Drew Johnson won the Republican primary in the hotly contested 3rd Congressional District and will face off against incumbent Democrat Suzie Lee in what is expected to be a tough general election.
The Associated Press reported Johnson’s victory early Wednesday morning, a surprise victory for the Republican candidate who also competed against former Nevada Treasurer Dan Schwartz and former Nevada Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien.
“I am honored to have earned the trust and support of Nevada’s Republican primary voters in its crucial 3rd Congressional District. The experts said we had no chance of winning, but we outworked our opponents and exceeded expectations,” Johnson said in a statement.
Lee, who faced little competition in the Democratic primary, maintains a big fundraising advantage and is expected to put up a tough fight with the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as Democrats seek to retake control of the House of Representatives from Republicans.
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Drew Johnson, Republican candidate for Nevada’s 3rd District, gave a tour of the Pioneer Saloon in Good Springs, Nevada, where he hosted a meet-and-greet. (Getty Images)
“Right now, my constituents are struggling to make ends meet, worried about our nation’s open borders, and fearful of crime in their neighborhoods. I look forward to offering them a positive vision to clean up the mess that Susie Lee and Joe Biden have created,” Johnson said.
Republicans hold a slim 218-213 majority in the House and are seeking to expand that majority after losing numerous lawmakers to resignations and one expulsion over the past year.
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Rep. Susie Lee walks down the House steps at the Capitol on April 1, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Former Nevada State Treasurer Dan Schwartz was one of the Republicans running in the 3rd District Republican primary. (AP Photo/John Rocker)
Election analysts are rating the race as a “favorable” or “probable” victory for Democrats.
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