Question: Which Republican senator held the Nevada seat from 2001 to 2011, succeeding Richard Bryan?
Context: The 1972 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 7, 1972.  Republican U.S. Representative William L. Scott defeated incumbent Democratic Senator William Spong, Jr..  Scott was the first Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia to be elected in over a century, as the most recent Republican Senator was John F. Lewis, who had held the seat during the Reconstruction era. Cyrus Gilbert Wiley (August 13, 1881 – January 3, 1930) served as president of Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth from 1921 and until 1926 succeeding Richard R. Wright. The 1988 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 8, 1988.  Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Chic Hecht ran for re-election to a second term, but lost to Governor Richard Bryan. The 2000 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 7, 2000.  Incumbent Democrat Richard Bryan decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term.  Republican nominee John Ensign won the open seat. John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is an American veterinarian and former politician based in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He was a Congressman and United States Senator from Nevada, serving in the latter seat from January 2001 until May 2011.  He resigned amid a Senate Ethics Committee investigation. The Nevada gubernatorial election of 1982 occurred on November 2, 1982.  Incumbent Republican governor Robert List ran unsuccessfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, losing to Democratic candidate Richard Bryan. Sir Jacobus Petrus de Wet (25 August 1838 – 19 April 1900) was the 15th Chief Justice of Ceylon.  He was appointed on 31 May 1882 succeeding Richard Cayley and was Chief Justice until 29 May 1883.  He was succeeded by Bruce Burnside. The Nevada gubernatorial election of 1986 occurred on November 4, 1986.  Incumbent Democratic governor Richard Bryan ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Nevada, defeating Republican candidate Patty Cafferata. Robert Frank "Bob" List (born September 1, 1936) is an American attorney and politician.  He served as the 24th Governor of Nevada from 1979 to 1983.  He was raised in Exeter, California.  He served as the Carson City District Attorney and the Nevada Attorney General before becoming governor.  Currently List practices law in Las Vegas with the law firm Kolesar & Leatham, Chtd.  He was the last Governor to serve from outside Clark County until Jim Gibbons' election.  After his term ended, he became a supporter of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.  List was defeated for re-election in 1982 by Nevada Attorney General Richard Bryan.  He is a member of the Republican Party. Bartholomew "Bart" F. Guida (1914–1978) was a Democrat who was Mayor of New Haven for three terms from 1970 to 1975, succeeding Richard C. Lee.  During his time as mayor, the city became overwhelmingly Democrat-controlled.  He reversed Lee's policy of urban renewal, and opposed Yale University on several issues, opposing President Kingman Brewster over the construction of two new residential colleges.
Answer: John Ensign