Key Nebraska House Primary Features an Establishment Progressive and an Outsider Moderate

State lawmaker and scion John Cavanaugh and Democratic activist Denise Powell are circling each other in a seat that has narrowly eluded Democrats for years.

https://prospect.org/2025/11/13/key-nebraska-house-primary-features-establishment-progressive-and-outsider-moderate/


John Cavanaugh kicks off his campaign for Nebraska’s Second Congressional District seat at the Omaha Firefighters Union Hall, June 25, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. Credit: Rebecca S. Gratz

The sleepy start to the race for Nebraska’s Second Congressional District—a vital, ticket-splitting, suburban swing seat—has given way to one of the most dynamic Democratic primaries in the country, following Republican Don Bacon’s announcement earlier this year that he does not intend to seek re-election. The contest is set to defy the tidy progressive-vs.-moderate and establishment-vs.-insurgent narratives that have defined other marquee primary races across the country.

That dynamic was crystallized as state Sen. John Cavanaugh, a scion of a local political dynasty, secured the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC. The endorsement is expected to provide Cavanaugh with a significant fundraising boost, as well as a stamp of credibility that potentially enables him to lock down Omaha’s deceptively large progressive flank. His chief opponent, Denise Powell, a former corporate executive backed by key organs of the party’s national donor class, has been consolidating moderate support in recent weeks to position herself as his main opponent.

This has created a curious split. Cavanaugh, despite his record and the backing of the Progressive Caucus, represents the local party establishment. Meanwhile, Powell, the self-styled outsider, is rapidly becoming the favored candidate of many in the national party’s donor and operative class.

The field is crowded, reflecting the opportunity presented by Bacon’s retirement. On the Democratic side, Cavanaugh and Powell are joined by former Veterans Affairs official Kishla Askins, former Steny Hoyer policy director James Leuschen, and Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades. While the race is still fluid, these candidates face clear barriers to acquiring the funds and name recognition to compete with Powell and Cavanaugh. The Republican primary in Bacon’s absence is a contest between Omaha City Councilor Brinker Harding and former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom, in what is also expected to be a hotly contested race.

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