Marty O'Donnell

Marty O'Donnell was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. O'Donnell's career experience includes working as a musician, composer, and audio director. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in 1977 and a graduate degree from the University of Southern California in 1981. O'Donnell has been affiliated with ASCAP, SAG/AFTRA, and AFM.[1]

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Campaign websiteO'Donnell's campaign website stated the following:Why Marty O'Donnell Is Fighting for Nevada’s FutureMarty O'Donnell is running for Congress to be a strong, steady voice for Nevada's 3rd District, because our values, safety, and livelihoods are on the line. Marty understands the challenges our communities face and the opportunities we deserve. He’s not interested in political games. He’s focused on delivering real results. From securing our border to protecting constitutional rights, every one of Marty’s priorities is grounded in his commitment to defend our freedoms, strengthen our economy, and ensure a better future for Nevada families.Read more below for what he believes will make our country's future greater and brighter.Resilient EconomyWe must build an economy that puts American workers first and protects their ability to earn a livelihood.Automation and AI are reshaping our labor force. Automation is increasingly replacing blue-collar jobs in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and service. Conversely, AI is disrupting white-collar professions by automating complex tasks like data analysis, legal research, and creative content generation.Over the next decade, our labor market will be squeezed at both ends. We must elect representatives that will work to balance investment in these technologies and respect workers.As your congressman, I will fight to secure an economy that prioritizes American workers and protects livelihoods. While we invest in technologies that increase efficiency and productivity, we must include additional investments, safeguards and protections for American workers.Secure BordersSecuring our borders is mandated in our constitution as a duty of the federal government. The Biden Administration allowed millions of people to come in without accounting for who they are, what they intend to do, or what they bring with them. That led to crime raging in our streets while poisonous drugs like fentanyl ravaged our communities.Thankfully, President Trump has put a stop to this and has brought border crossings to historic lows. Additionally, he’s ending the access to all sorts of benefits illegal immigrant were being afforded at our expense.By ending the magnets that cause illegal immigration, we can ensure our border stays secure. Additionally, we must continue to build what is needed to ensure we have proper control over our border and we must aggressively target the exploitation of human and drug trafficking in our country.OpportunityThe promise of America was built on the dream that it is the land of opportunity. For too long now, that dream is unattainable for everyday citizens.We need to get back to the days when one good job was enough to raise a family, buy a home, take a vacation, and to live a comfortable life.Unfortunately, if the 1900s was a century of rapid middle-class growth and an explosion in small businesses then the 2000s has been the complete opposite.We have time to change this, but we need leaders who will fight to make it happen.It's easy to look at the economy and realize that for years it has been tilted against the working men and women of this country.Working people, the middle class, and small businesses have been losing ground over the past 20 years despite being the backbone of what makes the United States work. The goose that lays the golden eggs for our country has been kicked around and battered to the point that laying more golden eggs is nearly impossible.No one expects government to make their life easier; they just don't want it to make their life harder.When I'm elected, you'll have a champion in Congress who will fight for you every day to ensure government stays out of your way and keeps its foot off your back. I will work to make sure that you can live the best life possible and provide a future for yourself and the next generation.Spending and DebtOur country is spiraling toward a debt crisis. There is time to correct course, but we must do so now and with the urgency a crisis like this demands.The debt may seem like an abstract number that has no effect on your life, but that couldn’t be more wrong.Higher debt and deficits push up mortgage rates as investors demand higher yields on government bonds, increasing borrowing costs for families and stifling homeownership dreams. Inflation, fueled by excessive spending, erodes purchasing power, making essentials like food, energy and housing less affordable.And this escalating debt burdens taxpayers with interest payments—projected to exceed $1 trillion annually soon—diverting funds from critical needs that serve Americans.As the national debt moves past $35 trillion, we must begin making choices on which spending is critical, which can be delayed, and which can be cut.If we fail to act our social safety nets will be left with giant holes in them, leaving our most vulnerable to fall through the cracks.I believe acting now, in a responsible fashion, to bend the cost curve on government programs and working toward a balanced budget will secure a bright future for our children and grandchildren.— Marty O'Donnell's campaign website (July 22, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Campaign ads

