Halo and Destiny composer Marty O’Donnell loses his race for a seat in the US House of Representatives
Marty O’Donnell, the renowned composer behind Halo and Destiny, has lost his bid for the US House of Representatives, failing to unseat incumbent Democrat Susie Lee in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. With 86% of votes counted, Lee secured 59.1% of the vote (146,863 votes) compared to O’Donnell’s 38.6% (95,845 votes), a deficit of over 51,000 votes according to the Associated Press.
O’Donnell’s loss came as part of a broader “blue wave” that saw Democrats retake control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. His campaign had received a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump, but it proved insufficient to overcome Lee’s advantage. The Republican candidate was attempting to win the district, which encompasses much of Clark County and Las Vegas, where Lee has held her seat since 2019.
This marks O’Donnell’s second unsuccessful bid for the same seat. He previously placed fourth in the 2024 Republican primary for Nevada’s 3rd District before attempting another run in 2026. O’Donnell had cited concerns about corporate influence in politics as motivation for his political pivot following his retirement from video game composition.
The loss was compounded by Lee’s post-election social media response, in which she mockingly referenced O’Donnell’s famous Halo monk chants—a cultural moment that underscored the sharp defeat for the gaming industry figure attempting to transition to electoral politics.
Sources
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