Battle for House control heats up in Nebraska as voters head to polls

The spotlight is on Nebraska’s “blue dot” congressional district as voters head to the polls in a primary that could help shape the battle for control of the House this November.

Voters in the Cornhusker State and West Virginia will cast ballots Tuesday in congressional and state legislative primaries, while Nebraskans will also select nominees for statewide executive offices, including governor.

The most closely watched race in Nebraska is the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), with state Sen. John Cavanaugh and political consultant Denise Powell competing for the chance to take on Omaha City Council member Brinker Harding, who is running unopposed in the GOP primary.

Bacon was one of just three House Republicans elected in 2024 in districts won by former Vice President Kamala Harris, making the seat a top Democratic target this fall.

“This is probably the Democrats’ best pickup shot in a seat that is not redistricted. You’re talking about a seat that Harris won by 4 or 5 percentage points in 2024 and, as such, it’s a top target, and Don Bacon retiring has made it even better,” Geoffrey Skelley, chief elections analyst at Decision Desk HQ, told The Hill.

“It seems like the general view at this point is that Democrats are more likely to win the seat than not, in the general election, but that’s not to write off Republican chances by any means,” he continued.

In Nebraska’s Senate primaries, meanwhile, a bitter proxy battle has emerged as Democrats try to clear the field for independent candidate Dan Osborn to mount a competitive challenge against incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) in November. 

“Ricketts is going to win the Republican primary, and then it’s a question of, is he going to end up facing independent Dan Osborn head-to-head, or will there be other candidates on the general election ballot?” Skelley said.

In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Cavanaugh, a state legislator with strong name ID and family ties in Nebraska politics, and Powell, a marketing consultant, have emerged as the leading contenders in the six-candidate Democratic........

© The Hill