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Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mark Johnston withdraws from Democratic field in Nebraska's 2nd District
Omaha-area doctor Mark Johnston said he's stepping back from his run for Congress. (Courtesy of Mark Johnston) OMAHA — The Democratic primary race in Nebraska 2nd Congressional District got less crowded Wednesday. Mark Johnston, 69, told the Nebraska Examiner this week that he has withdrawn from the race for the Democratic nomination to represent the Omaha area in Congress. Johnston said he lacks the infrastructure to raise funds and feels Democrats have an 'extremely good chance' of winning the open seat with the number of candidates running. 'Given the fact that this race has heated up very quickly … it's going to be a very crowded field and a very high money field.' In the latest federal fundraising reports, newcomer Denise Powell led, raising nearly half a million dollars. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, another high-profile candidate in the Democratic primary, raised $130,341. Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades, who announced her bid in mid-July, discussed no specifics, but said she is 'feeling good' about her fundraising. Retired Navy veteran Kishla Askins says she has raised $175,000 over the past two weeks, according to Danielle Salanitri, Askins' campaign manager. Johnston reported raising $6,976.58 and listed $1,628.31 in cash on hand, according to the latest fundraising report. The retired eye surgeon said campaigning was pretty new to him, but he has been active in the state Democratic Party as a volunteer. Johnston told the Omaha World-Herald previously that he had volunteered for Democratic congressional and presidential campaigns. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Johnston said he enjoyed having meetings with people in the district and having 'great conversations.' He said he plans to help any way he can to make sure Democrats can win the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. Two Republicans are vying to replace the retiring Bacon as the GOP nominee, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, a former GOP gubernatorial candidate from 2022, and Omaha City Council Vice President Brinker Harding. The 2nd District includes all of Douglas and Saunders Counties and a significant slice of western suburban and rural Sarpy County. The district includes the state's largest concentration of Democrats and was redistricted to include a larger swath of Republican-leaning rural voters in Wahoo and surrounding areas. National political observers view the Omaha-area House seat as a possible pickup for Democrats, although the district retains a slight GOP lean. Many pundits expect the 2nd District race to be one of the more competitive races in Congress in the 2026 midterms, with potential impact on which party controls the House of Representatives. Johnston, who said Democrats have a 'very good field' of candidates, won't be endorsing anyone right now. The Democratic primary had already lost another candidate in July, when Evangelos Argyrakis switched his party registration. At least one more Democrat has been rumored to be joining the race. 'I'm excited to have been part of that process,' Johnston said. 'I'm excited where this process is going to go because this excitement is going to take us all the way to Congress.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crystal Rhoades jumps into crowded Nebraska 2nd District field
Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades is running to be the Democratic nominee in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.(Courtesy of Crystal Rhoades for Congress) OMAHA — Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades is done exploring a bid. She is running to be the Democratic nominee for the Nebraska 2nd Congressional District. She describes herself as a 'unique candidate' who can meet the moment for Democrats who want to win. 'I am tired of the chaos in Washington,' Rhoades told the Nebraska Examiner in recent days. 'I am tired of people who don't know what it's like to punch a time clock and live paycheck to paycheck.' The lifelong Omahan has a history of helping local Democrats win elections as a political consultant, including a significant role in helping John Ewing Jr. become the first Democrat to lead the largest city in Nebraska in roughly a decade. Last month, she shared internal polling indicating that she and State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha are within the margin of error for Democratic primary voters in NE-02. The polling has former political action committee co-founder and business owner Denise Powell at what Rhoades called a 'distant third,' a characterization Powell's campaign describes as wrong. Recent FEC filings have shown Powell out-fundraising Cavanaugh. Powell has connections to some of local Democrats' top donors. While Rhoades has faced criticism from her own and opposing parties, she remains the last Democrat elected to a statewide post as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the state's catch-all regulator for topics ranging from emergency telecommunications to pipelines. 'I've got 20 years of a proven track record of delivering results for the people of this district, Rhoades said. 