Democrats battle for open Omaha House seat as Republicans aim to hold majority

By Nolan D. McCaskill

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - A competitive primary between two Democrats vying to flip a Republican-held seat in Nebraska that is being vacated by U.S. Representative Don Bacon remained too close to call on Tuesday.

The Omaha House seat is one of Democrats' best flip opportunities this election cycle, outside of newly drawn districts, as they battle to win control of the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections.

With about 89% of votes tallied, activist Denise Powell had 38.9% of the vote total, while state senator John Cavanaugh had 36.8%, according to the Associated Press.

The winner will face Brinker Harding, an Omaha city councilman who ran uncontested for the Republican nomination, in the state's 2nd congressional district.

Harding has raised $1.3 million, campaign finance disclosures show, and reported having more cash on hand than both Democratic contenders combined.

Cavanaugh, the progressive candidate, has derided Powell as "Dark Money Denise."

A general election win for him would see Nebraska's Republican governor appoint his replacement in the state legislative chamber and boost the Republican majority.

Some Democrats warn such an outcome could allow the party to pass a tougher ban on abortion, redraw its congressional districts and change its presidential primary to a winner-take-all system.

Cavanaugh's allies say Democrats are poised to pick up seats in state legislative races.

Powell framed her moderate campaign as one that can protect Democrats' foothold in the Omaha area.

President Donald Trump won the statewide popular vote in 2024 by more than 20 percentage points and two of its three congressional districts by double digits.

Democrat Kamala Harris won the district at the presidential level in 2024 by less than 5 percentage points.

It is one of three nationwide won by Harris that are currently represented by a Republican. Bacon's seat is the only Harris-won district with no incumbent, making it a top target for Democrats.

NARROW HOUSE MAJORITY AT STAKE

Republicans hold a narrow 217-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the chamber's lone independent caucuses with Republicans. There are five vacancies due to deaths and resignations.

Democrats would need to net three seats in November's midterm elections to win control of the House for the final two years of Trump's presidency.

The president's party traditionally loses seats in the midterms, but Trump has urged Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps to preserve a majority in Congress.

Trump's nudge launched a national redistricting war between the parties, which scrambled to carve advantages for their respective parties in states such as Texas, California, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee.

Republican-led states across the South have also redrawn their maps after the Supreme Court's recent decision gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling threatens once-protected majority-minority districts across the South.

SENATE RACE DRAWS UNUSUAL FIELD

U.S. media projected Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska to win the primary for his party's nomination on Tuesday. Dan Osborn, his top opponent in November, is running as an independent.

Osborn lost to Republican Senator Deb Fischer in 2024 by less than 7 percentage points, significantly outperforming Harris statewide.

There was also a Democratic primary, even though the state party said it chose not to field a candidate because Osborn has the best chance to unseat Ricketts.

Cindy Burbank was projected by U.S. media to defeat William Forbes, an anti-abortion Trump voter whom Democrats have accused of "running to trick voters."

Burbank's website calls Forbes a "fake" Democrat who would split Democrats' votes to help Ricketts win reelection. She is expected to drop out after winning the nomination so Osborn can run against Ricketts without a Democrat on the ballot.