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U.S. House · Nebraska's 2nd District

Omaha and eastern Sarpy County

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Denise Powell, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Denise Powell143,78556.6%
Brinker Harding103,49440.8%
Eric Foreman6,5572.6%

About 96% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • The seat is open because incumbent Rep. Don Bacon (R) did not seek re-election. Brinker Harding was the only candidate to make the Republican primary ballot after Don Bacon and Brett Lindstrom did not enter. Denise Powell won a seven-way Democratic primary with 38.8% of the vote, narrowly ahead of John Cavanaugh (36.4%), with Crystal Rhoades, Kishla Askins and Melanie Williams also running. Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index rated the district D+3 based on presidential voting patterns.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 3 candidates

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Denise Powell
    Supports[2]

    Supports restoring nationwide abortion rights and expanding access to contraception and fertility treatments.

  • Brinker Harding
    —
  • Eric Michael Foreman
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Denise Powell
    Supports[2]

    Supports universal background checks and red-flag laws.

  • Brinker Harding
    —
  • Eric Michael Foreman
    In their own words[4]
    “Liberty first. Protect the Constitution, Your right to Self defense, free speech, and the right to live free from government meddling in our lives, faith, and families.”

    In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Denise Powell
    —
  • Brinker Harding
    —
  • Eric Michael Foreman
    In their own words[4]
    “Lower taxes for the Lower 85% of Americans that make less than 200k a year, cut the waste, prosecute the fraud, and let hardworking Nebraskans keep more of what they earn.”

    In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey

Expand public health coverage

  • Denise Powell
    Supports[2]

    Supports creating a Medicare-like public option and letting Medicare negotiate more prescription-drug prices.

  • Brinker Harding
    Mixed[3]

    His 2026 campaign website says he would protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare for seniors, veterans, single mothers and people with disabilities, but not for people in the country illegally or able-bodied adults.

  • Eric Michael Foreman
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Denise Powell
    Supports[2]

    Her 2026 campaign website lists expanding clean energy production among her priorities for lowering costs while protecting the environment.

  • Brinker Harding
    —
  • Eric Michael Foreman
    —

Increase police funding and staffing

  • Denise Powell
    —
  • Brinker Harding
    Supports[3]

    Says he supported a record pay raise for Omaha police officers on the City Council and cites Omaha's falling violent-crime rate as a result.

  • Eric Michael Foreman
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Denise Powell
    Opposes[2]

    Her campaign site calls for stopping what she calls Trump's illegal tariffs, while also supporting targeted tariffs on specific imports like beef and soybeans.

  • Brinker Harding
    —
  • Eric Michael Foreman
    —

Research notes & limits

Powell's and Harding's positions are drawn from campaign-website text as quoted verbatim on their Ballotpedia profiles; Powell's own campaign site could not be reached directly in this environment, and no birthplace or education was found for her or Foreman in sources that could be loaded. Foreman's positions are from his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Sources · 20

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Denise Powell's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Denise Powell 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-04-28 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Brinker Harding's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Brinker Harding 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-07-22 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Eric Michael Foreman's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Denise Powell · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  6. 6.Denise Powell's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Denise Powell 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-04-28 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Omaha business owner announces her bid for Congress · 3 News Now (KMTV) News report
  8. 8.How did Denise Powell beat an Omaha dynasty in NE-02? · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-05-21 News report
  9. 9.Denise Powell Could Make History in Nebraska — But That's Not Why She's Running · Katie Couric Media · 2026-09-28 News report
  10. 10.Nebraska 2nd District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  11. 11.Brinker Harding · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  12. 12.Brinker Harding's 2026 campaign website, quoted verbatim · Brinker Harding 2026 campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · 2026-07-22 Candidate's own words
  13. 13.About Brinker · Brinker Harding for Congress Candidate's own words
  14. 14.Brinker Harding · BallotReady Reference
  15. 15.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  16. 16.Republican Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding aims to win 2nd District House seat · Flatwater Free Press · 2026-10-15 News report
  17. 17.U.S. House Nebraska's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  18. 18.Eric Michael Foreman · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  19. 19.Eric Michael Foreman's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  20. 20.U.S. House Nebraska's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report