Republicans’ path to control of the US House winds through suburbs like the ones that ring the sprawling metropolis of Las Vegas here in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Susie Lee is fighting for a third term.

During the presidency of Donald Trump, the GOP lost significant ground in the suburbs as he alienated voters with his pugnacious style and self-serving rhetoric. Now the party is trying to win back many of those voters with a focus on crime and economic discontent, traversing suburban battlegrounds here in Nevada, which is home to three competitive House races, a high-profile gubernatorial race and a pivotal Senate contest.

In the House, the GOP only needs a net gain of five seats to win, and their success – and the size of their potential majority – could hinge on turning out voters like 47-year-old Cindy Broussard, who works security at a local hotel and casino but took on a second job as a home health care aide to shoulder the crush of inflation.

The Silver State’s tourism-fueled economy was pummeled by the Covid-19 pandemic and it now has one of the highest inflation rates in the nation. Gas prices have dropped but are still above $5 a gallon – the fifth highest among the 50 states. That sour economic climate and concerns about rising crime have provided a clear opening for the GOP after an era in which disdain for Trump dramatically eroded their support among suburban voters, particularly women.