Catherine Cortez Masto is the first Latina to be elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first woman elected to the senate from Nevada. Cortez Masto, the former state attorney general defeated three term congressman Joe Heck. She will replace Harry Reid who is retiring from elective office as the Democratic Minority Leader.  Outside groups poured more than $90 million into the race on top of the $18 million spent directly by the candidates. The Koch Brothers political action committee “Freedom Partner’s Action fund spent six million dollars against her. Heck, an emergency room physician and US Army Reserve General was seen by many as a much stronger national security candidate, but was hurt by his flip flops on whether or not he was supporting and voting for Donald Trump. Initially Heck was a supporter, but bailed on Trump after the recording of Trumps lewd comments from “Access Hollywood” was released. Even a week before the election Heck refused to reveal who he was supporting, a decision that cost him support from rank and file republicans.