Denise Powell Will Face Republican Brinker Harding in Nebraska’s ‘Blue Dot’ District

The 2nd District is known as the ‘Blue Dot’ because Omaha has historically leaned Democratic in a Republican state.

Denise Powell, candidate for the Democratic nomination to the House of Representatives in Nebraska's second district (R), hugs Jennifer Reyna, chair of Latino Caucus for the Democratic Party of Nebraska, during an election night watch party in Omaha, Neb., on May 13, 2026. Rebecca S. Gratz/AP Photo

OMAHA—Nebraska Democrat Denise Powell will face Republican nominee Brinker Harding in the Nov. 3 general election as both parties continue their fight to represent an area that’s come to be known as the “Blue Dot.”

Powell bested Nebraska state Sen. John Cavanaugh by a narrow margin, obtaining 38.9 percent of the vote for the Democratic nomination to run for Nebraska’s 2nd District House seat. Cavanaugh trailed closely behind at 36.8 percent support and a difference of 1,080 votes with 89 percent counted.