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Susie Lee

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For persons of a similar name, see Susan Lee (disambiguation).

Susie Lee
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byJacky Rosen
Personal details
Born
Suzanne Marie Kelley

(1966-11-07) November 7, 1966 (age 58)
Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Dan Lee
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2021)​
Children2
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BA, MS)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

Suzanne Marie Lee (née Kelley; born November 7, 1966)[1] is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district since 2019.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, she represents southern Las Vegas and much of unincorporated Clark County.

Early life and education

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Suzanne Marie Kelley[3] was born and raised in Canton, Ohio, as one of eight children.[4] Her father, Warren Kelley, was a Korean War veteran and structural engineer, while her mother, Joan Kelley, was a homemaker.[4] At the age of eight, she had her first job delivering newspapers for The Canton Repository.[4]

Lee attended McKinley High School in Canton, where she was on the swim team.[4] She graduated from high school in 1985 and went to college at Carnegie Mellon University.[4] There she earned both her bachelor of arts degree in policy management and a master of science degree in public management,[5] receiving her master's degree in 1990.[3]

Early career

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After moving to Las Vegas in 1993, Lee became a founding director of the city's chapter of the Inner-City Games, now known as the After-School All-Stars, which conducts after-school programs for children.[5] In 2011, she became the board chair of Communities in Schools of Nevada, a dropout prevention organization.[6][7]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2016

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See also: 2016 Nevada's 4th congressional district election

Lee ran for the United States House of Representatives in Nevada's 4th congressional district.[8] She lost the primary to Ruben Kihuen by 19 points, placing third behind former state assemblywoman Lucy Flores, who received 25.6% of the vote.

2018

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See also: 2018 Nevada's 3rd congressional district election
Lee being sworn into the 116th Congress, 2019

Lee ran for Nevada's 3rd congressional district to succeed Jacky Rosen, who retired after one term to run for the United States Senate.[9][10] Lee won the seven-way primary election with 66.9% of the vote.[11] She defeated Republican nominee Danny Tarkanian in the general election with 52% of the vote.[12]

2020

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See also: 2020 Nevada's 3rd congressional district election

Lee ran for reelection to a second term.[13] She won the three-way primary election with 82.8% of the vote.[14] She defeated Republican nominee Dan Rodimer in the general election with 48.8% of the vote.[15]

2022

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See also: 2022 Nevada's 3rd congressional district election

Lee was reelected in the 2022 elections.[16] She defeated Republican April Becker, a lawyer, in the general election with 52% of the vote.[17]

2024

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See also: 2024 Nevada's 3rd congressional district election

Lee was reelected in the 2024 elections. She defeated Republican Drew Johnson, political columnist, policy analyst, and former think tank founder and executive, in the general election with 51% of the vote.

Tenure

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Lee discusses legislation to secure the Mexican–United States border, 2024

Lee was sworn into Congress on January 3, 2019, and was appointed to the Education and Labor and the Veterans' Affairs committees during the 116th congressional session.[18] That month, she joined other lawmakers in forgoing her paycheck in solidarity with federal workers affected by the government shutdown of 2019.[19] In February, she co-sponsored the Raise the Wage Act, which aimed to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024.[20] She also worked with Nevada's congressional delegation to prevent the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility from becoming operational.[21][22] In December, Lee voted in favor of both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[23]

In 2020, Lee sponsored the bipartisan LWCF Permanent Funding Act to secure full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports outdoor recreation and conservation efforts.[24] In March, she joined Nevada's congressional delegation to push for financial relief for the state's tourism industry, which was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.[25] The following month, they also sought federal aid to Nevada's gaming industry, successfully securing regulatory changes that allowed small gaming businesses to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans.[26] Shortly after, Full House Resorts, a casino company led by Lee's husband, received $5.6 million in loans;[27] Lee stated she had no role in the decision to apply for the loan despite holding with her husband several million dollars in company stock.[28][26] In May, Lee voted for the $3 trillion Heroes Act.[29]

In 2021, Lee was appointed to House Appropriations Committee during the 117th congressional session.[30] In June, she supported the SAFE Banking Act, which aimed to allow the cannabis industry access to banking services.[31] During the year, Lee failed to properly disclose over 200 stock trades worth $3.3 million, which her office attributed to clerical errors. An outside legal ethics expert found no evidence of intentional violations of disclosure rules.[32] In November, she voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[33]

Lee on the Committee on Appropriations, 2024

In 2023, Lee was appointed to the Appropriations and Natural Resources committees during the 118th congressional session.[34] In September, she helped secure federal funding for Nevada’s water infrastructure, including forty million dollars to improve drinking water quality.[35] In April 2024, she co-sponsored the bipartisan Seniors Securing Access to Vital and Essential Prescription Drugs Act.[36]

In 2025, Lee was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.[37] That same year she was appointed to the Committee on Appropriations[38] and the Committee on Natural Resources.[39]

Personal life

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Lee lives in Las Vegas with her two children. She and her former husband, casino executive Dan Lee, announced their divorce in May 2021.[40] During their marriage, they owned 17 investment properties, and her husband owned a turboprop plane.[41] She is Roman Catholic.[42]

