Democrats battle for open Omaha House seat as Republicans aim to hold majority

WASHINGTON - Voting in a Nebraska primary to select the Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District closed on Tuesday.

Republican Representative Don Bacon is vacating the Omaha-area seat, which is one of Democrats' best flip opportunities this cycle outside of newly drawn districts as they battle to win control of the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections.

While West Virginia also hosted primary elections on Tuesday, the Democratic primary in Nebraska's 2nd district was the marquee race of the night.

Denise Powell, who cofounded the political action committee Women Who Run Nebraska, and state Senator John Cavanaugh are the top candidates in the crowded Democratic primary.

Powell framed her moderate campaign as one that can protect Nebraska's "blue dot," referring to Democrats' foothold in the Omaha area. President Donald Trump won the statewide popular vote in 2024 by more than 20 percentage points and two of its three congressional districts by double digits.

Cavanaugh, the progressive candidate, has derided Powell as "Dark Money Denise." If he were to win, Nebraska's Republican governor would appoint his replacement in the state legislative chamber and boost the Republican majority, which some Democrats warn could allow the party to pass a stricter abortion ban.

Cavanaugh's allies have called that narrative "MAGA Republican" lies, referring to Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, and saying Democrats are poised to pick up seats in state legislative races.

Brinker Harding, an Omaha city councilman, ran uncontested for the Republican nomination. He has raised $1.3 million, according to campaign finance disclosures, and reported having more cash on hand than both Powell and Cavanaugh combined.

Democrat Kamala Harris won the district at the presidential level in 2024 by less than 5 percentage points. The district is one of three in the country won by Harris that are currently represented by a Republican. Bacon's seat is the only Harris-won district with no incumbent, making it a top target for Democrats.

The five-term lawmaker announced last June he would retire, telling the Wall Street Journal he simply didn't have much left in the tank after the last election cycle. Bacon, 62, also said he wanted to spend more time with his family and community.

NARROW HOUSE MAJORITY AT STAKE

Republicans hold a narrow 217-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the chamber's lone independent caucuses with Republicans. There are five vacancies due to deaths and resignations.

Democrats would need to net three seats in November's midterm elections to win control of the House for the final two years of Trump's presidency. The president's party traditionally loses seats in the midterms, but Trump has urged Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps to preserve a majority in Congress.

Trump's nudge launched a national redistricting war between the parties, which scrambled to create advantages for their respective parties in states such as Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee.

Republican-led states across the South have also redrawn their maps following the Supreme Court's recent decision gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling threatens once-protected majority-minority districts across the South.

SENATE RACE DRAWS UNUSUAL FIELD

Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska was projected by U.S. media to win the primary for his party's nomination on Tuesday. Dan Osborn, his top opponent in November, is running as an independent. Osborn lost to Republican Senator Deb Fischer in 2024 by less than 7 percentage points, significantly overperforming Harris statewide.

There was also a Democratic primary, even though the state party said it chose not to field a candidate because Osborn has the best chance to unseat Ricketts.

Cindy Burbank was projected by U.S. media to defeat William Forbes, an anti-abortion Trump voter who has been accused by Democrats of "running to trick voters."

Burbank's website calls Forbes a "fake" Democrat who would split Democrats' votes to help Ricketts win reelection. She is expected to drop out after winning the nomination so Osborn can run against Ricketts without a Democrat on the ballot.

(Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill; Editing by Deepa Babington and Cynthia Osterman)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 10:10 PM.