Denise Powell becomes the first Democrat in a decade to represent Nebraska’s 2nd District

OMAHA — Democrat Denise Powell easily won against Republican Brinker Harding to represent Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, the state’s most politically divided and diverse district.

Harding conceded the race around roughly 9:03 p.m. Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race for her shortly before 11 p.m., when Powell led with 57.7% of the vote to Harding’s 40%, with 72% of votes counted.

“Tonight they chose common sense over chaos,” Powell told a hall of fist-bumping supporters when she delivered her victory speech about 9:25 p.m. “You helped send a clear message to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Powell, who co-founded a group that coached local women how to run for office, was able to win a Democratic nomination in the heated May primary. The race to represent the slightly red-leaning 2nd District saw the two campaigns trying to paint each other as extreme throughout the campaign. In the last few weeks of the race, the two candidates have accused each other of benefiting from PAC spending and making late tax payments.

The 2nd District is a swing district that typically draws national attention. Notable Democrats and Republicans have campaigned there. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned for Powell; House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the district for Harding.

Harding told the audience at his watch party that Powell “is gonna get more votes than we do. You might notice too, if you’ve been looking at the returns, we’re seeing a lot of this happen across the country.”

“It is truly an honor, and for all of you here tonight, you know, this was a fight we all took together. You are the rest of this team, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t lead the team to a better result,” Harding said. “But as I said, we have other races to win, and you will help us in that regard, I hope, in the next endeavor.”

Libertarian Eric Michael Foreman received 2.4% of the vote, according to unofficial results. 

Powell will serve two years in the U.S. House. She is the first Latina and the first woman to be elected to federal office in Nebraska.