Suzanne Marie Lee (née Kelley; born November 7, 1966)[1] is an American politician from the state of Nevada. As a member of the Democratic Party, she has served as the U. S. representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district since 2019.[2] Lee was the founding director of the Inner-City Games in Las Vegas and president of Communities In Schools of Nevada.[3]
Susie Lee | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 3rd district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jacky Rosen |
Personal details | |
Born | Suzanne Marie Kelley November 7, 1966 Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Dan Lee
(m. 2000; div. 2021) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BA, MS) |
Website | House website |
Early life and education
editSuzanne Marie Kelley[4] was born and raised in Canton, Ohio, in a working-class family as one of eight children.[5] Her father, Warren Kelley, was a Korean War veteran and worked at a steel plant, while her mother, Joan Kelley, was a homemaker who also taught swimming lessons.[5] At the age of eight, Suzanne had her first job delivering newspapers for The Canton Repository.[5]
Lee attended McKinley High School in Canton, where she was an active member of the school’s swim team.[5] She graduated from high school in 1985 and went to college in Pennsylvania.[5] There she earned both her bachelor of arts degree in policy management and a master of science degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University,[3] receiving her master's degree in 1990.[4] During this time, she had different part-time jobs, including working as a cafeteria worker, caregiver, and aerobics instructor and received federal subsidy Pell grants, to pay for her education.[3]
Early career
editAfter moving to Las Vegas in 1993, Lee became the founding director of the Inner-City Games, now known as the After-School All-Stars, which conducts after-school programs for children.[3] Beginning in 2010, Lee served as the president of Communities In Schools of Nevada, a dropout prevention organization.[6]
Lee has served on the Superintendent's Educational Opportunities Advisory Committee, Prime 6 Advisory Committee, Clark County School District English Language Learners Program Task Force, State Accountability Advisory Committee, UNLV's Lincy Institute Education Committee Advisory Board, and Guinn Center Board of Directors.[7]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2016
editLee 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
editLee 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
editLee 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
editLee was reelected in the 2022 elections.[16] She defeated Republican April Becker, a lawyer in the general election with 52% of the vote.[17]
Tenure
editOn December 18, 2019, Lee voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[18]
In 2020, Lee lobbied the federal government to provide aid to Nevada's gaming industry. Federal agencies implemented the regulatory change she was seeking, which allowed businesses with fewer than 500 employees that derive more than half of their income from gaming to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Two weeks after the change went into effect, Full House, a gambling company led by Lee's husband, secured two loans totaling $5.6 million. Lee said she became aware of the company's plan to apply for PPP loans several days before its loan application was submitted but had no role in its decision to apply. Lee and her husband own several millions of dollars in Full House stock and stock options.[19][20][21]
In September 2021, it was reported that Lee had failed to properly disclose over 200 personal stock trades. The trades were estimated to be worth as much as $3.3 million.[22]
Committee assignments
edit- United States House Committee on Appropriations[23]
- United States House Committee on Natural Resources[26]
Caucus memberships
edit- New Democrat Coalition (whip)[29][30]
- Problem Solvers Caucus (vice-chair)[31]
- Bipartisan Women's Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Colorado River Caucus (vice-chair)
- Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment[32]
Personal life
editLee lives in Las Vegas with her two children. She and her ex-husband Dan Lee announced their divorce in May 2021.[33] She is Roman Catholic.[34]
Electoral history
editParty | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 Party (Nevada) | Edward Bridges III | 10,541 | 2.5 | |
Total votes | 417,252 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Susie Lee (incumbent) | 36,919 | 89.7 | |
Democratic | Randy Hynes | 4,239 | 10.3 | |
Total votes | 41,158 | 100.0 |
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 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lee, Susie 1966 –". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ "CD3 winners Tarkanian, Lee confident as they pivot to next battle". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b "News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1990 · Page 13". Newspapers.com. August 24, 1990.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Elaine Wynn and Susie Lee Lead Communities in Schools of Nevada". Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Lee makes political debut in CD4 race". Thespectrum.com. March 21, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Nevada Primary Election Results: Third House District". The New York Times. June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ "Susie Lee wins Nevada's 3rd Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Appleton, Rory (March 13, 2020). "Plenty of challengers flock to Nevada's congressional races". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- ^ "U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES". Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Silver State 2020 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "Candidates who filed with the Clark County Registrar of Voters". Clark County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "Democrat Susie Lee defeats Republican April Becker for Las Vegas congressional seat". November 12, 2022.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ Panetta, Grace. "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ Markay, Lachlan (June 8, 2020). "Nevada Congresswoman Pushed for COVID Loans for Casinos. Her Husband Got Two". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nevada Democrat failed to properly disclose stock trades: report".
- ^ Committee on Appropriations
- ^ Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
- ^ Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
- ^ Committee on Natural Resources
- ^ Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
- ^ Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
- ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "About Us". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Appleton, Rory (May 28, 2021). "Nevada Rep. Susie Lee announces divorce". Las Vegas Review Journal.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Silver State 2022 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
External links
edit- Congresswoman Susie Lee official U.S. House website
- Campaign website