Susie Lee

Susie Lee
Born	Suzanne Marie Kelley 7 11, 1966
Birthplace	Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district
Education	Carnegie Mellon University (BA, MS)
Children	2
Website	[susielee.house.gov Official site]

Suzanne Marie Lee (née Kelley; born November 7, 1966) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents southern Las Vegas and much of unincorporated Clark County. Born in Canton, Ohio, Lee moved to Nevada and became involved in education advocacy and nonprofit work before entering politics. She first ran for Congress in 2016 in Nevada's 4th congressional district, losing in the Democratic primary, before successfully winning the open seat in the 3rd district in 2018 following Jacky Rosen's departure to run for the U.S. Senate. Lee has been reelected multiple times in what has historically been one of the most competitive swing districts in the country. In Congress, she has focused on issues including education, healthcare, water infrastructure, and public lands, positioning herself as a centrist Democrat who emphasizes bipartisan cooperation.

Early Life

Susie Lee was born Suzanne Marie Kelley on November 7, 1966, in Canton, Ohio. Her upbringing in Canton shaped much of her political outlook and ideological development. According to reporting by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Lee's humble beginnings played a significant role in shaping her political ideology and her later focus on issues such as education access and economic opportunity.

Lee grew up in a working-class environment in northeastern Ohio, an experience she has frequently referenced in discussing her commitment to public service and her understanding of the economic challenges facing middle-class and lower-income families. Her roots in Canton, a city with a strong industrial heritage that experienced significant economic transitions in the latter half of the 20th century, informed her later advocacy for workforce development and educational programs.

After completing her education, Lee eventually relocated to the Las Vegas area in Nevada, where she became active in community organizations and nonprofit work, particularly in the field of education. Her transition from Ohio to Nevada set the stage for what would become a prominent career in both civic engagement and electoral politics.

Education

Lee attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree. Carnegie Mellon, one of the leading research universities in the United States, provided Lee with an academic foundation that she would later draw upon in her career in nonprofit management and public policy.

Career

Nonprofit and Community Work

Before entering electoral politics, Lee became well known in the Las Vegas community for her work in education advocacy and nonprofit leadership. She became involved with Communities In Schools of Nevada, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing dropout rates and helping at-risk students succeed in school. Lee's work with the organization was significant enough to earn public recognition, and she collaborated with prominent Nevada figures including philanthropist Elaine Wynn in leading the initiative.

Her involvement in education issues extended beyond the single organization. Lee established herself as an education advocate in the broader Nevada community, a reputation that would become central to her identity when she transitioned into politics. The Nevada Independent described her as a "democratic education advocate" when reporting on her entry into congressional races.

2016 Congressional Campaign

Lee made her first bid for Congress in 2016, running in the Democratic primary for Nevada's 4th congressional district. As a newcomer to electoral politics, Lee entered a competitive primary field. She was ultimately unsuccessful in securing the Democratic nomination, losing in the primary election. Despite the defeat, the campaign served to raise her profile within Nevada Democratic circles and provided her with experience that would prove valuable in her subsequent run.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Following her 2016 primary loss, Lee turned her attention to Nevada's 3rd congressional district, where an open seat emerged after incumbent Representative Jacky Rosen announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2018. Lee announced her candidacy for the seat in September 2017. The Las Vegas Review-Journal also reported on her decision to enter the race for Rosen's open congressional seat.

Nevada's 3rd congressional district, which encompasses southern Las Vegas and much of unincorporated Clark County, was considered one of the most competitive congressional districts in the nation, making it a high-priority target for both political parties. Lee won the Democratic primary in June 2018, advancing to the general election alongside Republican nominee Danny Tarkanian. Following the primary results, both candidates expressed confidence as they pivoted toward the general election contest.

Lee won the general election in November 2018, becoming the new representative for the 3rd district and succeeding Jacky Rosen. Her victory was part of a broader Democratic wave election that year, during which the party gained a net of 40 seats in the House of Representatives. Her election was notable as a transition from community organizer and nonprofit leader to member of Congress, a path that the Canton Repository highlighted in its coverage of her successful campaign.