"Marty O'Donnell - Endorsed by Trump and Lombardo" – O'Donnell campaign ad, released April 20, 2026

"Illegal Immigration - Marty's Arcade" – O'Donnell campaign ad, released September 23, 2025

View more ads here:

YouTube

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased March 3, 2024

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Throughout my professional career I’ve worn many hats, musician, composer, game designer, performer, small business owner. I’ve composed and produced music (Halo, Destiny) that's transcended generations and helped people get through some tough times in their lives. I’ve worked at companies big and small my entire career and I’ve even started a few myself, employing over a thousand people. But what I am most proud of to this day is my family. I have been married to my wife for 47 years now and together we raised two extremely successful daughters who gave us our three beautiful grandsons, by the way all three born right here in the district. They are in fact the reason I decided to call Nevada home.

My whole life I have been a Conservative Republican. From the first time, in fourth grade, when I saw Ronald Reagan’s speech to voting for President Trump for the second time in 2020, I have always been eager and willing to share my political beliefs and have frequently been described as the most conservative person in the room. Which isn’t always the easiest thing when you work in the entertainment industry in places like Chicago, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. However, I have prided myself on civility and also being able to bridge the political gap and work with everyone in order to create great things or solve complex problems together. This kind of common sense, civil discourse approach is exactly what I want to bring to Washington D.C.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We have a government pushing the wrong priorities and a culture that mocks the beliefs, values, and people that built this country. Values like self-sacrifice, faith, integrity, fidelity, and valor are simply part of who we are. We live these values, not because the government tells us to, but because we know it’s the right thing to do. Moral obligations are freely chosen, not mandated by the government. I want to champion the family as critical for a child’s development and success. My approach, however, is inclusive, recognizing all who step up to provide for their children.

It doesn’t take a village to raise a child, it takes a family; and it takes families to make a village.Our Founders wanted people to run for office, who had life experience, that served with purpose to make a difference, not to make a career out of it. I am running to make a difference for the people of Nevada. Home prices are 6x higher, government spending is 5x higher, groceries have risen twice as much as the incomes of regular families and yet the establishment in DC has refused to do anything about it. The Democrats and Susie Lee have put the priorities of big government, big corporate executives, union bosses, big tech, big pharma, big media, big whatever, over the priorities of Americans. That's why I decided I'm not going to take any corporate PAC money. The era of big influence in DC needs to end.When you send me to Washington, I know there's a lot of stuff that needs fixing, but we have to start somewhere. I’m going to fight to make sure we secure our borders ASAP. Mandated in our constitution, as a duty of our federal government, is securing our border. Right now, this is an epic failure. Millions of people come in without accounting for who they are, what they intend to do, or what (or who) they bring with them. And they’re being given access to all sorts of handouts at our expense. 20 million illegal immigrants since 2000 - more than the population of 47 of our states. This is insane and needs to be stopped.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Hayek said, “This is not a dispute about whether planning is to be done or not. It is a dispute as to whether planning is to be done centrally, by one authority for the whole economic system, or is to be divided among many individuals.”

Reagan said, "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

The power that exists at the heart of our federal government is the sugar cube that attracts all the ants of special interests. Democratic Free Market Capitalism is the remedy against the easy access to power and must be restored.

I intend to find ways to diminish the power wielded by DC.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan. As a Christian I also desire to follow Christ. However, since he has no faults it's impossible to live up to his example.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

F. A. Hayek The Road to Serfdom. Milton Friedman Free to Choose series. JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings trilogy. C. S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

No career politicians. I believe that people elected to office should come from a cross section of people who have been successful in many different walks of life. People of demonstrable integrity, self-sacrifice, and a servant attitude should be chosen over those who simply declare themselves "experts".

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm a musician and composer. I approach life from a perspective that is somewhat unique compared to many in DC. Thinking in a different more creative way might be helpful when surrounded by lawyers and other professionals.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

First and foremost to represent the people of the district. To stay in close contact with those people and to align with their desires to the best of my ability. To be honest and transparent especially when voting my conscience.

