Omaha - Business owner and PAC co-founder Denise Powell has taken an early financial lead in the crowded Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. She raised about $311,490 in the most recent quarter, while other top Democrats in the race—state Sen. John Cavanaugh and Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades—raised $200,164 and $50,710 respectively. Combined, the six Democrats running pulled in around $1.03 million this quarter, underscoring how competitive and expensive the primary will be. Powell also noted that part of her fundraising haul is reserved for the general election, with a preliminary breakdown showing $620,204 allocated for the primary and $121,025 for the general. Nebraska Examiner Despite her fundraising strength, her campaign and rivals acknowledge she must boost name recognition to keep pace with better-known political figures like Cavanaugh and Rhoades, each of whom bring established local profiles.
On the Republican side, Brinker Harding, an Omaha city councilman, leads GOP fundraising for the open seat—raising $561,527 in the third quarter, compared with former state senator Brett Lindstrom’s $286,958. Harding’s campaign also reported approximately $437,830 cash on hand versus Lindstrom’s $276,120. Nebraska Examiner Harding has spent notably more—about $123,697—on campaign branding, events, apparel, consulting and digital efforts. Lindstrom’s lower spending suggests his strategy relies more on established name recognition from prior runs. Meanwhile, Powell picked up a high-profile endorsement from the women-focused and abortion-rights group EMILY’s List, which rarely endorses in contested primaries with multiple female candidates. The group cited her leadership on state ballot initiatives and community efforts to support women in politics as reasons for its backing.
Together, these developments reflect how both parties are escalating their efforts in Nebraska’s 2nd District ahead of the 2026 election. With incumbent Don Bacon retiring, the open-seat contest has attracted more national attention and financial investment than usual. The fundraising leads and early endorsements give both Harding on the GOP side and Powell on the Democratic side momentum—but name recognition, field strategy, and broader voter outreach will likely determine who emerges from each primary and how competitive the general election becomes.