Posted May 15, 2026 | by KimS | in 2026 Elections, DemDaily, Democratic Party, DNC Chair Ken Martin, House, Primaries, Senate

DemDaily: Nebraska Democrats Knock at the Door

May 15, 2026

Democrats made history Tuesday in Nebraska's primary -- successfully maneuvering the political dynamics in the US Senate race to their favor, and bringing them one step closer to flipping a US House seat in the otherwise solidly red presidential state.

US Senate
In the contest to challenge Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, the State Democratic Party has orchestrated a bit of a coup to reach the endgame of consolidating support behind an independent candidate who has a better chance of winning statewide.

On Tuesday, Democrats overwhelmingly elected Cindy Burbank as their nominee with the express understanding that the retired pharmacy worker would drop out of the general election, clearing the way for independent candidate Dan Osborne to go head-to-head with Ricketts.

Burbank also served as a foil to the other Democratic candidate, William Forbes, an anti-abortion pastor, believed to be a Ricketts plant.

The State Democratic Party supported Osborne, a veteran and labor leader running as an Independent, in his 2024 challenge to Nebraska's senior Senator Deb Fischer (R). Osborne came within seven points of Fischer, who prevailed 53.19%-46.52%, but drew national attention as the race closed in the final months of the election. Fisher was elected to a second term in 2018 by nearly 20 points.

While Trump won 62% of the state's vote in the 2024 election, Nebraskans, who have been hit hard by the president's agricultural tariffs and the economy, now give him a 44% approval rating.

Nebraska plays a unique role in presidential politics as one of two states, along with Maine, that allocates its electoral votes separately -- one to each of its three congressional districts, in addition to two electoral votes going to the statewide winner. Although the state overwhelmingly votes Republican in presidential elections, Nebraska's Second Congressional District, which encompasses Omaha and its suburbs -- referred to as the "blue dot" -- has voted Democrat in three of the last five presidential elections.

Nebraska plays a unique role in presidential politics as one of two states, along with Maine, that allocates its electoral votes separately -- one to each of its three congressional districts, in addition to two electoral votes going to the statewide winner. Although the state overwhelmingly votes Republican in presidential elections, Nebraska's Second Congressional District, which encompasses Omaha and its suburbs -- referred to as the "blue dot" -- has voted Democrat in three of the last five presidential elections.

US House
The Second Congressional District, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI) rating of D+3, is the most Democratic-leaning district in the United States with a Republican representative, and one of just three congressional districts that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 (by 4.6 points) while still electing a Republican to Congress.

Moderate Republican Congressman Don Bacon has represented the district for five terms. With the retirement of the popular member, the 2nd is a top battleground target for Democrats in their fight for control of the US House.

The highly competitive, contentious Democratic primary, which attracted more than $5.6 million in outside ad spending, was not called until Wednesday, with political activist Denise Powell emerging as the winner.

Powell, who narrowly defeated State Senator John Cavanaugh 38.9%-36.8%, along with five other contenders, may have benefited from blue dot politics.

Had Cavanaugh -- whose senate district falls squarely within the congressional district -- won, Republican Governor Jim Pillen would have been able to appoint a replacement to finish his term, which ends in 2028.

It would leave Democrats with one less critical vote in the GOP-controlled legislature and mean the end of the blue dot and an easier road for the GOP in the presidential.

Powell, who co-founded Women Who Run Nebraska, faces a high-profile general election contest against Brinker Harding, a fourth-generation Nebraskan, businessman, and Omaha City Council Vice President who announced his candidacy one day after Bacon's retirement.

Should Powell win the bellwether district, she would be the first Democrat that Cornhuskers sent to Washington in over a decade, and the first Latina and person of color to ever represent Nebraska in federal office.

In an early sign of Democratic momentum, in the May 2025 Omaha Mayoral contest, voters unseated a 12-year Republican incumbent in favor of the city's first African American Democratic Mayor. In the historic victory, five-term Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr. (D) defeated Mayor Jean Stothert (R) 56.17% to 43.55%. The incumbent was last re-elected in 2021 by more than 30 points.

In an early sign of Democratic momentum, in the May 2025 Omaha Mayoral contest, voters unseated a 12-year Republican incumbent in favor of the city's first African American Democratic Mayor. In the historic victory, five-term Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr. (D) defeated Mayor Jean Stothert (R) 56.17% to 43.55%. The incumbent was last re-elected in 2021 by more than 30 points.

As a part of Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin's pledge to reform the party, the DNC has made an unprecedented and impactful investment in red states.