Electoral history

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Democratic primary results (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee 25,474 66.9
Democratic Michael Weiss 3,115 8.2
Democratic Eric Stoltz 2,758 7.2
Democratic Jack Love 2,208 5.8
Democratic Richard Hart 1,847 4.9
Democratic Steve Schiffman 1,338 3.5
Democratic Guy Pinjuv 1,331 3.5
Total votes 38,071 100.0
Nevada's 3rd congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee 148,501 51.9
Republican Danny Tarkanian 122,566 42.8
Libertarian Steve Brown 4,555 1.6
Independent David Goossen 3,627 1.3
Independent American Party (Nevada) Harry Vickers 3,481 1.2
Independent Gil Eisner 1,887 0.7
Independent Tony Gumina 1,551 0.5
Total votes 286,168 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic primary results (2020)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 49,223 82.8
Democratic Dennis Sullivan 5,830 9.8
Democratic Tiffany Watson 4,411 7.4
Total votes 59,464 100.0
Nevada's 3rd congressional district, 2020[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 203,421 48.8
Republican Dan Rodimer 190,975 45.8
Libertarian Steve Brown 12,315 2.9
Independent American Edward Bridges III 10,541 2.5
Total votes 417,252 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic primary results (2022)[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 36,919 89.7
Democratic Randy Hynes 4,239 10.3
Total votes 41,158 100.0
Nevada's 3rd congressional district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 131,086 51.9
Republican April Becker 121,083 48.0
Total votes 252,169 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic primary results (2024)[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 33,901 91.8
Democratic RockAthena Brittain 3,036 8.2
Total votes 36,937 100.0
Nevada's 3rd congressional district, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susie Lee (incumbent) 191,304 51.4
Republican Drew Johnson 181,084 48.6
Total votes 372,388 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lee, Susie 1966 –". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  2. ^ "CD3 winners Tarkanian, Lee confident as they pivot to next battle". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1990 · Page 13". Newspapers.com. August 24, 1990.
  4. ^ a b c d e Balint, Ed (December 9, 2018). "From Canton to Congress: Susie Lee elected to Nevada House seat". Canton Repository. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Giwargis, Ramona (October 21, 2018). "Humble beginnings shaped political ideology of Susie Lee". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Arcella, Lisa (October 12, 2011). "Elaine Wynn and Susie Lee Lead Communities in Schools of Nevada". Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  7. ^ Rindels, Michelle (September 14, 2017). "Democratic education advocate Susie Lee jumps into competitive House race after primary loss in 2016". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Lee makes political debut in CD4 race". Thespectrum.com. March 21, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Bohrer, Becky (September 14, 2017). "Democrat Susie Lee to run for Rosen's congressional seat – Las Vegas Review-Journal". Reviewjournal.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Democrat Susie Lee announces bid for Congress seat Rosen leaving – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". Lasvegassun.com. Associated Press. September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "Nevada Primary Election Results: Third House District". The New York Times. June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. ^ "Susie Lee wins Nevada's 3rd Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Appleton, Rory (March 13, 2020). "Plenty of challengers flock to Nevada's congressional races". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  14. ^ "U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES". Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Silver State 2020 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "Candidates who filed with the Clark County Registrar of Voters". Clark County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Democrat Susie Lee defeats Republican April Becker for Las Vegas congressional seat". November 12, 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". web.archive.org. July 22, 2020. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  19. ^ "Here are the lawmakers diverting pay in solidarity with shutdown employees". web.archive.org. January 4, 2019. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Gillan, Jeff (February 1, 2019). "The push to raise the minimum wage: Who might be helped or hurt?". KSNV. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  21. ^ "Nevada congressional delegation ready to tackle key local issues". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 8, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  22. ^ Sadler, John (March 7, 2019). "Jobs, not waste: Measure seeks alternative uses for Yucca Mountain". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  23. ^ Panetta, Grace. "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  24. ^ "Advocates urge Congress to provide full funding for Nevada public lands". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 30, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  25. ^ Staff (March 18, 2020). "Nevada's members of Congress call for relief for workers hit by virus closures". KSNV. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Solis, Jacob (June 16, 2020). "As Republicans push for ethics probe into federal coronavirus relief that benefited her husband's company, Rep. Susie Lee insists she 'took the right vote'". thenevadaindependent.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  27. ^ Markay, Lachlan (June 8, 2020). "Nevada Congresswoman Pushed for COVID Loans for Casinos. Her Husband Got Two". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  28. ^ O'Connell, Jonathan; Gregg, Aaron (June 26, 2020). "SBA exempted lawmakers, federal officials from ethics rules in $660 billion loan program". Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  29. ^ "UPDATE: House to vote on $3T 'Heroes Act' relief package including 2nd round of relief checks". Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV. May 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  30. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". web.archive.org. October 19, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  31. ^ "As Nevada's cannabis industry continues to operate without banks, Congress considers solution". Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV. June 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  32. ^ Vakil, Caroline (September 17, 2021). "Nevada Democrat failed to properly disclose stock trades". The Hill.
  33. ^ "Infrastructure bill: More than $4 billion headed to Nevada for roads, bridges, airports and broadband". The Nevada Independent. November 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  34. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". web.archive.org. July 21, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  35. ^ Haas, Greg (September 21, 2023). "Lee announces nearly $40 million for Nevada drinking water safety accounts". 8 CBS News Now.
  36. ^ Sheridan, Kevin (April 26, 2023). "Nevada's Lee helps introduce bill to reduce prescription drug prices". Kolo 8 ABC. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  37. ^ Rashid, Hafiz (January 22, 2025). "The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans' Racist Immigration Bill". The New Republic. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  38. ^ Committee on Appropriations
  39. ^ Committee on Natural Resources
  40. ^ Appleton, Rory (May 28, 2021). "Nevada Rep. Susie Lee announces divorce". Las Vegas Review Journal.
  41. ^ Snyder, Riley (March 14, 2016). "Susie Lee's wealth under fire in competitive Nevada congressional primary". @politifact. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  42. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023.
  43. ^ "Silver State 2022 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  44. ^ "Silver State 2024 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. June 7, 2024.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susie Lee.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 3rd congressional district
2019–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
216th 		Succeeded by
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