% |
| Neal A. Grasteit (IA) | 5,450 | 1.4% |
| 1988 | general | Richard H. Bryan (D) | 175,548 | 50% |
| Chic Hecht (R) | 161,336 | 46% |
Vote For President
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|
| 2008 | Barack Obama: 55.14% | John McCain: 42.65% | |
| 2004 | John Kerry: 48% | George W. Bush: 50% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 46% | George W. Bush: 50% | |
| 1996 | Bill Clinton: 44% | Robert Dole: 43% | |
| 1992 | Bill Clinton: 37% | George H. W. Bush: 35% | |
| 1988 | Michael Dukakis: 38% | George H. W. Bush: 59% | |
| 1984 | Walter F. Mondale: 32% | : | |
- Senate Ethics Panel Admonishes Tom Coburn Over Contact With Ensign Aide
- Report: Ensign Aide Strikes Deal With Prosecutors
- Tom Coburn's Pick of Aide Shows Latitude in Congressional Hiring
- Nevada: Shelley Berkley Launches First TV Ad
- West Region Roundup
- Shop Talk: Hauser Joins JDA Frontline
- Earmark Fight Poses Problem for Harry Reid, Dean Heller
- Rep. Paul Ryan Advocates Getting Out in Front on Election Strategy
- Nevada, Massachusetts Key to Senate Control
- Ethics Committees Release Annual Reports
- Time for Rothenberg Annual Year-End Awards
- A Year in Congressional Ethics Retrospective
- West Region Roundup
- Burr Counts on His Record in Whip Race
- Democrats Eyeing DOMA Repeal
- HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Where Are They Now: John Ensign
- Turner, Amodei Sworn In
- Pelosi Shrugs Off Election Losses
- Amodei Brings Sizable State-Level Experience
- Hatch Gets Air Cover From Utah Nonprofit
- Georgiou Drops Out of Nevada Senate Race
- NRCC’s Nevada Buy Signals Competitive Race
- Sloan: Does Washington Care About Ethics?
- Is Ethics Training Required for Lobbyists?
- Tough Terrain for Senate Democrats
- 2011 Preview: GOP Looking to Break Democrats’ Streak
- 2010 Recap: GOP Errors Help Democrats Win
- Nevada High Court Rules Against Battle Royal
- Tea Party Express Kicking Off Fifth Bus Tour in August
- Ethics Committee Finally Staffs Up
- Perry Possibility Puts Sessions, Cornyn in Tough Spot
- Edwards Case May Test Bounds of Law
- Nevada 2nd District Special Election Could Be Delayed
- Heard on the Hill: Sex Sells — but Not Congress
- Cover-Ups, Not Adultery, Cause Legal Problems
- Sloan: DOJ Should Do Justice by Prosecuting Ensign
- Corporate Tax Holiday Bill Unites Foes
- Nevada Secretary of State Appeals Ruling in Special Election
- Nevada Judge Tosses Out ‘Battle Royale’ Special Election Format
- Are Communications With Lawyers Privileged?
- Report Details Ensign’s Destructive Pursuit of an Affair
- Ensign Denies Wrongdoing in Response to Ethics Committee
- Rebuke of Ensign Was Unusual for Ethics
- Heard on the Hill: Ethics Crack(er) Down
- Ethics Committee Leaders to Speak on Ensign Case
- Ensign Accused of Violating Laws, Senate Rules
- Burr to Take Seat on Finance Committee
- For Some in Senate, Losing Once Is Way to Win
- Heller Sworn In; EMILY’s List Backs Berkley
- Will Reid, Heller Play Nice in 2012?
