OMAHA — Nebraska’s most populous area, Douglas County, finished counting the final day and a half of early voting ballots Friday that voters had returned on Monday afternoon and on Election Day.
The count confirmed the result in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary that the Associated Press and others have called: Denise Powell beat State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha.
New Douglas County Election Commissioner Danielle Jensen, a former staffer for retiring U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has represented that congressional district since 2017, had said the county had 9,712 early ballots to count on Friday.
People are also reading…
The ballots changed some margins of races up and down the ballot, but no results flipped. Democrats outnumbered Republicans almost 2-to-1 on those last-arriving ballots and nonpartisans made up 1,768 of them.
Powell extended her lead in Douglas County by 265 votes on Friday, extending her overall lead to 1,345 votes.
“I’m incredibly honored to be the Democratic nominee in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District,” Powell said in a statement. “Thank you to my family and friends, my team, and to every candidate who ran – It takes guts to step into the arena, and you have my respect for your willingness to show up and serve.”
Cavanaugh conceded immediately after the votes were posted, saying in a statement: “I want to start by thanking everyone who has made this campaign possible – over 100 volunteers, 13+ labor unions, hardworking Nebraskans who powered this campaign, and my family – especially my wife Kakie … Now that all of the votes have been counted, I’ve called Denise Powell and congratulated her.”
She will face Republican Brinker Harding in November, who ran unopposed.
“I’m honored and grateful to earn the Republican nomination for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District,” Harding said. “Together, we can make Washington more accountable and life more affordable for working Nebraskans.”
Friday’s counted votes also extended leads for multiple Democratic candidates against Republican opponents in key Omaha-area legislative races.
Among the races is Legislative District 4, a rematch between progressive nonpartisan Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek and Republican State Sen. Brad von Gillern. Von Gillern won by 802 votes in 2022 against Maxwell-Ostdiek. After Friday’s Douglas County count, he trailed Maxwell-Ostdiek by 651 votes.
Jess Goldoni of Omaha, a Democrat, leads Taylor Royal of Bennington, a Republican, by 901 votes in Legislative District 18. Derek Schwartz, another Republican from Bennington, came in third in the district with 23% of the vote. Incumbent State Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, a Republican, declined to seek reelection.
Democratic turnout was much higher in Omaha, in part because of the competitive 2nd District Democratic primary. More Republicans could turn out in the fall, and in the case of a race such as Legislative District 18 with one Democrat and two Republicans, the narrowed field could make a difference for some voters in choosing either Goldoni or Royal.
Democratic turnout was higher in Omaha partly because of the 2nd District Democratic primary. More Republicans are expected to turn out in the fall, and in a race such as Legislative District 18, with one Democrat and two Republicans, the narrowed field could make a difference for some voters choosing either Goldoni or Royal.
The same could be true in races with multiple Democrats and one Republican, including GOP State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, who seeks reelection in Legislative District 12.
After Friday, Riepe’s lead over Democrat Christy Knorr of Omaha narrowed to 153 votes. Democrat Thomas Kastrup of Omaha also appeared on the ballot, and Riepe’s 2022 opponent, Democrat Robin Richards of Ralston, ran a long-shot write-in bid after a bad check led her to be removed from the ballot. There were only about 6% write-in votes for the district, and not all of those were for Richards.
Though Riepe stayed in the lead, he is, like Goldoni, below 50% of the vote. Still, Richards added another twist: After Tuesday’s primary, she endorsed Riepe over Knorr.
Republicans are eyeing their own pick-up opportunities in Legislative District 10 and Legislative District 20, where Democrats also extended their leads.
In Legislative District 10, currently held by term-limited State Sen. Wendy DeBoer, a Democrat, Democrat Cindy Johnson leads Republican Rebecca Rens by 1,410 votes.
And in Legislative District 20, Democratic State Sen. John Fredrickson, who won his 2022 race by just 82 votes, leads Republican Chris Anderson by 3,513 votes. Republican Dan Witt also ran against Fredrickson and Anderson and received 15% of the vote.
The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, so a candidate’s party affiliation does not appear on the ballot and lawmakers do not officially organize around party in the body. However, state and local political parties often recruit and endorse candidates.
Outside of the Legislature, in an open seat for the Nebraska State Board of Education District 8, Sherrye Hutcherson, a registered nonpartisan, leads Lou Ann Goding, a Republican, by 1,967 votes. Incumbent board member Deb Neary, a Democrat who endorsed Hutcherson, declined to seek reelection to a third four-year term.
That state education race could end up deciding the balance of power on the also officially nonpartisan board, on which Republicans and Democrats are split 4-4.
In other local primary election results of note, Makayla Danner defeated Amy Jacobsen in the Democratic primary for Douglas County attorney and will face Republican incumbent Don Kleine.
Former State Sen. Tony Vargas, a two-time Democratic nominee for Congress, handily beat Christian Espinosa Torres for Douglas County treasurer, the post formerly held by Omaha Mayor John Ewing. No Republican ran, so Vargas is likely the next county treasurer.
Nebraska’s general election is Nov. 3. The last day to certify that ballot is Sept. 11.
This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.
