John Lee, the former North Las Vegas mayor, announces U.S. House bid

Former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee is running for a U.S. House seat in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, making the Democrat-turned-Republican the latest challenger for incumbent Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev.

Lee said it’s “time for a change in leadership in Washington” and is running to “fix our nation’s economy which has been destroyed by the disastrous policies implemented by President Joe Biden and Steven Horsford,” Lee said in Monday a news release announcing his campaign. 

“Just as I revitalized North Las Vegas, I’m committed to using the same expertise and conservative principles to rescue our country from the economic challenges we’re facing,” Lee said in the release. “It’s time for someone to represent our district who understands the needs of our community and has a track record of fixing the most complex problems, not creating them.”

Lee most recently ran an unsuccessful bid for governor — in which he finished fourth in last June’s Republican primary, winning 7.8% of the primary vote. The winner of last year’s primary, then-Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, ultimately defeated Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak, becoming the only Republican in the nation to unseat an incumbent in a gubernatorial race. 

Lee announced last April he was switching parties to become a Republican after citing socialist elements within his former party. Prior to serving as North Las Vegas Mayor from 2013-2022 — in which the city staved off bankruptcy in 2014 — Lee served in the Nevada Assembly from 1997-2001 and in the state Senate from 2004-2012. 

Lee stated previously he voted twice for former President Donald Trump, and told Fox News last April the current Democratic Party is "not the party I grew up in 25 years ago" and is "not the party I can stand with anymore."

In addition to his experience as a public servant, Lee touted his middle-class upbringing which led him to becoming a master plumber and small business owner before embarking on a career in politics. He also said mental health reform would be among his chief priorities. 

“When we prioritize mental health, we’re not just helping those who need it most, we are also making our communities stronger and safer,” Lee continued in the release. “COVID-19 intensified the mental health struggles facing our society.” 

The release stated Lee is an “active” member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and sits on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America, Las Vegas chapter, and the advisory board for Enterprise Bank. 

Lee joins retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo in the GOP field for the Congressional seat that encompasses North Las Vegas and swaths of rural Nevada. It’s an uphill battle, however, as Horsford is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and already has a hefty fundraising advantage. 

Horsford has raised about $1.1 million as of the most recent fundraising period, according to Federal Election Commission records. That compares to $284,036 for Flippo. Fundraising data is not yet available for the three-month period which ended in September.