Political activist Denise Powell won the hotly contested Nebraska Democratic primary Wednesday for retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-Neb.) seat in the House of Representatives.
Powell’s close race against state Sen. John Cavanaugh was called by the Associated Press about 24 hours after polls closed in the Cornhusker state.
The Omaha-area 2nd Congressional District, known as the “blue dot,” is one of only three districts former Vice President Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election that is represented by a Republican in Congress – making it a top target for Democrats in the 2026 midterms.
Powell came out on top in the six-candidate field with about 39% of the vote.
The district is rated “lean Democrat” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Outside groups spent more than $6 million on the race, mostly to boost Powell’s contention that without Cavanaugh in the state Senate, Republicans would move to strip the “blue dot” district from the 1 Electoral College vote it awards presidential candidates.
“If John Cavanaugh gets elected to Congress and leaves the state legislature, he’ll give Gov. [Jim] Pillen a supermajority in Lincoln – that means MAGA Republicans will have the votes to eliminate the blue dot. It means more restrictions on abortion and defunding public schools,” read an ad put out by the Fight for Nebraska super PAC.
“Cavanaugh has been a good legislator,” the ad continued, “but Nebraska can’t afford a MAGA supermajority.”
“Vote no on Cavanaugh for Congress.”
Other anti-Cavanaugh advertisements have juxtaposed his image next to President Trump’s, which the state senator described as an attempt to confuse voters.
Cavanaugh claims “dark money Republican groups” have been supporting Powell because they view her as the easier candidate to go up against in November.
“Republicans know that after we win the primary on May 12, we’ll flip this seat blue in November and help Democrats take back the House,” he wrote on X.
Powell has accused Cavanaugh of “spreading lies about me to distract from … what happens if he leaves his seat in the legislature.”
“With the White House and Supreme Court attacking voting and reproductive rights in our country, we need to be able to hold the line at the federal and state level in order to protect Nebraska families. On May 12th we can do both,” she argued earlier this month, adding, “I’m asking Sen. Cavanaugh to listen to Nebraskans, listen to his own constituents, and do his part by staying in his seat to defend the people of our state.”
Cavanaugh is backed by dozens of lefty groups and labor unions, as well as prominent progressive Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Greg Casar (D-Texas).
Powell will face Omaha city councilman Brinker Harding, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, in the general election in November.
Harding was endorsed by Trump last month.
“As your next Congressman, Brinker will work tirelessly to Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post giving Harding his “complete and total endorsement.”
In response, Harding said he looked forward to working with Trump “to Make Life More Affordable and Government More Accountable.”
Bacon, a centrist who frequently clashed with Trump, has endorsed Harding as well.
In 2024, the congressman won a fifth term representing the Omaha-centered district by just 1.8 percentage points, defeating Democrat Tony Vargas by fewer than 6,000 votes out of more than 314,000 cast.
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