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R Republican · U.S. House 3, Nevada · Nov 3, 2026

Marty
O'Donnell

Republican nominee Marty O'Donnell, known for composing Halo's music, challenges incumbent Susie Lee in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District in 2026.

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
16
positions
10
endorsements
5
martyforcongress.vote ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)YouTube(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Susie Lee D+ 1 more Compare race →

Background

Marty O'Donnell is the Republican nominee for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. He has not previously held elected office, according to a Nevada Current profile from August 2026. 19

O'Donnell's career was primarily in music composition and sound design for video games. He founded O'Donnell/Salvatori Inc., a Chicago-based commercial music and sound production company, in 1981, and earned a Master of Music in Composition with honors from the University of Southern California that same year. He began composing for video games in 1997 and served as Audio Director and Composer at Bungie starting in 2000, where he became widely known for his work on the Halo franchise. He is also a co-founder and co-owner of Highwire Games. 10

O'Donnell moved to Southern Nevada in 2021 to be closer to his grandchildren. His campaign biography describes him as a retired composer now seeking elected office. He faces incumbent Democratic Representative Susie Lee, who has held the NV-03 seat since 2019. 11018

At a glance

Party
Republican
Running for
U.S. House · District 3, Nevada
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
martyforcongress.vote(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Date unknown
    debate
    Proposed O'Donnell–Lee debate on 8 News Now canceled after Lee declined to participate

    O'Donnell said he had accepted an invitation months earlier to debate Lee on 8 News Now, but the event was canceled after Lee did not agree to participate. O'Donnell urged Lee to 'stop hiding from her record.' Lee said she would not 'legitimize' O'Donnell by sharing a debate stage. No specific calendar date for the cancellation was reported.

    Aaron Ford gets seven-figure boost from outside group in Nevada ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sep 25
    filing
    O'Donnell confirmed as NV-03 Republican nominee alongside Lee and Independent Kamerath

    Ballotpedia's September 25 overview listed Susie Lee, Marty O'Donnell, and Independent American Party candidate Jon Kamerath as the general-election candidates for NV-03.

    Voters in three cities will decide on ballot measures ... · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 21
    news
    Trump-aligned group committed $3.2M in ads supporting O'Donnell; 'no tax on tips' emphasized

    The AP reported that the Trump-aligned group Safety and Affordability committed nearly $3.2 million to advertising supporting O'Donnell, with pro-O'Donnell forces ahead by more than $1 million in ad spending. Republicans emphasized the 'no tax on tips' policy in targeting the Las Vegas district.

    'No tax on tips' takes center stage in a competitive Nevada ... · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sep 10
    news
    O'Donnell spoke at Republican midterm convention in Dallas, led Flintstones jingle

    O'Donnell spoke at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on September 10. AP reported he led attendees in singing a Flintstones jingle associated with his work. Deseret News noted Trump had tapped him to speak at the event.

    As Democrats eye big midterm wins, Republicans look to ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Jun 30
    filing
    O'Donnell's campaign reported ~$4.1M in receipts through June 30, including $3M personal loan

    Smarter.Vote's summary of FEC data showed O'Donnell's receipts at approximately $4.1 million through June 30, 2026, including a $3 million personal loan, roughly $256,000 in other contributions, more than $1.6 million in spending, and the loan still outstanding.

    Marty O'Donnell — 2026 Nevada's 3rd Congressional District Election · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo official
    Lombardo stated: "I'm proud to endorse him for Congress in Nevada's 3rd District." martyodonnellnevada.org · Jun 1, 2026
  • National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) organization
    The NRCC added O'Donnell to its 2026 MAGA Majority program, providing early support, strategic resources, and visibility. nrcc.org · Apr 27, 2026
  • Elon Musk other
    Musk posted "Support Marty, he's a cool dude," reported as an endorsement. cactuspolitics.com · Apr 16, 2026
  • President Donald Trump official
    Trump posted his "Complete and Total Endorsement" of O'Donnell on April 14, 2026, and reiterated the endorsement on June 8, 2026, the day before Nevada's Republican primary. trumpstruth.org · Apr 14, 2026
  • The Bull Moose Project organization
    The Bull Moose Project announced: "The Bull Moose Project is proud to support Marty O'Donnell and his campaign to represent Nevada's 3rd Congressional District." bullmooseproject.org · Jan 27, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$4.03M
Spent
$1.62M
Cash on hand
$2.41M

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H4NV03225(opens in a new tab)

Sources 16

  1. [1] Marty O'Donnell (@MartyTheElder) ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
  2. [2] Marty O'Donnell — 2026 Nevada's 3rd Congressional District Election(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  3. [3] As Democrats eye big midterm wins, Republicans look to ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  4. [4] Aaron Ford gets seven-figure boost from outside group in Nevada ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  5. [5] Voter Guide Profile for NV U.S. Rep, Dist. 3 candidate ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
  6. [6] Voters in three cities will decide on ballot measures ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
  7. [7] 'No tax on tips' takes center stage in a competitive Nevada ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
  8. [8] Where do the candidates for Nevada's most competitive House ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 4, 2026
  9. [9] When candidates give squishy answers, voters lose - The Nevada Independent(opens in a new tab) Aug 11, 2026
  10. [10] Governor Lombardo Endorses Marty O’Donnell — Nevada NV-03(opens in a new tab) Jun 1, 2026
  11. [11] NRCC Adds Marty O'Donnell to MAGA Majority Program(opens in a new tab) Apr 27, 2026
  12. [12] Trump, Musk Endorse Halo Composer Marty O'Donnell(opens in a new tab) Apr 17, 2026
  13. [13] It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Marty O ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2026
  14. [14] Endorsement of Marty O'Donnell - The Bull Moose Project(opens in a new tab) Jan 27, 2026
  15. [15] Priorities - Marty O\'Donnell for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jul 9, 2025
  16. [16] Marty O'Donnell — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2023
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