He was a lawyer in Nevada before entering politics, serving a term in the state legislature and then being elected lieutenant governor in 1970. He served in that office until 1974. He was then Nevada state gaming commissioner from 1977 to 1981, and followed that with election to the United States House of Representatives. He served two terms there, from 1983 to 1987, being reelected in 1984. He was elected to the Senate in 1986, succeeding the Republican incumbent, Paul Laxalt, who did not run in that election. Reid was reelected in 1992 and 1998. His Republican opponent in 1998 was John Ensign.