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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State Sen. John Cavanaugh running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District
State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, center, meets with State Sens. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, from left. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — After two months of speculation, State Sen. John Cavanaugh is throwing his hat into the ring Wednesday and running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District. The Omaha-based lawmaker joins one high-profile local candidate in PAC co-founder and small business owner Denise Powell, along with Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis. The winner of the May 2026 Democratic primary will try to do what former Omaha State Sen. Tony Vargas fell short of doing so two times — becoming the first non-Republican to represent Nebraska in Congress since the late former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford served in early 2017. Cavanaugh said he is banking on his record 'of being a leader in the Legislature' to separate himself from Powell. He said he has a record of standing up for 'working people' and protecting access to reproductive health care, something he plans to continue to do in Congress if elected. Bacon is anti-abortion in a district where a majority supports abortion rights. The Cavanaugh name also holds weight in Omaha, as John is part of a state political dynasty. His father, in the late 1970s, held the congressional seat that he hopes to win, and his sister, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, serves in the statehouse with him. Cavanaugh's pitch: 'The country is in crisis. [We] need strong leadership to help us correct course from this chaotic president and Congress.' The attorney and former Douglas County Public Defender points to his experience in government as a contrast to Powell's campaign. Powell has argued people want a fresh face in political office. She said she would prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security, vote to ensure the federal government does its part to boost quality K-12 education and push back against the Trump administration. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the Omaha-based 2nd District seat held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., as a Republican toss-up. National and state Democrats are using the recent Omaha mayoral race as evidence of growing voter 'energy' against President Donald Trump and political fuel for the congressional midterms. But the fundamentals of the district haven't changed. It remains Nebraska's most politically divided and diverse district, with a slight GOP tilt. The 2nd District contains Democratic-leaning Douglas County, home to Omaha, Republican-leaning slices of western Sarpy County, largely suburbs and exurbs, and rural Saunders County. The 2nd District voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and former President Joe Biden in 2020 after voting for President Donald Trump in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. It backed then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in 2008. Bacon has fended off Democrats in close races five times in previous years and bucked the 'blue dot' voting trend in the past two presidential elections. The retired Air Force brigadier general is a reliable Republican vote on most matters. But he has again stepped into the national spotlight as one of the few House Republicans willing to criticize the Trump administration. Bacon hasn't announced a decision yet on whether to retire from Congress, though he said that decision would come this summer. Nebraska Democrats, who view Bacon's seat as vulnerable with him in it or not, have multiple candidates to choose from. Republicans could have a 2nd District primary regardless of what Bacon decides. Former 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom has told people in conservative political circles that he might be interested in a bid if Bacon retires. Another candidate that has been discussed is Dan Frei, who lost a bid to challenge Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary. Denise Powell launches bid in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District If Cavanaugh emerges from the Democratic primary, he would be the second Democratic-aligned state senator to run against Bacon, following Vargas. Cavanaugh said the difference between Vargas and him is that he was born and raised in Omaha and has a 'stronger record of being a leader in the Legislature.' Bacon has already criticized Cavanaugh's voting record early this year, saying that outside political groups would easily use it to highlight his 'left-wing votes.' Cavanaugh said the biggest motivation for him to run is that the federal government is currently populated by 'people who are self-interested and self-dealing.' 'That starts with the president and includes Congress, but we saw it in the Legislature this year,' Cavanaugh said. Cavanaugh spent much of the most recent legislative session arguing against efforts by the GOP-majority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to resist ballot measures passed by Nebraska voters, including new laws requiring paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage, repealing school vouchers, and legalizing medical marijuana. He was often one of the Democratic-aligned lawmakers filibustering the majority's proposed changes to what voters approved. 'I don't shy away from a fight, but I'm not trying to be combative with people just for the sake of being combative,' Cavanaugh said. 'We need that kind of principled strength representing us in Congress.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma education leader urges Legislature not to increase school funding, cut more taxes instead
State Superintendent Ryan Walters peaks at a news conference Friday at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — In what appeared to be a campaign stump speech in all but name only, state Superintendent Ryan Walters called to eliminate Oklahoma's income tax and property tax and said the state should stop increasing funding for public schools. Walters, who leads the statewide public education system, said Oklahoma should slash administrative spending across state government. Finding these efficiencies, he claimed, would make up for the many millions of dollars public schools would lose if the state stops collecting income and property taxes. 'People love to throw around how much money you spend in education,' Walters said in a surprise news conference at the state Capitol on Friday. 'I don't want to be a leader in how much money we spend on education. I'll make that clear. I do not want to be that leader.' Walters, a Republican long thought to be a potential gubernatorial candidate, spent much of the news conference criticizing the state budget Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced Wednesday. He took questions from reporters for 40 minutes while a small group of his supporters cheered him on. When asked directly whether he intends to run for governor, Walters said that's a 'question I'll look at over the summer.' If Walters launches a campaign, he would join a 2026 Republican primary race of Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former House Speaker Charles McCall, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei and Leisa Mitchell Haynes, of Choctaw. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, is the only non-Republican in the race to succeed Stitt, who will be term-limited. 'My focus is the school year and this legislative session,' Walters said. 