Republican CD2 nominee Brinker Harding misses filing deadlines for personal financial disclosures

OMAHA — Brinker Harding, the Republican nominee in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, missed the deadline to file both of his required personal financial disclosures to run for Congress — one of which was due last August.

In a statement to Nebraska Public Media News, Harding described the late filing as a simple oversight that his team was working to correct.

“My personal financial disclosure will be public shortly, and we have nothing to hide,” Harding said Thursday. As of Tuesday morning, Harding’s disclosure reports were not available on the website maintained for the forms by the Clerk of the U.S. House.

All candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives who raise or spend more than $5,000 are required to file a personal financial disclosure with the Clerk of the House within 30 days of announcing their candidacy, or by May 15 – whichever comes first. A second financial disclosure is due the following May 15. Candidates are able to request an extension of up to 90 days.

The forms typically display a person’s assets, sources of income and offer a window into a candidate’s wealth.

Because he entered the race July 1, 2025, Harding’s first disclosure was due a month later on Aug. 1. He had not filed that first disclosure by late last week, or the second disclosure, which was due May 15. He also had not filed for an extension. Under the Ethics in Government Act, an individual who “knowingly and willingly” fails to file a personal financial disclosure can be subject to a civil penalty of up to $11,000.

In Nebraska, all other House candidates who have advanced to the general election have submitted their first and second disclosure reports or received an extension. Incumbent U.S. House members are also required to file personal financial disclosure reports, and all were up to date.

Democrat Denise Powell, who will face off with Harding in November, was granted an extension and filed her first disclosure report last August. Powell also was granted an extension for her second report until Aug. 13.

In the 1st District, Democrat Chris Backemeyer was granted an extension and filed his first disclosure form in March. His second disclosure is due Aug. 13. Becky Stille, a Democrat in the 3rd Congressional District, filed both of her reports on the due date without requesting an extension.

Incumbent U.S. Reps. Mike Flood of the 1st District and Adrian Smith of the 3rd District are also up to date with their financial disclosure forms. Both most recently filed in 2025 and have a second report due later this year.

Senate candidates also have to file personal financial disclosure forms, though they go through a different office. Independent Senate Candidate Dan Osborn filed his most recent report in October and received an extension for his next report, which is due in August. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is up to date on his personal financial disclosures.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a statement that Harding’s late disclosure was indicative of a lack of accountability.

“Brinker Harding has had 10 months to file his personal financial disclosure but for some reason he decided voters don’t deserve basic transparency,” DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said. “What is he hiding?”

Harding, in response, attacked Powell as “dark money Denise” — a name initially coined by her primary opponent, State Sen. John Cavanaugh, that Republicans have since utilized – and said she should “answer for” her previous work with the Sixteen Thirty Fund and New Venture Fund, two nonprofits that are named in a recent lawsuit from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.

Powell has previously said that she worked in outreach and communications for the nonprofits and had no involvement in fundraising.

This story was originally published by Nebraska Public Media News, a network of local reporters working with a National Public Radio station based in Lincoln.