Denise Powell’s NE-02 race against Brinker Harding joins DCCC’s ‘Red-to-Blue’ program for House Dems

OMAHA — Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic nominee Denise Powell is, like many of the swing district’s candidates before her, part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program.

The slightly right-leaning swing district has been on the DCCC’s donor investment program since 2016. The program steers organizational and fundraising support to Democratic candidates in districts where House Democrats believe they can flip a Republican-held seat. The seat will open after the retirement of Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon.

After winning a heated and crowded Democratic primary, Powell is looking to achieve what local, state and national Democrats have been trying to do for about a decade — to win in the Omaha area.

“I’m thrilled to be added to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program today and to flip this seat in November,” Powell said in a statement. “Nebraskans have made it clear that they are ready for a leader who will fight back against the corruption in Washington that has sent the costs of everyday essentials through the roof.”

The 2nd District’s Republican nominee is Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding. He is aiming to defend the seat for House Republicans with help from some holdovers from Bacon’s political team. 

Suzan DelBene, DCCC chair, said in a statement, “Powell knows what it means to fight for Nebraskans and is ready to take on MAGA sycophants like Brinker Harding.”

“Denise is ready to continue her fight in Congress and finally deliver the real leadership Nebraskans deserve,” DelBene said. 

The 2nd District includes all of Douglas and Saunders Counties and a significant slice of western suburban and rural Sarpy County. The district includes the state’s largest concentration of Democrats and was redistricted to include a larger swath of Republican-leaning rural voters in Wahoo and surrounding areas. 

The last time a Democrat represented the district — or any part of Nebraska in Congress — when former State Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha upset GOP U.S. Rep. Lee Terry for a term in 2014. Ashford lost to Bacon in 2016. 

The DCCC chose not to intervene in the six-way Democratic primary in NE-02. It did so in other Democratic primaries this cycle, which has frustrated some Democrats, including some progressives.  

The National Republican Congressional Committee hasn’t yet publicly signaled that its targets for a similar program include Harding. Democrats and Republicans alike have each poured millions of dollars in outside money into recent 2nd District races. In 2024, the backers of Bacon and Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas spent more than $21 million combined in outside money on the race, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Libertarian Eric Michael Foreman is also running for the 2nd District seat. The general election is Nov. 3.