Barbara Cegavske was elected as Nevada Secretary of State in 2014 and assumed office on January 5, 2015. With more than three decades of combined public service and small business experience, Cegavske brings a unique blend of business acumen and legislative expertise to the Secretary of State’s office.

Cegavske entered public service in 1996 when she was elected to serve in the Nevada Assembly representing Clark County District 5 for three consecutive terms. In 2002, Cegavske ran for and successfully won a state Senate seat for Clark County District 8. She served three full terms before assuming the role of Secretary of State.

During her time in the Nevada Legislature, Cegavske assumed leadership roles as Co-Assembly Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Assistant Assembly Minority Whip, Senate Minority Whip, and Senate Assistant Minority Leader. She also chaired the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections for three legislative sessions and was vice-chair of the Senate Committees on Human Resources and Education; Human Resources and Facilities; and Legislative Affairs and Operations. In all, Cegavske served in nine regular sessions and 13 special sessions of the Nevada Legislature.

As a daughter of small business owners, Cegavske rolled up her sleeves and pitched in with her siblings after school and during summer vacations to help the family business. Her introduction to the free-market system proved to be valuable first-hand knowledge when she and her husband Tim became owners of a 7-Eleven franchise. Over the course of 13 years, the Cegavskes faced daily challenges but also experienced the rewards of employing fellow Nevadans and contributing to the state’s economy. They also learned about onerous regulations that placed burdens on their business and disincentives for a business to be able to grow and thrive.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Cegavske has been a proud Nevadan since 1976. She has two sons, Adam and Bret, who graduated from UNR and UNLV respectively and are raising their own families in Las Vegas. Cegavske and her husband are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren.