On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared his support for Marty O’Donnell, a Republican running in Nevada’s highly competitive 3rd congressional district. This district is recognized as one of the most challenging for candidates across the nation.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump praised O’Donnell: “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.”
He added, “Marty O’Donnell has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.”
O’Donnell, who previously contested in the 2024 GOP primary for the same district, finished fourth with around 21 percent of the vote. He had vowed to withdraw from the 2026 race if he did not secure Trump’s endorsement but is now proceeding after receiving it.
The Republican candidate has also gained a significant endorsement from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican.
🚨 I am truly honored to have the support of President Donald J. Trump!
The stakes this midterm could not be higher. That’s why when I started running, I promised I would drop out unless President Trump supported me so that Republicans could avoid wasting resources on a needless… pic.twitter.com/AMmzZpjCw4
— Marty O’Donnell (@MartyTheElder) April 14, 2026
Widely known for his contributions to the Halo video game series—one of Xbox’s most successful titles—O’Donnell is also recognized for his role in the companion series Destiny.
His career began with a commercial music and sound production firm in Chicago. Later, he worked as an audio director and composer at Bungie, contributing to classics such as the Myth series, Oni, and various Halo games. His last project with Bungie was Destiny, which featured a collaboration with Paul McCartney.
Running for the Republican nomination in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, he is campaigning in an area that encompasses southwestern Las Vegas suburbs and stretches to the southern part of the state. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+1, marking it as one of the most pivotal districts in the upcoming midterm elections.
Currently, the district is represented by Democrat Rep. Susie Lee, who was re-elected in 2024 despite a strong Republican performance nationwide. Yet, recent positive trends in voter registration could work in Republicans’ favor, as they have recently gained a lead over Democrats for the first time in over a decade.
