School Board Trustee Lydia Dominguez announces Congressional bid in Nevada’s CD3

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District just got another challenger. Lydia Dominguez announced her bid for Congress on Wednesday, joining what’s already shaping up to be a crowded Republican field trying to unseat Democrat Susie Lee.

The race is attracting familiar faces and newcomers alike. Marty O’Donnell, the Halo video game composer who finished fourth in the 2024 primary, is back for another shot. The field also includes several other Republicans like Tera Anderson, Christopher Brandlin, Ronda Kennedy, Steve London, Aury Nagy, and Lucena Parker.

Dominguez brings a different story to the table than most politicians. She’s an Air Force veteran who served for ten years. She’s also a single mom raising two kids in the Clark County schools. Just this past January, she won a seat on the school board. Now she wants to take her fight to Washington.

Fighting the “New Mob”

In her announcement, Dominguez used some clever language that hits close to home in Las Vegas. She said she’s ready to fight the “new mob” of what she calls “limousine liberals.” This isn’t just any political phrase — this is Las Vegas, where everyone knows the mob’s history.

For decades, organized crime ran this town. The old mob controlled casinos, politicians, and regular people’s lives. They got rich while working families struggled. Sound familiar? Dominguez is saying today’s wealthy liberal elites are just like the old Vegas mob — they control things from the top and don’t care about regular folks.

It’s smart messaging for Las Vegas voters. Everyone here knows stories about how the mob operated. They had money, power, and connections. They made decisions behind closed doors that affected everyone else. When Dominguez talks about fighting a “new mob,” she’s saying these limousine liberals work the same way the old mob did.

I’m ready to fight the new mob—limousine liberals like @SusieLeeNV. Southern Nevada families deserve a representative who shares our values, patriotism, and basic common sense.

President Trump proved #NV03 is ready for change. I’ll stand with him to maintain border security,… pic.twitter.com/9PPakhHrQi

— Lydia Dominguez (@LydiaD_LV) September 3, 2025

Why This District Matters

CD3 covers southern Las Vegas and parts of Clark County. It’s been a tough district for Republicans to win. Democrat Susie Lee has held the seat since 2019. But here’s the thing — Donald Trump actually won this district in 2024 while Lee kept her House seat. That tells conservatives there’s real opportunity here.

The district was one of 13 congressional districts that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election while simultaneously electing a Democrat in the 2024 House of Representatives elections. This split vote shows voters are willing to support Republican ideas, even if they haven’t picked the right Republican candidate yet.

A Wild Cast of Republican Challengers

CD3 has become a magnet for colorful Republican candidates over the years. Each one brings their own story and thinks they’ve got what it takes to beat Lee.

Take the 2020 Republican primary. It featured Dan Rodimer, a former pro wrestler who got Trump’s endorsement but later made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He’s now facing murder charges in a Las Vegas hotel death. Then there was Mindy Robinson, an actress and political commentator who’s since become a Libertarian. She came in third with 13 percent of the vote. In 2024, the race drew Marty O’Donnell, the guy who composed the famous Halo video game music. Yes, really.

But the district has also attracted more serious political challengers. April Becker ran a strong campaign in 2022, losing to Lee by just 4 points (52 percent to 48 percent). Drew Johnson made a solid run in 2024 but still fell short, losing by 3 points. These were experienced candidates with real political backgrounds who still couldn’t crack the code on beating Lee.

The mix shows how this seat draws everyone from seasoned politicians to complete outsiders. Each cycle brings a new cast of characters trying different approaches to flip this competitive district.

What Dominguez Brings

She proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for the past ten years as a Flight Chief of Personnel and has real experience managing resources and preventing fraud. This military background appeals to conservative voters who want someone who knows how government waste happens.

Her school board win shows she can connect with parents worried about their kids’ education. “One of the biggest problems we have right now with CCSD is the budgetary deficiency,” Dominguez said. “We need someone who can go through our expenses and determine if the programs we’re utilizing are actually working.”

The Platform

Dominguez starts with three clear pledges that will appeal to limited-government conservatives. She promises to support term limits for Congress members, oppose any tax increases on workers, and back a balanced budget amendment. These aren’t complicated positions — they’re straightforward promises about limiting government power.

She wants to ban lawmakers from trading stocks while in office and supports border security and backing law enforcement. Her focus on “American families first” language connects with voters who feel left behind by elite politicians. When she talks about working alongside Trump, she’s making it clear which team she’s on.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 race is still early, but some trends are clear. Republicans keep believing they can flip this seat with the right candidate. The Trump victory in the district gives them hope that conservative messages can work here.

For conservatives watching this race, Dominguez represents something important. She’s not a career politician or wealthy businessman. She’s a military mom who worked her way up through service to her community.

What Conservatives Should Do

Conservatives who want to support Dominguez should look at her actual record on the school board. Does she keep her promises about cutting waste and standing up for parents? Track her fundraising compared to Lee’s war chest.

The bigger question for conservative voters is whether they want to keep trying new faces or find a candidate with more political experience. Each approach has trade-offs.

Stay engaged with the primary process when it develops. Make sure candidates explain exactly how they’ll be different from previous challengers who lost. And remember — winning requires more than just good conservative positions. It takes organization, money, and a message that reaches beyond the base.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.