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US midterm tsunami sweeps away video game composer who talked about ‘double booty’ and made sure to never touch anyone, just loom’
Video game composer Marty O’Donnell lost his bid for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic incumbent Susie Lee retained her seat by a 20 percentage point margin. The result matters both as part of Republican losses in the midterm elections and because O’Donnell is known for composing music for Halo and Destiny.
The article points to several factors surrounding his campaign: Donald Trump endorsed him shortly before the election, and former colleagues have described uncomfortable experiences with him. It recounts O’Donnell’s comment about a Bungie Halloween party that he made sure not to touch anyone and “just loom”, and notes criticism of his use of Halo imagery in AI-generated anti-immigration material. Lee celebrated her win by sharing a video of schoolchildren performing the Halo theme.
In short
- Susie Lee kept her Nevada seat by 20 percentage points.
- Composer Marty O’Donnell lost his congressional bid.
- The article cites controversy over his conduct and political messaging.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
O’Donnell’s supporters could argue that voters should judge his campaign primarily on its policies and qualifications, rather than on provocative remarks from a past workplace or criticism of campaign imagery. Trump’s endorsement may have appealed to voters who wanted a candidate aligned with his agenda, while Lee’s use of the Halo theme could be seen as making a cultural reference to celebrate her victory.
The case against
Critics could argue that past colleagues’ accounts of behaviour that made them uncomfortable are relevant to assessing a candidate’s judgement and respect for others, even if the remarks were framed as humour. They could also view the use of Halo imagery in anti-immigration material as an inappropriate way to harness a game’s cultural appeal for political messaging, and see the endorsement and campaign as poor fits for the district’s electorate.