Trump endorses GOP candidates in 2 swingy Nevada House seats

President Donald Trump is endorsing video game composer Marty O'Donnell (R) and educator and state Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson), who are both hoping to flip two of Nevada's most competitive House districts. 

In a Tuesday afternoon post on TruthSocial, the president called O'Donnell, who is running in the 3rd Congressional District, "a true America First Patriot." In another post, he praised Buck, who is running in the 1st Congressional District, as "a Successful School Principal and Civic Leader." He said both candidates will "Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote NO TAX ON TIPS," advance U.S. manufacturing and keep the border secure. He wrote that both candidates have his "Complete and Total Endorsement."

Ahead of his Thursday trip to Las Vegas to tout his "no tax on tips" policy, the president slammed the Democratic incumbents who currently represent the two districts for voting against the policy. In 2022, the vast majority of Trump's endorsed candidates won their primaries, although he often backed incumbents and candidates running unopposed.

The president's backing cements O'Donnell's place as the front-runner weeks after he secured the endorsement of Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). His Republican primary opponents are former Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, Dr. Aury Nagy and 2024 Las Vegas mayoral candidate Tera Anderson. 

O'Donnell, who has previously come under fire from other Republicans for his past criticism of Trump, placed fourth in the GOP primary for the same seat in 2024. This time around, he said he would drop out if Trump didn't endorse him. 

"I am beyond grateful that President Trump has picked me for his team and given me his endorsement today," O'Donnell wrote in a Tuesday statement, adding that he was asking "all Republicans to unite around the President and me to help us save our majority."

O'Donnell will attend Trump's event in Las Vegas this week, but not as a participant in the formal programming. The video game composer still must win the primary for the chance to take on four-term Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in the state's most competitive battleground, which stretches across southwestern Las Vegas and to the southern tip of the state. 

In the 1st Congressional District, which includes Las Vegas' urban core, Henderson, and Boulder City, Buck faces a handful of Republican opponents, including retired teacher and pastor Jim Blockey and an indicted real estate investor. Her strong fundraising numbers — which were better than the incumbent's — already set her apart in the GOP field to take on Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). Buck is also planning to attend Trump's Thursday rountable.

"I'm honored to have earned President Trump's endorsement," Buck wrote in a statement shared with The Nevada Independent. "Dina Titus has lost touch with Nevadans. While families here struggle with rising costs, Titus voted to raise our taxes, and fought to keep our borders open. We deserve better."

This story was updated on 04/14/26 at 3:10 p.m. to include information about Buck attending Trump's Thursday event.