Primary
Democratic Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denise Powell ✓ | 22,516 | 38.8% | |
| John Cavanaugh | 21,115 | 36.4% | |
| Crystal Rhoades | 8,180 | 14.1% | |
| Kishla Askins | 3,499 | 6.0% | |
| Melanie Williams | 2,222 | 3.8% | |
| James Leuschen | 320 | 0.6% | |
| Van Argyrakis | 152 | 0.3% |
Republican Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinker Harding ✓ | 39,689 | 100.0% |
Libertarian Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Foreman ✓ | 388 | 100.0% |
Full calendar and every race: Nebraska primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
Showing the published average. The rating above uses this figure.
The right edge is that same average of the last three polls. This is an average, not a forecast.
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Candidates
General Election Polling Average
Average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls. Fewer than three uses the polls that exist. The rating uses that average when the newest poll ended in the last 30 days. The table lists the polls in that average, plus the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Dem | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Public Affairs partisan·R | 2026-10-05 | 800 LV | ±5.00 | Denise Powell 50.00% | Brinker Harding 38.00% |
| SurveyUSA | 2026-09-13 | 182 LV | ±12.20 | Denise Powell 46.00% | Brinker Harding 42.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 NE-02 House race?
Denise Powell leads Brinker Harding 48% to 40% in the PollingSource polling average — a D+8.0 margin based on 2 polls, the last three or fewer.
Is the 2026 NE-02 House race competitive?
It is not considered a top-tier battleground: the PollingSource polling average rates it Likely D, the current rating band. An upset is not impossible.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 NE-02 House race say?
The most recent public poll, from National Public Affairs (completed October 5, 2026), found Denise Powell (D) at 50% and Brinker Harding (R) at 38%.
When is the 2026 NE-02 House race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls, or fewer when fewer exist. One poll sets the rating when it ended in the last 30 days. We do not exclude pollsters. The table lists recent polls, including ones older than those three. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Independent Expenditures Updated just now
Top Spenders
- FIGHT FOR NEBRASKA PAC Dem-aligned $2,364,101
- NEW DEMOCRAT MAJORITY GOP-aligned $735,212
- CHC BOLD PAC Dem-aligned $577,138
- ELECT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN Dem-aligned $475,210
- LEAD LEFT PAC GOP-aligned $435,225
- BOLD AMERICA Dem-aligned $418,816
- EDW ACTION FUND Mixed $397,943
- CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS PAC Dem-aligned $300,500
- PRO-CHOICE MAJORITY 2026 Mixed $242,057
- WOMEN VOTE Mixed $187,363
Full outside-spending research — every committee, every race →
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