Denise Powell wins Nebraska 2nd District Democratic primary

Political activist Denise Powell has won the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, setting up a competitive general election contest against Republican nominee Brinker Harding for a seat central to the battle for control of the U.S. House. Powell narrowly defeated state Sen. John Cavanaugh in a race called Wednesday after a tight count.

With more than 51,000 votes counted, Powell led Cavanaugh by approximately 1,080 votes, a margin of about two percentage points. She will face Harding, an Omaha City Council member who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The incumbent, Republican Rep. Don Bacon, is retiring after five terms.

The Omaha-area district is a perennial national focus due to Nebraska’s unique system of awarding electoral votes. The state is one of two that allocates votes by congressional district, and the 2nd District has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in three of the last five elections, earning it the nickname “the blue dot” in a heavily Republican state. This makes it a key target for both parties every presidential cycle and a prime pickup opportunity for...