Cortez Masto declines Hispanic media award event, campaign cites prior commitment

Nevada Democrat Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto had declined an invitation to accept a leadership award from a Latino media group in her state, with her campaign citing a prior engagement.

The Hispanic Community Leadership Appreciation Award is being given by El Concilio Hispano, a Latino media group that runs a top talk radio program in Nevada.

The award, for which Cortez Masto is a co-recipient, is being given during Hispanic Heritage month, The Washington Free Beacon reported Wednesday.

She is deadlocked with Republican challenger Adam Laxalt, according to survey outlet FiveThirtyEight.

Three other Latina Democrats from Nevada accepted the award at an event Friday in Las Vegas.

A spokesperson for Cortez Masto's campaign said the candidate did not attend the event because she was scheduled to be in Reno. 

Cortez Masto tweeted a picture of herself at campaign event Friday at Battle Born Brewery in Reno.