Harry Reid's Biography
Born and raised in the small desert mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Harry Reid has spent his life fighting to ensure every American has the same opportunities for success that he has had despite his humble upbringing.
As a child, Reid’s father was a hard rock miner. His mother took in wash. Neither of his parents graduated from high school and his dad never graduated from eighth grade. Opportunity was scarce in Searchlight and Reid made the most of the chances he got: attending Searchlight’s two-room elementary school through eighth grade, hitchhiking 40 miles as a teenager to attend the nearest high school, graduating from Utah State University and putting himself through George Washington University’s Law School by working nights as a member of the U.S. Capitol police.
Reid, who married his high-school sweetheart Landra at age 19, returned with his family to Nevada after law school. He held a number of local offices before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms and then winning a seat in the United States Senate in 1986. Shunning special interests and the partisan bickering that typify the nation’s capitol; Reid quickly developed a proven record as a quiet but strong and effective leader. His no-nonsense ability to talk straight and get things done has put Republicans on the defensive. Throughout his career, Reid has championed efforts to advance a country that respects individual rights while building national unity.
A former boxer, Reid has said he “prefers to dance, but he knows how to fight.” It’s this philosophy he has shown as Majority Leader, leading the Democrat’s effort to reform Washington and advance a common-sense agenda that works for all America’s families.
Under his leadership, Democrats have led the fight to strengthen and protect Social Security, to make sure our troops and veterans have the resources they need, to restore fiscal discipline in Washington, DC, and to make sure the government addresses the needs of the American people, not big oil, big drug companies, HMOs and other special interests.
Reid and his wife Landra still live in Searchlight. They have five children and 16 grandchildren.
