Democrat Susie Lee to run for Rosen’s congressional seat

Susie Lee, a Las Vegas philanthropist, education advocate and 2016 congressional candidate, announced Thursday that she will run again for Congress in 2018.

Lee, a Democrat and renowned fundraiser for nonprofit organizations, will seek the 3rd Congressional District seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, who is running for U.S. Senate.

In a statement, Lee said that she “couldn’t sit on the sidelines” and watch the logjam in Congress any longer.

“The accelerating gridlock and division in Washington is creating a country where opportunity comes with a price tag, and the door to the American Dream for every working family is closing even further,” Lee said. “Families in Nevada deserve leaders like me who will work with a problem-solving approach and a more cooperative style that focuses on solutions.”

Last year Lee lost in a competitive three-way Democratic primary race for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District. In that race, she finished behind the Harry Reid-endorsed Ruben Kihuen, who won the seat, and Lucy Flores, who was backed by Bernie Sanders.

Lee was encouraged by Democratic Party leaders to run for the 3rd District seat that Rosen later won. Rosen announced in June that she will seek the Senate seat currently held by Republican Dean Heller.

In terms of policy stances, Lee said she wants to attract good-paying jobs, protect families of immigrants “from being ripped apart,” and rein in prescription drug prices.

“I know that we can work together to find real solutions to the problems in our community,” Lee said.

Of the state’s four congressional districts, the 3rd is by far the most closely divided in terms of voter registration, with about 10,000 more Democrats than Republicans. The district spans much of southern and western Clark County and includes Henderson and Boulder City.

Four notable Republicans have announced they are running for the seat: state Sen. Scott Hammond, former Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman, former Clark County GOP chairman David McKeon and autism advocate Lynda Tache. For Democrats, only local businessman and political novice Jack Love had announced before Lee launched her campaign.

Contact Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Follow @ColtonLochhead on Twitter.