Campaign

Denise Powell (D), Brinker Harding (R), and Eric Michael Foreman (L) are running for open U.S. House seat in Nebraska's 2nd District

Source: Ballotpedia News July 23, 2026 at 1:41 AM (7 hours ago) Nebraska House

Three candidates are competing for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District seat in the 2026 general election following Republican incumbent Don Bacon's decision not to seek re-election. Democrat Denise Powell, Republican Brinker Harding, and Libertarian Eric Michael Foreman are vying for the open seat in a district that Bacon won with narrow margins in recent cycles.

Key Points

  • Incumbent Don Bacon (R) is retiring after winning the seat in 2016 and holding it through two close re-elections (51.3% in 2022, 50.9% in 2024)
  • The race features three candidates: Democrat Denise Powell, Republican Brinker Harding, and Libertarian Eric Michael Foreman
  • Nebraska's 2nd District is competitive territory, as evidenced by Bacon's narrow victory margins and Democratic performance in recent cycles