Brinker Harding

Harding is a fourth-generation Omahan who, according to the Flatwater Free Press, attended Westside High School and graduated from Deerfield Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts.[4][6] BallotReady lists a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas (1984), and Flatwater describes his business studies at the University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.[7][6] He worked in marketing for the Omaha Royals baseball team for two years before entering politics in 1994 as finance director of Daub's mayoral campaign.[6]

From 1995 to 2000 Harding served as Chief of Staff and Director of Economic Development to Mayor Daub; his campaign website says the office formed public-private partnerships for riverfront parks, the CHI Convention Center and the Dodge Expressway.[4][3] He then worked in commercial real estate, including at Colliers International, and BallotReady also lists a vice president role at Grubb & Ellis.[2][7][6]

Harding has served on the Omaha City Council representing District 6 since 2017, and his term runs through 2029.[2][7] According to his campaign website, he has voted as a council member to lower Omaha's property tax levy three times and has worked on projects including the Gene Leahy Mall, a library at 72nd and Dodge, and the Heartwood Preserve development.[4] He describes himself as a business leader who developed public-private partnerships to grow Omaha's economy.[3] Harding was the only candidate on the May 12, 2026 Republican primary ballot for the open 2nd District seat.[8] His campaign website says he is married to Rebecca and that they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Grace.[4] During the campaign, he emphasized economic growth, reducing federal spending, and border security, citing his record balancing Omaha's city budget.[2][3][4] He received 40.8% of the vote to Denise Powell's 56.6%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]