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This rare Nebraska district backed Harris but sent a Republican to Congress. Can Democrats win here?

Harding is campaigning for the open seat and highlights Trump's endorsement and support from congressional leaders.

This rare Nebraska district backed Harris but sent a Republican to Congress. Can Democrats win here?
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This article1 analysis · Sep 29, 2026

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Aug 22, 2026
tl;dr

Republican Brinker Harding and Democrat Denise Powell are competing for retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s Omaha-area seat, in a district that backed Kamala Harris for president but has usually elected Republicans to the House. The article examines how local campaigning and President Donald Trump’s involvement may shape the race.

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Republican candidate for the open Nebraska 2nd District seat

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic candidate for the open Nebraska 2nd District seat

Powell's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement and midterm campaigning are discussed as factors in the race

Trump's version of this story ↗
Don Bacon
R · NE-2

Retiring representative whose open seat is being contested

Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

House Speaker who campaigned for Harding

Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Defense secretary whom Bacon criticized

Michael Lawler
R · NY-17

Representative who appeared with Trump at a rally in his district

Political activist who criticized the Republican-controlled Congress

Tom Barrett
R · MI-7

Representative who appeared with Trump at a rally in his district

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Democratic presidential nominee whose support in the district is part of the race's context

Representative who appeared with Trump at his midterm campaign launch

Steve Scalise
R · LA-1

House Majority Leader who campaigned for Harding

Former transportation secretary who campaigned with Powell

Representative who appeared with Trump in Pennsylvania

Zachary Nunn
R · IA-3

Representative who appeared with Trump at his midterm campaign launch

Representative facing reelection who appeared with Trump

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president mentioned in a description of Rahm Emanuel; Derreck Van Orden, Representative whose Wisconsin district Trump visited; Mary Jane Truemper, Nebraska Republican Party chair who endorsed Harding's appeal to moderates; Rahm Emanuel, Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff who campaigned with Powell; Zohran Mamdani, New York mayor mentioned in a voter’s criticism of the Democratic Party's direction

Part of a bigger story

9 OUTLETS
Powell and Harding Compete for Nebraska House Seat

Brinker Harding and Denise Powell are competing for Nebraska’s open 2nd District seat. The district backed Kamala Harris for president but elected a Republican to the House. Center outlets frame the race as a contest shaped by Trump’s influence, local campaigning and voter sentiment, with Harding stressing Trump’s endorsement and appeal to swing voters.

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