What legacy would you like to leave?

My family. I'd like my three grandsons to be proud of the things I've accomplished, and the lessons I'll have taught them along the way.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was in the third grade when JFK was assassinated.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first real job was working as a grip on a film set. My father was the director.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Samwise.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The Halo Theme.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Remaining a guiding light to the rest of the free world. The US must return to it's core values. Freedom and family.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Congress should have term limits.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Newt Gingrich.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The federal government should be held to a balanced budget. Taxes and regulations should be decreased. The burden of government on the rest of society is too large.

Campaign website

O'Donnell's campaign website stated the following:

Middle-Class Champion

If the 1900s was a century of rapid middle-class growth and an explosion in small businesses, then the 2000s has been an era of big influence. We have time to change this, but we need leaders who will fight to make it happen.

It’s easy to look at the economy and realize that something has gone horribly wrong.

Working people, the middle class, and small businesses have been losing ground over the past 20 years. The goose that lays the golden eggs for our country has been kicked around and squeezed to the point where laying more golden eggs is almost impossible.

Consider that since 2000 the cost of food has risen more than double the rise in average household income. The cost of a home has risen 6 times and the amount of government spending 5 and a half times. The S&P 500 has gone up 9 times more than the rise in average household income.

Government-created inflation is making life unaffordable, but not for those at the top, only for those outside the 1% class.

No one expects government to make their life easier, they just don’t want it to make their life harder. But, unfortunately for too long that’s been the outcome.

When I’m elected, you’ll have a champion in Congress who will fight for you every day and ensure government stays out of your way and keeps its foot off your back, to ensure you can live the best life possible and provide a future for yourself and the next generation.

No Corporate PAC Dollars

My pledge is not to accept one penny of corporate PAC money. We currently have too many politicians who rail against the big entities and experts that got us into this mess but turn around and vacuum up corporate donations for their campaigns. My opponent Susie Lee is one of the largest recipients of corporate PAC money in all of government.

Today, the big entities in our country, whether it be big government, big corporate executives, big union bosses, big tech, big pharma, big media, big whatever—they are doing just fine. They have the power, they have the access and influence, they have the politicians.

The people I care about are those who wake up every morning and put in a hard day’s work but still struggle to stay above water.

They don’t have a lobbyist, they don’t have a PAC, but they’ll have a Congressman if I’m elected.

Traditional Values

We have a government pushing the wrong priorities and a culture that mocks the beliefs, the values, and the people who built this country.

Most Americans aren’t afraid to work to provide for their families. Values like self-sacrifice, faith, integrity, fidelity, and valor are simply part of who we are. We live these values not because the government tells us to but because we know it’s the right thing to do. Moral obligations are freely chosen, not mandated by government.

Our sad reality is that many children in our country are suffering. Years of ridiculing and demeaning “family values” have taken a toll. Our society’s strength, fundamentally linked to the vitality of the family structure, has been eroded, and children are the casualties.

We can ensure our children get the best start in life - “follow the science,” as my liberal friends say - by supporting two-parent and kinship households that help love and nurture them. They’ll likely be healthier individuals, better parents themselves, and better members of society as adults. I will champion the family as critical for children’s development and success.

My approach, however, is inclusive, recognizing all who step up to provide for their children, because it doesn’t take a village to raise a child; it takes a family, and it takes families to make a village.

Border Security

Mandated in our constitution as a duty of our federal government is securing our border. Right now, this is an epic failure. Millions of people come in without accounting for who they are, what they intend to do, or what (or who) they bring with them. And they’re being given access to all sorts of benefits at our expense.

At a minimum, the federal government and the state governments should be working together to enforce existing laws and secure the border. Seeing our government at war with itself is unacceptable.

Ultimately, we must enforce existing laws and build what is needed to ensure we have proper control over our border, and we must aggressively target the exploitation of migrants and drug and people trafficking into our country.

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—Marty O'Donnell’s campaign website (2024)[16]