With Conservative Don Bacon Retiring, The Omaha Congressional District Is Ready To Elect A Democrat

Nebraska’s Omaha congressional district (NE-02) should have flipped already. The PVI is D+3, one of the bluest seats held by a Republican. Biden beat Trump by over 6 points and even Kamala managed to win by 4.6 points. Last year independent Dan Osborn won the district in a rout against the Republican incumbent, 56% to 44%. But Republican Don Bacon managed to win his reelection campaign against Tony Vargas, a weak, tepid Democrat with an uninspiring campaign and no real message: 

Bacon, fed up with Trump, announced he’s retiring and, so far, there are 4 Democrats running, Omaha-area business owner and political activist Denise Powell, retired eye surgeon Mark Johnston, self-described fiscal conservative immigration attorney Evangelos Argyrakis and state Sen. John Cavanaugh (whose father once represented the district). Some of the pundits have already changed the district’s rating from “toss up” to leans Democrat.”

Yesterday, Mica Soellner reported that Powell “is running her campaign as a ‘fired up mom’ who wants to bring a new face to the district that’s been held by Bacon since 2017.” She began campaigning on May 1. Her website is worrying inasmuch as it lists no policies, just a plea for donations and a page of endorsers. But Soellner wrote that she’s “centering her campaign on economic issues, highlighting the rising cost of living and paying bills.” And that’s a good thing.

“I hate seeing people feel like nobody’s listening to them, and they’re not getting a call back from their representative and there’s no one listening to them,” Powell told us. “I feel that way too, so I think it’s time for someone like me to stand up and speak up.”

… Powell is already facing several other contenders in the race, including state Sen. John Cavanaugh, who announced his campaign last week.

Yet Powell has picked up some early endorsements, including Tony Vargas, who narrowly lost to Bacon last cycle.

Powell is also hopeful for a sea change in Nebraska after the Omaha mayoral race, in which Democrat John Ewing Jr. beat GOP incumbent Jean Stothert.

“Winds of change are blowing through Nebraska,” Powell said. “We had some incredible results in our Omaha mayoral race that I think is a good sign of things to come.”

The Nebraska Democratic primary will be in May 2026.