'I have a track record of flipping seats from red to blue up and down the ballot. Nobody else in the race has all of those qualifications and criteria.' Critics of Rhoades' service at the courthouse and in politics, including some Democrats in Douglas and Sarpy Counties, have said she too often butts heads with coworkers and potential allies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rhoades pointed to her record of 'doing the right thing even when it's hard' as a plus for voters. Her team's polling indicates that potential Democratic primary voters in the district want someone who would fight President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, someone with a proven record and someone who can win. Last week, Retired Navy veteran Kishla Askins joined the Democratic primary. Earlier this year, State Sen. John Cavanaugh, the son of a former Democratic congressman from Omaha, formally announced his candidacy. Denise Powell, the co-founder of a political action committee and a business owner, announced her bid in May. Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis also have confirmed that they are running. Rhoades gives the race a second longtime elected official, along with Cavanaugh, plus at least one well-funded newcomer, in Powell, and possibly two, with Askins. Rhoades has been in Nebraska politics for more than a decade. Rhoades said she plans to use her working-class background to separate herself from the candidates. She has said she would focus on kitchen-table issues. 'Democrats have seen an erosion of support from that particular demographic, because our policies and our positions haven't aligned with the needs of the working-class voters.' Nationwide, Democrats have been seeking answers as President Donald Trump made gains among working-class voters, including minority voters last year. Some economists and political scientists have argued that the flaws of free trade contributed to the rise of Trump and his political movement. Trump capitalized on working-class anxieties over some jobs being sent overseas and some people feeling left behind. Rhoades said she would focus on policy changes that protect and grow the middle class, creating jobs that pay a living wage, and protecting democracy. Specifically, she wants to address lingering inflation and push back against Trump's tariffs and approach to immigration. Another reason Rhoades said she is running is that she is concerned about Cavanaugh potentially vacating a statehouse seat at a time when one or two votes in the Legislature could let the Republican majority further erode abortion rights and pass more of the controversial legislation a handful of moderates, Democrats and progressives stop, because Republican Gov. Jim Pillen would get to appoint Cavanaugh's replacement if he wins. 'I want to make sure that we aren't sacrificing some of the things that the Democrats have been able to hold off in the Legislature,' Rhoades said. Supporters of other Democratic candidates have criticized Rhoades for leaving the Nebraska Public Service Commission for the local clerk's job and letting herself be replaced by a Republican appointee. Rhoades has said the stakes are not the same, that her regulatory role at the PSC wouldn't make possible a potential shift to winner-take-all or a stricter abortion ban. The 2nd District, which includes all of urban Douglas and rural Saunders Counties and a slice of suburban western Sarpy County, is typically a target of both national parties, as one of the rare remaining districts that is politically split. The district retains a slight GOP lean. With five-term U.S. Rep. Don Bacon retiring, the open-seat race is drawing a politically diverse and competitive field. The nonpartisan Center for Politics, the home of Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, shifted the Omaha-based House race to lean democratic from toss-up. The Cook Political Report also shifted the race to lean Democrat. Omaha City Council Vice President Brinker Harding and former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha have announced bids to be the Republican nominee. National and local political observers expect it to prove one of the more competitive races in Congress for the 2026 midterms. 'There's too much at risk here for [Democrats] to be taking chances on this seat,' Rhoades said. 'We've got some really big problems in this country, and it calls for very serious people.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bacon not running for reelection
Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon will not be running for re-election and will retire in 2026, a source familiar confirmed to The Hill. His district, which includes Omaha, was won by former Vice President Harris in the 2024 election and presents an opportunity for Democrats to pick up the 'blue dot' district Bacon has held since 2016. The five-term lawmaker will hold a press conference on Monday. Bacon, a long-time critic of President Trump, has signaled his openness to retirement in recent months, per local media. His decision to step aside opens the door for Democrats in the competitive district as it seeks to gain control of the House in 2026. State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D) launched a campaign for the seat earlier this week, arguing he will fight to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Republicans in Omaha were already delivered a blow earlier this year when a Democrat ousted the incumbent GOP mayor. Democrats have won the 2nd Congressional District's electoral vote in three of the past presidential elections. Mychael Schnell contributed to this report. Updated at 10:14 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Douglas County District Court Clerk exploring bid in Nebraska's crowded 2nd District field
Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades says 'some folks' have been lobbying her to run for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 2nd District. (Courtesy of Rhoades for Public Service Commission) OMAHA — The Democratic primary for the U.S. House seat in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District might soon get more crowded. Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades told the Nebraska Examiner this week that she is 'testing-the-waters' for possibly jumping into the race in the Omaha-based 2nd District now represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. She said she could be interested whether Bacon stays in the race or retires. 'It's certainly not a secret that I'm considering it,' Rhoades said. She said 'some folks' have been lobbying her to get in, and her campaign shared internal polling indicating her and State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha within the margin of error for Democratic primary voters in NE-02. The polling has former political action committee co-founder and business owner Denise Powell at what Rhoades called a 'distant third.' 'John and I are starting from the same place,' Rhoades said. State Sen. John Cavanaugh running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District Earlier this month, Cavanaugh, the son of a former Democratic congressman from Omaha, formally announced his candidacy. Powell, the daughter of a leader in Spanish-language news, announced her bid in May. Besides the two highest-profile Democratic candidates in the race, Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis have confirmed they are running. Republicans are waiting in the wings for Bacon's decision, a list that local conservatives have said includes former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding and perhaps Bacon's 2024 GOP primary challenger, Dan Frei. The lifetime Omahan was the last Democrat elected to a statewide position as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the state's catch-all regulator for topics as varied as telecommunications and pipelines. She also has a history of helping local Democrats win elections as a political consultant, including a significant role in helping John Ewing Jr. become the first Democrat to lead the largest city in Nebraska in roughly a decade. She pointed to her working-class background and her record of 'doing the right thing even when it's hard' as a plus for voters. Rhoades said she would focus on protecting and growing the middle class, creating jobs that pay a living wage and protecting democracy. Rhoades told the Examiner that Cavanaugh and an unnamed potential candidate had asked her and her husband, Ben, to work on their campaigns. She said she would only join the House race if she sees data that shows her in the strongest position to defeat whichever Republican emerges. 'Ben [Onkka] and I are in the process of evaluating who the strongest candidate is for the district. If it's me, I'll run,' Rhoades said. The polling indicates that potential Democratic primary voters in the district want someone who would fight President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, someone who can win and someone with a proven record. Rhoades described herself as a 'check, check, check' on those. Denise Powell launches bid in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District In recent weeks, Rhoades was rumored to be a candidate to replace Ewing in his former position as Douglas County treasurer, but the Douglas County Board this week hinted at wanting a 'non-political option' to fill the remainder of Ewing's term, someone who won't run for the office. Rhoades said her experience differentiates her from the two high-profile Democrats in the House race. She said she has held multiple elective positions for over 20 years and knows how to help Democrats win elections. She said that Cavanaugh could have some baggage as part of a political dynasty, and there are concerns about his potentially vacating a statehouse seat, because Republican Gov. Jim Pillen would get to appoint his replacement. Rhoades said Powell's inexperience could make the race a 'very difficult time.' 'I think that this may not be the right time and the environment for … a rookie,' Rhoades said. Rhoades has faced some criticisms from her years in service and work with Democrats in Douglas and Sarpy Counties, including for butting heads with some fellow Democrats and some co-workers in the Douglas County Courthouse. Rhoades emphasizes that her decision on whether to run will be 'data-driven.' She says she lacks the hubris to believe that she is the only Democrat who can win. She said she would decide whether to form a federal fundraising committee or jump into the race in the coming weeks. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Cavanaugh launches campaign for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District
John Cavanaugh kicks off his campaign for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, promising to stand up for working families, veterans and seniors.
