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‘Mormon Land’: What you didn’t know about the most powerful LDS senator ever, the guy who took it to Romney and won for Obama

The former boxer and LDS convert was publicly ruthless and privately religious in pushing through Obamacare, economic reforms and more.

(Susan Walsh |AP) Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2016. Reid became the highest-ranking elected Latter-day Saint in U.S. history and ushered key legislative victories during the Obama administration.

(Susan Walsh |AP) Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2016. Reid became the highest-ranking elected Latter-day Saint in U.S. history and ushered key legislative victories during the Obama administration.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/f3e9e416-7f19-42ab-bb72-56a51e519a6f.png David Noyce  and https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/a7e1ce28-5353-4737-87a7-c7be13b28f3c.png Peggy Fletcher Stack
 | March 25, 2026, 6:00 a.m.
| Updated: 2:52 p.m.

Mitt Romney may be the most famous Mormon politician, but the title of highest-ranking elected Latter-day Saint in U.S. history belongs not to a rich Utah Republican with a patrician background and deep ties in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but rather to a self-made Nevada Democrat with hardscrabble roots who converted to the faith.

His name: Harry Reid. Passionately partisan, fiercely loyal and discreetly devout, Reid, who died in 2021, rose to majority leader in the U.S. Senate, where the onetime boxer fought for landmark Democratic victories on Obamacare, financial reforms and an economic stimulus package.

He was ruthless and religious — LBJ without the swearing.

(The Nevada Independent; Simon & Schuster) Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston and his new book, "The Game Changer."

Learn more about the real Harry Reid from political journalist Jon Ralston, author of the recently released biography, “The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight.”

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David NoyceSenior Managing editor

David is a managing editor at The Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He oversees coverage ranging from local government and west-side issues to growth, development and housing. In addition, he directs religion reporting, co-hosts the award-winning “Mormon Land” podcast and writes the Mormon Land newsletter.

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Peggy Fletcher StackSenior religion reporter

Hired in 1991 to cover Utah's various faiths, particularly Mormonism, Peggy has talked forgiveness with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, nearly fainted waiting for the Dalai Lama, fasted with Muslims during Ramadan — and has reported on 50 consecutive semiannual LDS General Conferences.