Alice Costandina Titus (born May 23, 1950) is an American political scientist and politician who has been the
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
for since 2013. She served as the U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011, when she was defeated by
Joe Heck. Titus is a member of the
Democratic Party. She served in the
Nevada Senate
The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts. In the pr ...
and was its
minority leader from 1993 to 2009. Before her election to Congress, Titus was a professor of
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and ...
at the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she taught American and Nevada government for 30 years. She was the Democratic nominee for
governor of Nevada in
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro votes to declare independence from Serbia; The 2006 ...
.
Early life and education
Titus was born in
Thomasville, Georgia. Her mother is of Greek descent, and she was raised Greek Orthodox. She grew up in
Tifton, Georgia. Her first exposure to politics came at an early age, when her father Joe ran for the Tifton City Council. Her uncle,
Theo Titus
Theodore Titus III (March 12, 1920 – August 16, 2008) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician.
Early years and business
Titus was born March 12, 1920, to Theo Titus, Jr. and Margaret Crovatt Titus, in Thomasville, Georgia. He ...
, served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years.
She attended a summer program at
The College of William & Mary
The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William I ...
and was admitted full-time for the fall without a high school diploma. There she earned her bachelor's degree in political science. Titus went on to earn a master's degree from the
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
and a Ph.D. from
Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
.
[
]
Academic career
After a year teaching at North Texas State University
The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas. It was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational, private teachers college in 1890 and was formally adopted by the state 11 years later."Denton Normal Scho ...
, Titus moved to Nevada for a faculty position in the political science department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Nevada Senate
First elected in 1988, Titus served for 20 years in the Nevada Senate
The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts. In the pr ...
, representing the 7th district.
In December 2010, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed her to a six-year term on the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
Regulation of credit card rates
Titus authored a bill banning " universal default clauses" that have enabled some credit card issuers to boost interest rates by 30% or more. The bill passed the Senate and Assembly, but was vetoed by Gibbons. Credit card providers Citibank and Chase rolled back or eliminated universal default clauses due to political pressure in the U.S. Congress.
Measure to care for pets in emergencies
Titus authored a bill that provides for the rescue of pets in a natural disaster emergency. It was co-sponsored by Senators Randolph Townsend
Randolph Townsend (born January 24, 1947 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Republican Party politician from Nevada. From 1982 to 2010, he served as a member of the Nevada Senate, representing Washoe County District 4map. He served from ...
and Valerie Wiener. Titus told Las Vegas television station KVBC: "We all remember heartbreaking scenes and stories from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.. When lives are turned upside down by disaster, people seek comfort and normalcy. To exacerbate problems by forcing a disaster victim to leave behind a beloved pet—a member of their family—is both unconscionable and entirely unnecessary. Emergency responders can and should take into account pets and service animals in disaster rescue and recovery plans. Planning could save disaster victims from needless additional pain at a most difficult time." The bill was signed into law in June 2007.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2008
Democrats were heavily targeting 3rd district Republican incumbent Jon Porter
Jonathan Christopher "Jon" Porter (born May 16, 1955) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, the first representative elected from the 3rd Congressional District of Nevada.
H ...
. Their top candidate was Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, but Daskas dropped out in April for family reasons. Democrats then recruited Titus, who had won the district in her unsuccessful 2006 run for governor. Titus defeated Porter in November, 47% to 42%, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district. She was a major beneficiary of the overall anti-Bush sentiment in the Las Vegas area. She was elected Regional Whip in the 111th Congress.
2010
Republican former State Senator Joe Heck defeated Titus by less than 2,000 votes.
2012
On October 31, 2011, Titus entered the Democratic primary for , where her home had been placed by redistricting. The incumbent, Democrat Shelley Berkley
Rochelle "Shelley" Berkley (née Levine; born January 20, 1951) is an American businesswoman, politician and attorney who served as U.S. Representative for from 1999 to 2013. In 2012, she was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate. She i ...
, gave up the seat to run for the United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and po ...
. While the 3rd is considered a swing district, the 1st is far and away Nevada's safest Democratic seat. Titus initially faced a challenge from State Senator Ruben Kihuen
Rubén Jesús Kihuen Bernal (; born April 25, 1980) is an American politician and former member of the United States House of Representatives for , serving from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously was a member of the N ...
in the primary. Kihuen dropped out in February 2012, reportedly due to trailing in polls and fundraising. This all but assured Titus's return to Congress after a two-year absence. She easily defeated her Republican challenger, Chris Edwards.
