Denise Powell wins contentious Democratic Home major election for retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s ‘blue dot’ Nebraska district
Political activist Denise Powell gained the hotly contested Nebraska Democratic major Wednesday for retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-Neb.) seat within the Home of Representatives.
Powell’s shut race towards state Sen. John Cavanaugh was referred to as by the Related Press about 24 hours after polls closed within the Cornhusker state.
The Omaha-area 2nd Congressional District, generally known as the “blue dot,” is one in all solely three districts former Vice President Kamala Harris gained within the 2024 presidential election that’s represented by a Republican in Congress – making it a high goal for Democrats within the 2026 midterms.
Powell got here out on high within the six-candidate area with about 39% of the vote.
The district is rated “lean Democrat” by the nonpartisan Cook dinner Political Report.
Exterior teams spent greater than $6 million on the race, principally to spice up Powell’s competition that with out Cavanaugh within the state Senate, Republicans would transfer to strip the “blue dot” district from the 1 Electoral Faculty vote it awards presidential candidates.
“If John Cavanaugh will get elected to Congress and leaves the state legislature, he’ll give Gov. [Jim] Pillen a supermajority in Lincoln – which means MAGA Republicans can have the votes to get rid of the blue dot. It means extra restrictions on abortion and defunding public faculties,” learn an advert put out by the Struggle for Nebraska tremendous PAC.
“Cavanaugh has been legislator,” the advert continued, “however Nebraska can’t afford a MAGA supermajority.”
“Vote no on Cavanaugh for Congress.”
Different anti-Cavanaugh ads have juxtaposed his picture subsequent to President Trump’s, which the state senator described as an try to confuse voters.
Cavanaugh claims “darkish cash Republican teams” have been supporting Powell as a result of they view her as the better candidate to go up towards in November.
“Republicans know that after we win the first on Could 12, we’ll flip this seat blue in November and assist Democrats take again the Home,” he wrote on X.
Powell has accused Cavanaugh of “spreading lies about me to distract from … what occurs if he leaves his seat within the legislature.”
“With the White Home and Supreme Courtroom attacking voting and reproductive rights in our nation, we’d like to have the ability to maintain the road on the federal and state degree to be able to shield Nebraska households. On Could twelfth we are able to do each,” she argued earlier this month, including, “I’m asking Sen. Cavanaugh to take heed to Nebraskans, take heed to his personal constituents, and do his half by staying in his seat to defend the individuals of our state.”
Cavanaugh is backed by dozens of lefty teams and labor unions, in addition to outstanding progressive Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Greg Casar (D-Texas).
Powell will face Omaha metropolis councilman Brinker Harding, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination, within the normal election in November.
Harding was endorsed by Trump final month.
“As your subsequent Congressman, Brinker will work tirelessly to Champion our Superb Farmers and Ranchers, Develop our Economic system, Minimize Taxes and Rules, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Vitality DOMINANCE, Hold our Border SECURE, Cease Migrant Crime, Guarantee LAW AND ORDER, Help our Courageous Army, Veterans, and Regulation Enforcement, and Defend our all the time below siege Second Modification,” the president wrote in a Fact Social submit giving Harding his “full and complete endorsement.”
In response, Harding stated he seemed ahead to working with Trump “to Make Life Extra Reasonably priced and Authorities Extra Accountable.”
Bacon, a centrist who continuously clashed with Trump, has endorsed Harding as nicely.
In 2024, the congressman gained a fifth time period representing the Omaha-centered district by simply 1.8 proportion factors, defeating Democrat Tony Vargas by fewer than 6,000 votes out of greater than 314,000 solid.
