RNC Chairman Gruters Rallies Nevada Republicans Behind O’Donnell in Bid to Unseat Lee

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters traveled to Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District this week to headline a volunteer and election integrity training to rally Republicans behind Marty O’Donnell, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in one of the most competitive House races in the country.

Addressing volunteers and local activists, Gruters framed Nevada as central to the battle for control of Congress in November. “Nevada is one of the biggest battlegrounds in America, and what happens here could help decide the future of our country,” he told the crowd. Gruters pointed to what he called a historic recruitment push, saying the RNC has signed up nearly 17,000 poll workers nationwide so far this cycle, which he said puts the effort 42% ahead of its pace at the same point in 2024. That presidential cycle saw the RNC and Trump campaign recruit more than 230,000 election-integrity volunteers and 6,000 volunteer attorneys, a network Gruters said the party is now building on for the midterms.

Gruters also pointed to the RNC’s ongoing lawsuit against Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar over a law allowing certain people who have never lived in the state to vote, one of more than 170 election integrity suits the committee has filed nationwide this cycle. “We aren’t waiting until Election Day,” he said. “We’re taking the fight to the courtroom and fighting to stop problems before ballots are ever cast.”

O’Donnell, a musician and first-time candidate seeking to unseat Lee, said that he was running because of his grandchildren. “I look at them and want the same opportunity for them as I had,” he said before turning to criticize Lee who has represented the Las Vegas based district for four terms who O’Donnell said had failed to deliver for the district.

Lee has spent recent months navigating a series of controversies Republicans have seized on in the race, including profanity-laced remarks threatening violence against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, scrutiny over her stock trading record during her time in Congress, and her vote against the tax package that created the no tax on tips and no-tax-on-Social-Security provisions, which she dismissed at the time as “temporary crumbs.”

Lee has also taken flak for parading around southern Nevada with outfits that cost six figures, including during an affordability tour to a local food bank.