2014
Titus was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Annette Teijeiro with 56.9% of the vote. After this election, she became the only Democratic member of Nevada's U.S. House delegation, as fellow Democrat Steven Horsford
Steven Alexzander Horsford (born April 29, 1973) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 4th congressional district since 2019, previously holding the position from 2013 to 2015. A member of the ...
was defeated.
2016
Titus defeated Republican nominee Mary D. Perry with 61.9% of the vote to Perry's 28.8%; independent Reuben D'Silva received 7.4%.[ This election saw Democrats pick up two U.S. House seats in Nevada.
]
2018
Titus defeated Republican nominee Joyce Bentley with 66.2% of the vote, her highest percentage to date.[
]
2020
Titus won a rematch with Bentley, this time with 61.8% of the vote to Bentley's 33.4%.[
]
2022
Titus was redistricted into a much more competitive district. She faced progressive Amy Vilela in the Democratic primary, winning with 79.8% of the vote; in the general election, Titus defeated Republican nominee Mark Robertson, 51.6% to 46.0%. Most poll aggregators rated the race a tossup.[
]
Tenure
On December 18, 2019, Titus voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
.
As of June 2022, Titus had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.
Committee assignments
* Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.
History
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was formerly known as the Committee on Public Works a ...
(2009–2011; 2013–present)
** Subcommittee on Aviation
** Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
** Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
** Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management (chair)
* Committee on Foreign Affairs (2017–present)
** Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
** Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Past
* Committee on Education and Labor
The Committee on Education and Labor is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. There are 50 members in this committee. Since 2019, the chair of the Education and Labor committee is Robert Cortez Scott of Virginia.
Hi ...
(2009–2011)
* Committee on Homeland Security (2009–2011)
* Committee on Veterans' Affairs (2013–2017)
** Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (Ranking Member)
** Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Caucus memberships
* Congressional Arts Caucus
* United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
* U.S.-Japan Caucus
* Congressional Hellenic Caucus
* Medicare for All Caucus
* Blue Collar Caucus
The Blue Collar Caucus is a Democratic Party (United States), United States Democratic Party congressional caucus that advocates for labor and working class priorities. It was founded in 2016 to focus the Democratic Party on blue-collar issues. ...
* Americans Abroad Caucus (co-chair)
Political positions
Nuclear issues
Titus is the author of ''Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics'' and ''Battle Born: Federal-State Relations in Nevada During the Twentieth Century''.
Abortion
In 2014 Titus received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reve ...
for opposing a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks and supporting abortion access in the District of Columbia
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle (Washington, D.C.), Logan Circle, Jefferson Memoria ...
and through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Armenia–Azerbaijan war
In September 2020, Titus started a successful petition to rename a Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...
heading from "Armenian massacres" to "Armenian genocide" in the wake of Armenian genocide recognition by the United States Congress in 2019.
On October 1, 2020, Titus co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...
that condemned Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
’s offensive operations against the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, denounced Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Redistricting
On December 16, 2021, Titus expressed her frustration with the process of redrawing Nevada's congressional districts to make them more electorally competitive. According to the Nevada Current, she told an AFL-CIO town hall, "I totally got fucked by the legislature on my district." She added, "I'm sorry to say it like that, but I don't know any other way to say it." Democrats who control the state legislature in Nevada gerrymandered districts to make two swing districts stronger for Democrats. She warned that three safe seats are now in danger and at risk of turning Republican in the 2022 election.
Political campaigns
2006
Incumbent Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Kenny Guinn could not run in 2006 due to term limits. Titus won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Republican Congressman Jim Gibbons. Titus won Clark County, but her margin there was not enough to overcome Gibbons's landslide margin in the 2nd district.
Personal life
Titus has been married to Thomas C. Wright since 1979. Wright is a retired professor of history at UNLV. His studies in Latin American history have taken the couple on extended journeys throughout Central and South America and to Spain.
She is Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also cal ...
.
See also
* Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
External links
Congresswoman Dina Titus
official U.S. House website
Dina Titus for Congress
*
*
, -
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Titus, Dina
1950 births
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
American politicians of Greek descent
American women political scientists
American political scientists
College of William & Mary alumni
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Nevada
Female members of the United States House of Representatives
Florida State University alumni
Living people
Democratic Party Nevada state senators
Politicians from Carson City, Nevada
Politicians from Las Vegas
People from Thomasville, Georgia
People from Tifton, Georgia
United States Commission on Civil Rights members
University of Georgia alumni
University of Nevada, Las Vegas faculty
University of North Texas faculty
Women state legislators in Nevada
Greek Orthodox Christians from the United States