- Nevada GOP Sues Over Special Election
- Top Democrat Marshall Enters Nevada Special Election
- Nevada Special Election to Be Open to All Candidates
- Ensign Reflects, Apologizes in Farewell Speech
- Sandoval Sets Fall Special to Fill Heller’s Seat
- Past Could Be Precedent in Nevada Special Election
- Isakson Removes Name From Finance Slot Consideration
- DeMint Interested in Finance Slot
- Nevada Governor Appoints Dean Heller to Fill Ensign Seat
- Johanns Tosses His Hat Into Mix for Finance Seat
- Heller, Berkley Close in New Poll
- Ensign’s Exit Opens Plum Panel Spots
- Smith Chooses Nevada Assembly Over House Bid
- Parties Await Nevada Special Election Logistics
- Sandoval to Reveal Senate Appointment Before May 3
- Ethics Panel May Still Rebuke Ensign
- Ensign Could Still Face Ethics Panel Rebuke
- Ensign to Resign; Heller Likely Successor
- Ensign Statement: Personal Cost of Investigations Is Too Great
- Parties Preparing for Nevada Special Election
- Shelley Berkley Will Run for Senate in Nevada
- The Uneven Senate Landscape of 2012 (and 2014)
- Senate Control Hangs in the Balance
- Senate Avoids Vote on Military Provision by Paul
- Hampton Pleads Not Guilty to Violating Lobby Ban
- Nevada GOP Works to Retake State From Obama
- Hampton Case a Reminder of ‘Revolving Door’ Crimes
- Former Top Ensign Aide Charged
- Berkley on Nevada Senate Bid: ‘I’ve Paid My Dues’
- Dean Heller Makes Senate Bid Official
- Heller Hosting Fundraiser for Senate Bid
- Nevada Republicans Wary of Angle House Bid
- GOP Senators Threaten to Stall Floor Activity
- DSCC Questions Strength of Heller
- Businessman Enters Nevada Senate Race
- K Street Files: Muslim Defenders Question Hearing
- Ensign to Announce Retirement
- John Ensign Announces Retirement
- Ensign Exit Eases GOP’s Nevada Woes
- Home-State Colleagues, Election-Year Foes
- Senate Attorneys Subpoenaed by Grand Jury
- Some Lobbyists Ask NRSC to Push Ensign Out
- Poll: Heller Would Wallop Ensign in GOP Primary
- K Street Files: N.J. Gov. Christie Refuses to Pay Port Lobbyist Bills
- Webb Underscores Democrats’ 2012 Challenge
- Senators Press Boehner for Deeper Spending Cuts
- Heard on the Hill: Power Meal
- Reports Offer First 2012 Glimpse
- Senate Ethics Panel Hires Counsel to Probe Ensign
- Ensign Believes He Followed Rules, Will Cooperate With Probe
- Ensign Inquiry May Pick Up Speed
- Senate Ethics Panel Dismissed Bulk of Its Cases in 2010
- Senators in Deficit ‘State of Shock’
- Ensign Hosting Re-Election Meeting in D.C.
- Lawmakers Search for a ‘Date’ From the Opposite Party
- Ensign Spent $97K on Attorneys Last Quarter
- Retirements Shuffle 2012 Senate Landscape
- Small Pack of GOP Senators Dominated Amendments
- Conservative Groups Bemoan Senate Barriers
- Poll: Dim Outlook for Ensign Re-Election
- Senate’s First Day Relatively Low-Key
- Could Reapportionment Help Losing Democrats?
- Reid Attaches Earmark to Continuing Resolution
- McConnell Warns House Democrats Against Tweaking Deal
- Republicans From Democratic Wave Doing Just Fine
- Swing States Prepare for 2012, Redistricting
- Editorial: Schmethics
- START Ratification Still Looks Like No-Go Before Year’s End
- HOH's One-Minute Recess: I Think It’s Time for Us to Have a Toast
- GOP Wants START Vote to Wait
- Justice Department Won’t Charge Ensign
- Nevada GOP Wary of Ensign Re-Election Bid
- Angle Keeping Options Open for 2012
- Boehner, Reid Make First Overture
- ’12 Senate Battles on Democratic Turf
- GOP Earmark Rift Goes Public With Inhofe-DeMint Standoff
