Pete Buttigieg backs Denise Powell at Omaha House race rally
DIRECT ANSWER: Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed Democratic nominee Denise Powell at a July 14 Omaha rally for Nebraska's open 2nd Congressional District seat. More than 500 people attended as Buttigieg argued Powell would deliver a better future and help Democrats compete for House control after Rep. Don Bacon retires.
The rally at Metropolitan Community College's Center for Advanced Manufacturing put a national spotlight on one of Democrats' top pickup opportunities in 2026. With Bacon leaving a competitive Omaha-area seat open, both parties are bringing in high-profile surrogates before the November general election.
Key Takeaways
- Pete Buttigieg rallied for Denise Powell on July 14 at MCC in Omaha, drawing more than 500 attendees.
- Powell is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska's NE-02, an open House seat vacated by retiring Rep. Don Bacon.
- She faces Republican nominee Brinker Harding in the November general election.
- Buttigieg contrasted Powell with GOP policies on health care, wealthy tax cuts, and foreign conflict.
- Harding's campaign said Powell relies on an out-of-touch national political network.
Why did Pete Buttigieg travel to Omaha for Denise Powell?
Buttigieg told the crowd not to look back, framing Powell as a leader who would deliver a future that is better—not just better than now, but better than before. He said Powell would put Nebraska's second district first and described her as the kind of person he wants to see more of in Congress.
Buttigieg argued the majority of American opinion is not reflected in Washington right now. He said Powell's Republican opponent would rubber-stamp unpopular decisions from the president and Congress, citing cuts to health care, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the Iran War.
Who is Denise Powell running against in NE-02?
Powell is running to flip an open seat that the Cook Political Report rates as leaning toward Democrats. Bacon held the district for years but is retiring, even though the Omaha-area seat has backed Democratic presidential candidates in recent elections.
Her Republican opponent is Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding. Powell has framed her campaign around kitchen-table issues and federal policies that she says have shifted costs and priorities for Nebraska families.
What did Brinker Harding's campaign say about the rally?
When KETV reached out to Harding's campaign, it said Powell is relying on an out-of-touch national political network instead of building local support. The campaign argued NE-02 races are won by earning Nebraska voters' trust through grassroots coalitions.
The national attention underscores the stakes. Democrats view the district as a key path toward House control, while Republicans are defending a seat that has long drawn national spending and surrogate visits. For broader context on elections and policy moves that ripple through markets, follow our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage. Read more in the Omaha World-Herald report.