'We still have time this legislative session to get it right.' The offices of House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, declined to comment on Walters' remarks. The Governor's Office did not return a request for comment. Their $12.6 billion budget deal cuts the state's top income tax bracket by .25% and eliminates three lower tax brackets — a measure Walters said doesn't go far enough to support working Oklahomans. Stitt had urged lawmakers to cut the income tax by a half a percentage and to chart a path to eliminating the income tax altogether. The budget includes a 3.15% increase to the Oklahoma State Department of Education's budget and gives $25 million more to public schools. Despite saying on Friday that he wants 'less money going to our agency,' Walters had asked at the beginning of the legislative session for a 2.43% funding increase to the education budget. He had specifically requested $3 million to buy Bibles for public school classrooms, $1 million for a new teacher induction program, $1 million to recruit military veterans and former law enforcement officers to become teachers, and $500,000 to give educators concealed-carry firearms training. None of these proposals made it into the state budget that lawmakers and the governor crafted. However, state leaders agreed to boost a teacher maternity leave fund by $4 million and to dedicate $5 million to high-dosage tutoring for reading and math, an initiative inspired by a program Walters established. Every Oklahoma classroom will be stocked with a Bible, Walters said, even without any state funding to buy them. He said his administration has been collecting donated copies and already purchased more than 500 Bibles with agency funds. His new state standards for social studies education requires schools to teach biblical stories and the teachings of Jesus that inspired historical figures in American history. 'The Bible is going to be in every classroom this fall,' he said. 'The legislature can put the money there or not.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denise Powell launches bid in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District
Denise Powell, known for her work helping new candidates run for office, is running for Congress in Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd District. (Courtesy of Denise Powell for Congress) LINCOLN — Denise Powell, known for her role boosting new candidates with Women Who Run, is running for Congress in 2026 in Nebraska's 2nd District. Powell told the Nebraska Examiner on Wednesday that she is running because many people in the Omaha area have lost a 'voice in D.C.,' and the district needs more 'everyday working' people. She said she would prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security, vote to ensure the federal government does its part to boost quality K-12 education and push back against the Trump administration. 'I am not a politician,' said Powell, who is stepping away from her role with the nonprofit she helped found. 'And quite frankly, I think at this moment that's actually a good thing.' Her announcement comes on the heels of Bacon confirming last week that he is considering retiring and State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha publicly acknowledging he is exploring a bid. The prospects of a potentially crowded midterm primary field could excite local Democrats. State party officials have said they talked with 'strong candidates' for months. Nebraska Democrats, who view Bacon's seat as vulnerable with him in it or not, have a first major candidate. Powell is trying to do what former State Sen. Tony Vargas fell short of twice — becoming the first non-Republican to represent Nebraska in Congress since the late former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford in 2017. Powell said she's hopeful this will be a political moment when voters are done with partisan lines, as people are 'really frustrated by our elected officials who were supposed to represent us.' 'That's the message that I'm bringing to this campaign,' Powell said. 'This is a campaign to support all Nebraskans.' Though Powell hasn't held an elected office, she has played a role in Nebraska politics. She has helped with organizing recent ballot initiatives seeking to codify the right to an abortion, which failed, and to repeal a publicly funded voucher program for private K-12 schools, which succeeded. She said her experience running the Women Run Nebraska, a political action committee that aims to get more women in elected office, has shown her just how much people from all parties 'care deeply about their communities.' 'I think our community needs that voice,' Powell said. 'The working mom's voice who's gonna just step in there and fight for them.' Once again, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Bacon's seat as a Republican toss-up. The slightly GOP-leaning district is Nebraska's most politically divided and diverse. The 2nd District voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and former President Joe Biden in 2020 after voting for President Donald Trump in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. It backed then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in 2008. Bacon has fended off Democratic challengers in close races in previous years and has bucked the 'blue dot' voting trend in the past two presidential elections. The retired Air Force brigadier general is a reliable House Republican vote on most matters. But he has again stepped into the national spotlight as one of the few House Republicans willing to criticize the Trump administration. Powell said people are uncertain, frustrated, and worried about what's happening in Washington, amid economic uncertainty, including high inflation and efforts to cut social programs like Medicaid. 'Unfortunately, Don Bacon is somebody who is really good at saying all the right things,' Powell said. 'But at the end of the day, he is taking votes in DC that are hurting Nebraskans.' Bacon told the Examiner late last month that he was considering retirement, but has raised funds to leave him the choice of running again. Bacon's campaign manager said his recent fundraising 'keeps all options open ahead of 2026.' Regardless of whether Bacon retires from Congress, the outlines of a potential midterm race are becoming clearer after independent Dan Osborn focused his efforts on the U.S. Senate, and potential Republican suitors line up to jump in if Bacon gets out. Former 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom has told people in political circles that he is interested in a potential bid if Bacon retires. Another name being discussed is Dan Frei, who ran against Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary. The 2nd District has already drawn attention from state and national Democrats this year, with Democrats leading in-person town halls and advertising buys from multiple Democratic-aligned groups. In addition to Cavanaugh, perennial candidate Evangelos Argyrakis has said he is running. Argyrakis withdrew from the 2018 attorney general's race after facing a charge of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, has said he's running. Cavanaugh said this week that he plans to decide whether to run after the legislative session or sooner, regardless of who else is running or when they enter the race. He pointed to his 'record of effective leadership and experience crafting legislation to make people's lives better and defeating bad public policy.' 'I know if I run, I have the record to earn the vote of the people of the 2nd District of Nebraska,' Cavanaugh told the Examiner. Powell said she is not worried about a potential primary because she believes her message will resonate with voters. 'What's happening in Washington, DC, is impacting their family budgets,' Powell said, 'People are really scared, and they feel like nobody is speaking for them or fighting for them.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
