Shea Backus is a Democratic Assemblymember representing District 37 in the Nevada State Assembly, covering portions of northwest Las Vegas and Summerlin. Born in 1975 in Las Vegas, Nevada, she is married to Marc McDermont and enjoys crafts, travel, and snowboarding. A lifelong Nevadan with deep family roots in the state, Backus practices law in Las Vegas, specializing in representing abused and neglected children in foster care, pro bono work, and cases in tribal courts including Pyramid Lake, Moapa River, and Las Vegas Paiute Indian Reservations. She narrowly defeated Republican Jim Marchant in the 2018 general election to enter the legislature and has served in sessions including 2019 and 2023, making history in Nevada's first female-majority state legislature.

Notable achievements include recognition by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada for over 100 hours of pro bono service to foster children, Mountain West Super Lawyers as a Rising Star , and Nevada Business Magazine as a Legal Elite . She contributed to adding $2.2 billion to education funding , creating a teacher pipeline, and supporting legislation to lower housing and prescription drug costs. Committee roles include Growth and Infrastructure, Judiciary, Taxation , Revenue , Ways & Means , and Subcommittee on K-12/NSHE/CIP.

Education and Political Experience

Education:

- E.W. Clark High School, Las Vegas

- B.S. in Management Science, University of California, San Diego

- J.D., Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University , with Certificate in Indian Law, High Pro Bono Distinction, and Dean’s Award

Political Experience:

- Elected to Nevada Assembly District 37 in 2018

- Served in 2019, 2023 sessions, and interim committees like National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and Nevada Advisory Council on Federal Assistance

- Running for re-election to continue representing District 37 residents

- Early experience includes 2002 internship with U.S. Department of Justice and starting law practice with her father upon returning to Nevada