U.S. House of Representatives

Lee took office on January 3, 2019, at the start of the 116th United States Congress. Representing a competitive swing district, she has generally pursued a centrist legislative approach, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation on issues such as education, healthcare, water policy, and economic development.

Impeachment Votes

In December 2019, during the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, Lee voted in favor of both articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — along with the majority of House Democrats.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Ethics Scrutiny

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee advocated for relief measures for Nevada's tourism and hospitality industry, which was severely impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns. She pushed for COVID-19 relief loans to be made available to casinos, a major sector of the Nevada economy. However, this advocacy attracted scrutiny when it was reported that her husband had received two Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses with which he was associated. The Daily Beast reported on the intersection of her legislative advocacy and her family's financial interests, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.

Subsequent Reelection Campaigns

Nevada's 3rd congressional district has remained one of the most competitive districts in the country, and Lee has faced notable challenges in her reelection bids. The district has consistently attracted significant attention and resources from both national parties. Lee has won reelection in multiple cycles, maintaining her hold on the district through the 118th and into the 119th Congress.

Water and Infrastructure Policy

Lee has been a prominent advocate for water infrastructure and resource management in Nevada, an issue of particular importance to the arid Southwest. One of her most significant legislative accomplishments in this area is the Help Hoover Dam Act, which she championed alongside Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. The legislation, signed into law in February 2026, directs more than $50 million in unused federal funds toward the repair, restoration, and renovation of Hoover Dam, a critical piece of infrastructure for water and power in the region. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the dam was in urgent need of repairs and that the $52 million boost represented a significant investment in the facility's long-term viability.

Lee has also been vocal on issues related to public lands and water security in the West. In May 2025, she issued a joint statement with Representative Greg Stanton opposing a House Republican proposal to sell public lands, which they argued could threaten water security for Arizona and Nevada by potentially facilitating a controversial pipeline to divert water from the Colorado River.

Healthcare Policy

Healthcare has been another priority for Lee in Congress. She has advocated for the protection and expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), particularly the premium tax credits that help lower-income Americans afford health insurance. In February 2026, ahead of the State of the Union address, Lee invited Katie Provost, a single mother dependent on ACA tax credits, as her guest, highlighting the impact of potential changes to healthcare policy on ordinary Nevadans.

Opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill

In 2025, Lee was vocal in her opposition to the Republican-sponsored legislation informally known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." In a July 2025 op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun, Lee described the legislation as "unfair" and "unpopular," writing that she had rushed back to Washington just before Independence Day to vote against the bill as Republicans moved it through the House.

Political Positioning

Throughout her congressional tenure, Lee has sought to position herself as a pragmatic, centrist legislator. In a December 2025 op-ed in the Las Vegas Sun, she wrote about the importance of "commonsense leadership" during what she described as "unprecedented times," citing concerns about political violence and attacks on the Constitution. Her approach has been shaped in part by the competitive nature of her district, which requires her to appeal to a broad cross-section of voters including Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans.

Personal Life

Lee is married and has two children. She resides in the Las Vegas area within Nevada's 3rd congressional district. Her husband's business interests in the Las Vegas area have at times intersected with her legislative activities, as was reported during the COVID-19 pandemic when questions arose about Paycheck Protection Program loans received by businesses associated with her family.

Lee has maintained connections to her hometown of Canton, Ohio, and her election to Congress was covered by the Canton Repository as a source of local interest.

Electoral History

Lee's electoral record in Nevada's 3rd congressional district reflects the competitive nature of the seat:

• 2016: Lost the Democratic primary in Nevada's 4th congressional district.
• 2018: Won the Democratic primary and general election in Nevada's 3rd congressional district, succeeding Jacky Rosen.
• Lee has been reelected in subsequent cycles, continuing to represent the district into the 119th Congress.

Federal Election Commission records document Lee's campaign filings under candidate ID H6NV04020.