In recent reporting, Republican consultants have said the national GOP and its allies might … boost candidates they are more likely to beat in a general
Omaha, NE – This week, a deep-pocketed Republican group with close ties to Congressional House GOP Leadership began running ads in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary–not attacking John Cavanaugh, but boosting him.
This begs the question–why would Republicans spend money to help a Democrat win his primary? Because they know who they want to face in November, and they’re worried about it being Denise Powell. Conservative talk radio hosts at KFAB even noted in an interview with Republican candidate Brinker Harding that Powell is the Democratic candidate to look out for.
The Nebraska Examiner noted that Republicans focused on winning this seat have explicitly said that the “national GOP and its allies might emulate some of Democrats’ efforts in 2018 and 2022 to boost candidates they would prefer to face by attacking them during contested primary races and rallying primary voters to support them.”
Meanwhile, Denise Powell continues to build the grassroots coalition needed to flip this seat. The stakes couldn’t be clearer: she remains the only viable candidate who can win in November and protect Nebraska’s Blue Dot without handing the GOP in the state legislature the votes to kill it. Unlike Cavanaugh – whose win would allow Governor Pillen to appoint a MAGA Republican to fill his seat, giving Republicans the supermajority to eliminate the Blue Dot, cost Democrats the Presidency, pass dangerous abortion bans, and make cuts to public school funding – Powell presents no such risk.
Powell enters the final weeks of the primary with the strongest fundraising quarter of her campaign, more than $432,000 raised in Q1 2026, the broadest coalition of over 50 local and national endorsements, and the momentum to win this race.
Washington Examiner – A memo from national Republicans hinted that the GOP would prefer to face Cavanaugh
- Earlier this year, the Washington Examiner reported on a leaked memo that listed the districts and candidates that Republicans believed could help them hold the House. On that list? John Cavanaugh
- “State Sen. John Cavanaugh has a rich history of far-left votes in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature,” the dossier runs. In his own words, “In Congress, I’ll join the Congressional Progressive Caucus on the front lines of the fight to protect Social Security and healthcare, lower the cost of living, and hold Trump accountable when he cheats Americans.
TODAY: POLITICO – How a House Win in Nebraska Could Cost Democrats the Presidency
- But if Republicans aren’t successful and Cavanaugh wins the election … Republicans win anyway. Cavanaugh would then vacate his very blue seat in the Nebraska Legislature, allowing MAGA Governor Jim Pillen to appoint his replacement and putting winner-take-all, the electoral college, midterm redistricting, abortion rights, public school funding, and more at risk.
TODAY: Nebraska Examiner – State Sen. John Cavanaugh fights GOP group’s ad blitz and rival criticisms in Dem primary in NE-02
- Republican consultants have said the national GOP and its allies might emulate some of Democrats’ efforts in 2018 and 2022 to boost candidates they would prefer to face by attacking them during contested primary races and rallying primary voters to support them.
- (Don) Bacon hinted at the possibility last year, saying outside political groups would highlight Cavanaugh’s “left-wing votes.”
Since NE-02 became an open seat last summer, the district has been rated as “Leans Democrat” by race raters, including Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections.
About Denise
Denise Powell is a mom, former executive, small business owner, public school champion and healthcare advocate who knows that a strong work ethic and a love of family and community is the Nebraska way of life. She also knows the Good Life is getting harder to come by. It’s why after Trump’s election she left a successful career in corporate America to focus on fighting for what makes Nebraska such a special place to live and raise a family. Over the past decade, she has supported hundreds of Nebraskans running for local office, protected our public schools and the families they serve, and helped stop extremists from passing abortion bans in the state.
Every day, we see more of our friends and neighbors struggling to make ends meet while Donald Trump and MAGA extremists are focused on trade wars that are increasing our cost of living and passing massive tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk. Strong families, strong businesses, strong communities – they ALL require work and investment, but everything we’ve fought for here at home is under threat. From dismantling Medicaid and making it harder for seniors to get the benefits they’ve earned, to dismantling education, from the University of Nebraska to our public schools, to attacking our veterans and ripping away women’s rights — Denise is running to fight for the people of Nebraska. We don’t need lip service from politicians, we need action.
For more information, visit deniseforcongress.org. For a high-resolution picture of Denise, click here.
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