Lisa Krasner

Lisa Krasner is a Republican politician currently serving as a member of the Nevada State Senate, representing the 16th district. This district encompasses Storey County, Carson City, and parts of Washoe County. Krasner has a background in academia and public service, having taught political science at Truckee Meadows Community College and previously at the University of Phoenix. Her legislative career includes significant roles in both the Nevada Assembly and the Senate, where she has focused on various policy areas, including education and healthcare.

Early life and career

Lisa Krasner was born in California and pursued her higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor's degree. She later obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of La Verne College of Law. Krasner's academic career includes her position as an adjunct professor at Truckee Meadows Community College, where she teaches political science. Prior to this role, she spent six years teaching at the University of Phoenix.

In addition to her academic endeavors, Krasner has been active in public service. She served as a Commissioner for the State of Nevada Commission on Aging, focusing on issues affecting senior citizens, a position to which she was appointed by Governor Sandoval. Her commitment to community service is further evidenced by her seven-year tenure on the City of Reno Recreation and Parks Commission. Krasner has also contributed to educational initiatives as a member of the Board of the State of Nevada PTA and has held leadership roles, including serving as President of the Reno Philharmonic Guild.

Legislative service

Krasner's political career began with her candidacy for the Nevada Assembly in 2014, where she faced incumbent Randy Kirner. Although she finished second in the Republican primary, she advanced to the general election due to a lack of Democratic or Independent American candidates and the absence of a primary candidate receiving over 50% of the vote. In the general election, Krasner narrowly lost by a margin of 11 votes.

Undeterred, Krasner ran again for the Nevada State Assembly in 2015. She successfully won the Republican primary and subsequently ran unopposed in the general election, officially taking office as the Assemblywoman for Nevada State Assembly District 26 on November 9, 2016.

Krasner transitioned to the Nevada Senate when she announced her candidacy for District 16 in August 2021. She won the Republican primary in June 2022 and continued her electoral success by winning the general election in November 2022. Krasner assumed office as the Senator for Nevada Senate District 16 on November 9, 2022. She participated in the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session and is expected to serve in the 2025 Nevada Legislative Session.

Policy focus and district

Throughout her legislative career, Krasner has focused on various policy issues, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education. As a member of the Republican Party, her positions often align with conservative principles. In the 2017 Nevada Legislative session, she successfully sponsored a bill that extended the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual abuse, which was signed into law by the governor.

In the realm of healthcare, Krasner has taken stances that reflect her party's priorities. During the 2025 legislative session, she was one of five Senate Republicans to oppose Senate Bill 217, which aimed to require most private and public insurers, including Medicaid, to cover in vitro fertilization treatments. She also voted against Assembly Bill 282, which mandated healthcare providers to issue refunds for patient billing overpayments within a specified timeframe. Additionally, she opposed Assembly Bill 259, which sought to adopt prescription drug prices negotiated by Medicare, and Senate Bill 182, which aimed to establish mandatory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals in Washoe and Clark counties. Krasner's opposition extended to Senate Bill 128, which proposed that insurers could not solely rely on artificial intelligence tools to deny or modify prior authorization requests.

In the education sector, Krasner has consistently supported school choice policies. For instance, in 2019, she voted in favor of Senate Bill 551, which allocated additional funding to public school districts while excluding charter schools overseen by the State Public Charter School Authority. Throughout her legislative career, she has advocated for the expansion of Opportunity Scholarships and charter schools, while opposing measures that would increase public oversight of state-funded private education programs.

During the 2025 legislative session, Krasner opposed several significant education bills introduced by the Democratic majority. She voted against Assembly Bill 416 and Assembly Bill 445, which sought to expand legal protections for librarians and limit the removal of challenged books from libraries. These bills were introduced in response to a rise in book challenges, particularly those involving materials related to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Krasner also opposed Assembly Bill 205, which aimed to transition sex education to an opt-out model, thereby making instruction available to all students unless parents opted out. Furthermore, she voted against Assembly Bill 441, which proposed new oversight and reporting standards for the Opportunity Scholarship program aimed at assisting low-income students.

Krasner resides with her husband, Charles, who is a doctor, and they have two adult sons. Her personal and professional experiences contribute to her legislative priorities and her representation of the constituents in Nevada's 16th district.