The Desert Research Institute says its former employee and first woman elected lieutenant governor of Nevada, Sue Wagner has died.
The Nevada Women's History Project says Wagner was elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 1975 and the Nevada State Senate in 1979. Wagner became the first woman to be elected Lieutenant Governor in 1989.
In 2024, we featured Wagner in our Someone 2 Know segment:
Our Someone 2 Know was the 30th lieutenant governor of Nevada - and the first woman elected to the position.
Sue Wagner led with grit and integrity in everything she did. I will always be grateful for her friendship, her inspiration, and the decades of service she gave to Nevada.
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) March 18, 2026
She will be remembered not just as the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of Nevada or one of the… https://t.co/ZnESEymAA6
Sue Wagner was a trailblazer whose dedication to public service left a lasting mark on our state. The first woman to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, she was a steadfast champion for women’s rights, and her advocacy was instrumental in codifying the right to reproductive… https://t.co/ApfU8GS45H
— Senator Jacky Rosen (@SenJackyRosen) March 18, 2026
On Facebook, DRI says:
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Sue Wagner—former DRI employee, a trailblazer in Nevada, a dedicated advocate for women’s rights, and the first woman elected as Lieutenant Governor of our state. Sue’s legacy will continue to inspire generations. To honor the legacy of her husband Peter B. Wagner, she established two awards, the Wagner Award for Women in Atmospheric Science, creating opportunities and uplifting women in the field she cared so deeply about, and the Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence for DRI scholars in early stages of their career development. Our hearts are with her children Kirk and Kristina, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. If you would like to honor Sue’s legacy, please consider supporting the Peter B. Wagner Memorial Endowment - bit.ly/wagnerlegacy.
Peter Wagner died in a plane crash in 1980 while conducting meteorological research. Wagner created a scholarship in his memory to honor him and encourage young women to dream big.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Wagner’s honor.
In a statement, Lombardo said:
“Sue Wagner was a trailblazer in Nevada history and a dedicated public servant whose impact on our state will be felt for many years. Throughout her career in the Legislature, as Lieutenant Governor, and later on the Nevada Gaming Commission, Sue was committed to serving the people of Nevada. Donna and I extend our condolences to Sue’s loved ones and join Nevadans across the state in honoring her life and legacy.”
