Omaha native James Leuschen had joined a crowded Democratic field for an open-seat race in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. (Courtesy of James Leuschen for Congress)
OMAHA — Omaha native James Leuschen is dropping his bid for the Democratic nomination in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
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Leuschen, an economic policy staffer for several members of Congress over the past two decades, said he wants to focus on his kids and said running for office and being the father of three boys are “two callings” he can’t “fully honor at the same time.”
“I’m withdrawing from the race,” he said in a statement. “I do so with a heavy heart and with deep gratitude to everyone who believed in and supported this campaign. While this wasn’t an easy decision, we have an exceptional field of Democratic candidates … and I have no doubt the eventual nominee will be successful in November.”
Leuschen, who moved back to Omaha last summer, said he still plans to be engaged in Omaha, because the city and the state have “given [his] family so much.”
“Omaha isn’t just where Janelle and I chose to plant our roots,” Leuschen said. “It’s home. It’s where I grew up, where my parents taught me the meaning of community and public service and where I was given every opportunity to succeed.”
He joined the race last year saying he did so because President “Donald Trump’s policies are hurting Nebraska families and hurting our community.” He told the Examiner in a previous interview that he was banking on his Washington experience to separate him from the other Democrats in the race.
He served as a policy director for former Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and said he worked to pass the Affordable Care Act under former President Barack Obama and expand the child tax credit. He also worked with the last Democrat to represent the 2nd District, the late U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford to get a new Omaha VA medical clinic built.
He is the second candidate to drop out of the 2nd District Democratic primary race. Mark Johnston dropped out in July. That leaves six Democratic candidates still competing to face presumptive Republican nominee Brinker Harding in the general election: State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, political action committee co-founder Denise Powell, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades, Navy veteran Kishla Askins, Evangelos Argyrakis and self-described Democratic Socialist Melanie Williams.
Eric Michael Foreman is also running as a Libertarian. Nebraska’s primary election is May 12. The general election is Nov. 3.
This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.
