Marty O’Donnell, the Trump-endorsed contender and veteran game composer, won his GOP primary and now heads into a high-stakes matchup with Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in Nevada’s 3rd District. He’s running as a businessman and family-first candidate who promises tougher borders, stronger support for veterans, and a fight against so-called “woke” influence. This suburban battleground will be watched nationally as both sides try to claim a district that has swung between presidents.
The 3rd District is the kind of place that decides close elections, with commuters, families, and small business owners making the difference. It flipped to Biden in 2020 and moved back toward Trump in 2024, so both campaigns see serious opportunity. Voters here tend to reward common-sense messages about security, schools, and making life more affordable.
O’Donnell is best known outside politics as the composer behind the Halo and Destiny franchises, a background that gives him a fresh outsider appeal. He has leaned into a platform built on putting families first, supporting small business, and restoring safety to neighborhoods. That mix has helped him attract national GOP backing and attention from conservative donors and activists.
“Susie Lee wants Open Borders, Men playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, Defund the Police, and wants to take away your Second Amendment, meaning, your guns. Sadly, she voted against the Biggest Tax Cut in History (including NO TAX ON TIPS!), and fought ferociously to knock out Rural Healthcare, a big factor in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District,”
“In contrast, Marty O’Donnell is a World-Class Composer and Entrepreneur who knows the America First Policies required to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote NO TAX ON TIPS, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age. As your next Congressman, Marty will fight tirelessly to Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Strengthen our Brave Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,”
O’Donnell has been vocal about culture issues, arguing that the gaming industry faced its own “wokification” and that voters notice the same trends in politics. “I believe the enthusiasm for the re-release of the original ‘Halo’ is in large part due to the wokification of the gaming industry,” he wrote in 2025 of “woke” ideology in gaming. “After years of gamers fighting the infiltration of DEI in the industry, we are finally winning.”
“I saw firsthand the beginning of DEI in the industry,” he continued, describing how the industry has faced backlash over games that alienated players with identity politics. “How did gamers react to having things forced on them by non-gamers developing these characters in the studio? They revolted.”
Susie Lee, who has represented the district since 2019, is a former second-grade teacher who emphasizes investments in public education, special education, and after-school programs. She presents herself as a pragmatic moderate who focuses on cost of living and healthcare relief for families. Lee has pushed for tougher measures in some border security areas but opposes sweeping changes like restricting birthright citizenship.
The contrast in this race is clear: O’Donnell leans hard into a law-and-order, America First message with strong backing from former President Trump, while Lee highlights education and targeted economic relief. Expect heavy spending, national messaging, and heated debates about immigration, the economy, and cultural priorities. With suburban voters watching closely, this contest could be a bellwether for how conservative messages play in competitive districts this cycle.
