Affordabilty top concern in Nebraska flip district

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(The Center Square) - Democrats are looking to flip Nebraska’s second congressional district in November as candidates in the race offer similar and competing proposals to address the affordability crisis.

Republican Brinker Harding, a commercial real estate professional, and Democrat small business owner Denise Powell are vying for the Nebraska district after Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon announced he would not run for reelection.

The district, which contains the city limits of Omaha and surrounding areas, is one of many Democrats hope to flip in the midterm elections to retake control of the U.S. House. Bacon narrowly won reelection to represent the district in 2024 with 50.9% of the vote while residents of the district went on to favor Kamala Harris for president.

Harding and Powell have both made affordability concerns a prime issue in their campaigns. However, the two candidates propose different solutions for addressing rising costs.

Harding proposed passing year-round E15, a gasoline blend containing ethanol, in an effort to lower rising gas prices due to the U.S. military conflict in Iran. The Republican candidate said he also supports lowering prescription drug prices and ensuring illegal immigrants do not receive federal welfare benefits.

“Big Pharma shouldn’t get a blank check,” Harding wrote on social media. “I’m pushing for Most Favored Nation pricing so Nebraskans pay what everyone else pays – not more.”

Powell has focused her campaign on ending the Trump administration’s tariff policies, investing in education programs like Head Start and capping healthcare costs. Harding previously said Trump’s beef tariff policies raised grocery prices across the country but called for greater domestic cattle production to combat it.

“The real solution involves growing the U.S. cattle herd to meet demand,” Harding wrote on social media. “In Congress, I’ll always fight for Nebraska families to lower costs and put forth lasting solutions to grow an economy that works for everyone.”

Powell said she would use her seat in Congress to stop the U.S. military conflict in Iran and expand clean energy reliance throughout the country.

“High diesel prices hit farmers and agricultural communities hard because their generators, irrigation pumps, and machinery all run on it,” Powell wrote on social media. “Farmers are struggling. Families are struggling. We deserve better.”

Powell also said she would work to codify a constitutional right to abortion if elected to Congress in November. She also supported advancing the Right to IVF Act, legislation that would expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments in healthcare plans.

“I’ve been defending reproductive rights in Nebraska for the past decade, from rallying physicians and patients to push back on a proposed total abortion ban, to collecting thousands of signatures on a ballot measure to protect access to care for Nebraska women,” Powell’s website reads.

Harding has staunchly pushed for requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers to wear body cameras during operations, as scrutiny against immigration enforcement has increased over the past year.

“In Congress, I will support common-sense measures requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and uniforms, just as we do in Omaha,” Harding wrote on social media. “On the Omaha City Council, I’ve voted to hire more officers and increase their pay, while also implementing body cameras and expanding training.”

Both candidates called for bans on congressional stock trading and halting members of Congress from getting paid during government shutdowns.

“When Congress can’t pass a federal budget, military families, TSA agents, and other federal workers can’t make ends meet,” Harding said. “If you don't do your job, you don’t get paid. That should go for Congress too. No salary, no back pay, no exceptions.”

Powell holds a lead in fundraising over Harding with more than $2.6 million in contributions and $997,000 in cash on hand. Harding follows with a little more than $2 million in contributions but over $1 million in cash on hand.

Powell received $5,000 from the American Postal Workers Union Committee on Political Action, $2,000 from Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and $5,000 from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners.

Harding has received $5,000 from the SEAL PAC, an organization that contributes to former military members running for Congress, $1,000 from the Protective Life Corporation, a life insurance company, and $2,000 from Rep. Rudy Yakyam, R-Ind.

Military and overseas ballots in Nebraska were sent out by Sept. 18. Early in-person voting in Nebraska runs from Oct. 5 to Nov. 2.

Polls in Nebraska are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central. Nebraska is split between two time zones, meaning polls in the Mountain time zone will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as to maintain consistency with the rest of the state.

For more information, visit the Nebraska Secretary of State website at sos.nebraska.gov. For results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/nebraska.