Jump to content

Reuben D'Silva

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reuben D'Silva
Member of the Nevada Assembly
from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 9, 2022
Preceded byEdgar Flores
Personal details
Born1985 (age 39–40)
Mumbai, India
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Independent
ResidenceNorth Las Vegas, Nevada
EducationRancho High School
Alma materCollege of Southern Nevada (A.A.)
University of Nevada at Las Vegas (B.A.)
University of Pennsylvania (M.A.)
Yale University (M.A.)
OccupationHigh School History Teacher
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service2004–2008
RankCorporal
Battles/warsOperation Iraqi Freedom
AwardsPurple Heart

Reuben D'Silva (born 1985) is an American politician serving as a member of the Nevada Assembly from the 28th district.[1][2]

Early life and education

[edit]

D'Silva was born in Mumbai, India,[2] and immigrated to the United States as a toddler. At the time of immigration, his mother was undocumented and his father had temporary protected status. After his mother received a letter of deportation, then-Senator Richard Bryan, who later became state governor, stepped in to help.[2] Growing up in the Las Vegas Valley from the age of six, he attended the now-closed St. Christopher Catholic School and Rancho High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada, where he served as class president for his graduating class. After graduating from high school in 2003, he attended the Community College of Southern Nevada and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after.[3] He is a practicing Catholic and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, attending the St. James the Apostle church in Las Vegas.[3][4]

He transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), while still serving as a Marine from 2003 to 2008.[5] While enrolled in February 2007,[5] he was deployed to Iraq to provide security in the Iraq War. He was awarded the Purple Heart[4] and the Naval Achievement Medal for his service during this time, as he was injured by enemy gunfire and helped save his teammates.[3]

After returning to UNLV, D'Silva graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History. He received a Master's degree in Global Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and another Master's degree in Cooperative Religion and Politics at Yale University.[3]

Career

[edit]

Following his graduations, D'Silva returned to Las Vegas to teach History at his alma mater, Rancho High School.[4] He also coached the girls' basketball team and serves as an advisor for several clubs.[3]

As an academic mentor, D'Silva has led and organized community events in several states, including his local Nevada, as well as California, Arizona, Massachussetts, New Jersey, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. D'Silva also served as the Western Regional Director of Social Action for his fraternity alma mater, Phi Beta Sigma, and currently serves as the Alumni Director of Education.[3]

Political career

[edit]

In 2013, D'Silva was selected by then-Senator Harry Reid to serve on Nevada's Military Action Selection Committee. In 2014, mayor pro tempore and city councilmember Isaac Barron appointed him as a Trustee for the North Las Vegas Library District.[3]

United States House of Representatives

[edit]

Elections

[edit]
2016
[edit]
Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

D'Silva ran as an Independent against Democratic incumbent Dina Titus and finished 3rd with 7.3% of the vote.

2018
[edit]
Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 1

He ran against Titus again in 2018, this time as Democrat, however he was comfortably defeated in the primary 79% to 21%.

Nevada State Assembly

[edit]

Elections

[edit]
2022
[edit]
Main article: 2022 Nevada Assembly election § District 28

With Edgar Flores opting to run for the Nevada Senate rather than for re-election, D'Silva was one of four Democrats who ran to succeed him. He easily won the primary before winning the general election with a 2 to 1 margin over Republican Clint Brown. D'Silva is the first Indian-American to serve in the Nevada State Assembly.[2]

Electoral history

[edit]
Nevada State Assembly's 28th district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Reuben D'Silva 6,323 67.4
Republican Clint Brown 3,055 32.6
Total votes 9,378 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic primary for Nevada State Assembly's 28th district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Reuben D'Silva 1,252 64.6
Democratic Cindi Rivera 336 17.3
Democratic Aaron Bautista 230 11.9
Democratic Antonio Bowen 121 6.2
Total votes 1,939 100.0
Democratic primary for Nevada's 1st congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dina Titus (incumbent) 20,897 78.7
Democratic Reuben D'Silva 5,659 21.3
Total votes 26,556 100.0
Nevada's 1st congressional district election, 2016[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dina Titus (incumbent) 116,537 61.9
Republican Mary Perry 54,174 28.8
Independent Reuben D'Silva 13,897 7.3
Independent American Kamau Bakari 3,744 2.0
Total votes 188,352 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ "Assemblyman Reuben D'Silva". leg.state.nv.us. Nevada Assembly. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Foreman, Naoka (2023-01-12). "Freshmen Orientation: Assemblyman Reuben D'Silva". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Biography". D'Silva for Nevada. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  4. ^ a b c "Reuben D'Silva". New Politics. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  5. ^ a b "War and after | Yale Alumni". Yale Alumni Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  6. ^ "Silver State Election Night Results 2016". Nevada Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.


[edit]


Flag of NevadaPolitician icon

This article about a Nevada politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reuben_D%27Silva&oldid=1297347522"