On June 9, Republican voters in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District selected Marty O'Donnell as their nominee for the November general election. O'Donnell had been endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump and prevailed in a competitive, largely self-funded primary field.
Primary field and financing
The Republican contest included four main contenders: Marty O'Donnell, video game composer and Trump endorsee; Aury Nagy, a neurosurgeon; Jeff Gunter, a former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland; and businesswoman Tera Anderson. Candidates in the race relied heavily on personal loans to their campaigns. O'Donnell loaned his campaign $3 million, while Nagy and Gunter each advanced $1 million and $750,000 to their efforts, respectively.
O'Donnell also received support from the House Republicans' campaign arm as part of its "MAGA Majority" program, which targets candidates running in battleground districts.
What comes next
As the Republican nominee, O'Donnell will face incumbent Democrat Susie Lee in the general election. Lee secured renomination and will be the Democratic candidate in November. The contest is expected to draw national attention and significant campaign spending ahead of the general election.
The 3rd District is considered closely divided. In 2024, Lee was reelected by nearly three percentage points even as Donald Trump narrowly carried the district, underscoring the competitive nature of the electorate and why the seat is among those viewed as potentially decisive for control of the U.S. House.
Implications for November
Party control of the House is narrow entering the election cycle, and this seat is among a handful across the country that could influence the balance of power. Given the district's recent voting patterns and the level of outside interest anticipated, the race is likely to command resources and attention from national campaign organizations as both parties seek to secure or retain a majority.
Key facts
- Marty O'Donnell won the Republican primary in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.
- O'Donnell was endorsed by Donald Trump and loaned his campaign $3 million; rivals Aury Nagy and Jeff Gunter loaned $1 million and $750,000, respectively.
- Democrat Susie Lee, the incumbent, won renomination and will face O'Donnell in November; the district is closely divided and could affect control of the U.S. House.