Lee wins Nevada’s 3rd District

Democratic Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) defeated Republican challenger Marty O’Donnell on Tuesday, holding onto Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District after a competitive race in a Las Vegas-area seat that backed President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.The Associated Press called the race for longtime incumbent Lee shortly after 4 a.m. Eastern time. She received 60.1% of the vote to O’Donnell’s 37.8%, with 65% of ballots counted.Lee, who has represented the district since 2019, entered the race with a fundraising advantage, bringing in $1.2 million during the third quarter and $5.6 million for the election cycle. O’Donnell, a video game composer known for his work on the Halo and Destiny franchises, won the Republican primary in June with Trump’s endorsement. Trump praised O’Donnell’s positions on border security, taxes, and small businesses.The race became a test of Republican spending priorities late in the campaign. Safety and Affordability PAC, a group financially backed by Trump-aligned MAGA Inc., had reserved $3 million in television advertising to support O’Donnell but canceled $1 million in reservations shortly before the election. The decision followed a shift by the Cook Political Report toward Democrats and other reports that Trump-aligned groups were cutting spending in some difficult-to-win House races.The district covers southern Las Vegas and much of unincorporated Clark County. Its suburban electorate has demonstrated split-ticket voting: Trump won the district in 2024 even as Lee narrowly secured reelection with approximately 51.4% of the vote.HOW 2028 CONTENDERS ARE BOOSTING THEIR BONA FIDES DURING MIDTERM SEASONLee, an education advocate, has opposed Trump’s calls to eliminate the Department of Education during her last term in the House, arguing for continued federal support for public schools, special education, and after-school programs.The race is among the contests that could help determine control of the House after the midterm elections. Independent American Party candidate Jon Kamerath was also on the ballot.