NE-02: Dem primary fundraising in Nebraska's 2nd District tightens as GOP race narrows
LINCOLN — State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha passed business owner and political action committee co-founder Denise Powell in fundraising for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the six-candidate Democratic primary to represent Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, according to federal campaign finance reports.
Powell still leads in overall fundraising and in campaign cash on hand headed into the 2026 election year, though she lags both Cavanaugh and Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades in local name ID and polling. Cavanaugh and Rhoades are the race’s only two currently elected officials.
Cavanaugh, whose father held the Omaha-area congressional seat in the late 1970s, is the early favorite in the Democratic primary race in Nebraska’s most politically divided and diverse district.
The Republican 2nd District primary race lost a key competitor in former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom last month, which likely steers the race toward Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/16/democratic-primary-fundraising-in-nebraskas-2nd-district-tightens/