Marty O'Donnell, the composer behind Halo's iconic soundtrack, is mounting another bid for Congress with a major political endorsement in his corner. Donald Trump threw his support behind the former Bungie artist on social media, calling him a "World-Class Composer and Entrepreneur" and a world-class patriot.
O'Donnell responded on X/Twitter that he was "honored" by Trump's backing and committed to running for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District seat against incumbent Democrat Susie Lee. The district race represents his second attempt at the seat after finishing fourth in last year's Republican primary.
In his statement, O'Donnell drew a parallel between himself and Trump, noting that neither came from political backgrounds. "I spent my entire career in the business world," he wrote, before listing his work on landmark games spanning decades. "I had the honor of working with some incredible people and composing music for some of the greatest video games of all time."
Trump's endorsement message emphasized border security, energy policy, military strength, and gun rights. O'Donnell, long a conservative voice in gaming circles, had previously criticized Trump in 2016 and 2017, but the two appear aligned now on campaign priorities.
O'Donnell made clear from the start of his campaign that he would pursue the race only if Trump gave his blessing, aiming to prevent a costly Republican primary battle. With that condition now met, he said the stakes for the midterm election were too high to sit out.
The composer's career in interactive entertainment stretches back more than two decades. Working alongside Michael Salvatori, O'Donnell crafted music for Bungie titles beginning with Myth in 1997 and continuing through Halo: Combat Evolved and other entries before departing after 2014's Destiny. That same year he was fired from Bungie, leading to a legal dispute over compensation.
In the years since, O'Donnell launched his own studio, Highwire Games, which developed the VR title Golem and the controversial military shooter Six Days in Fallujah, released in early access in 2023. He also created music for Halo: Campaign Evolved, which is coming to Xbox, PC, and PlayStation this year.
O'Donnell's foray into electoral politics marks a shift from his earlier focus on game development, though his conservative activism has been visible in gaming spaces for some time.
Author Emily Chen: "It's wild to see a gaming luminary go all-in on politics, but O'Donnell's pivot feels authentic to his decade-long track record of controversial takes in the industry."
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