Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · Nebraska's 2nd District

3 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Brinker Harding
Republican · Open seat
Denise Powell
Democratic · Open seat
Eric Michael Foreman
Libertarian · Open seat

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Brinker HardingDenise PowellEric Michael Foreman
Party on the ballotRepublican1Democratic1Libertarian1
StatusOpen seatOpen seatOpen seat
Raised$2,850,577 through October 14, 20262$5,093,104 through October 14, 20263Not found in the public sources we checked
Cash on hand$313,3732$480,4733Not found in the public sources we checked
Outside spending$308,482 for · $1,653,583 against4$3,656,494 for · $311,913 against5Not found in the public sources we checked
Birth control and IVFHis campaign website says he wants to make health care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families.6
Guarantee access to both in federal law, including insurance coverage for IVF
Her campaign website says she supports the Right to Contraception Act, which it describes as protecting the right to obtain and use contraception, and wants to pass legislation such as the Right to IVF Act to expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments.7		Not found in the public sources we checked
Police fundingHis campaign website lists among his accomplishments a pay raise for Omaha police officers, which it calls a record, and says the city did not defund its police.8Her campaign website says she would fully fund police departments, provide training and mental health support for officers, and invest in social workers to help address community needs.7Not found in the public sources we checked
Stock trading by members of CongressHis campaign website says he supports banning stock trading by members of Congress.6Her campaign website says she would ban stock trading by members of Congress.7Not found in the public sources we checked
Term limits for CongressHis campaign website says he supports term limits.6Her campaign website says she would enact term limits in Congress.7Not found in the public sources we checked
Immigration enforcement inside the countryHis campaign website says he supports deporting people in the country illegally who commit violent crimes.6Her campaign website says she supports securing the border but criticizes the administration's expansion of immigration raids and arrests, and says she will demand accountability from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.7Not found in the public sources we checked
Social Security benefit levelsHis campaign website lists protecting Social Security, along with Medicaid and Medicare, for single mothers, veterans, older adults and people with disabilities among his affordability goals.6Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security to secure a dignified retirement for Nebraskans.7Not found in the public sources we checked
Federal spending levelsNot found in the public sources we checkedHer campaign website says she wants to manage deficits and debt responsibly so that the next generation inherits a more stable future.7
Cut overall federal spending
His campaign website lists cutting spending among its platform points, and says he supports responsible budgeting so that debt does not pile up for future generations.9,10

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Brinker Harding — 8 issues
  • Ethanol and biofuel requirements
    Expand biofuel use, such as by allowing E15 sales all year
    His campaign website says he wants Congress to pass year-round sales of E-15 fuel, aiming to lower gas prices and support agriculture in Nebraska.6
  • Voter ID
    His campaign website says he supports a nationwide voter ID requirement, to make sure only American citizens can vote.6
  • Drug prices compared with other countries
    His campaign website says he would take on drug makers and insurers so that Americans pay prescription drug prices on par with those in other developed countries.6
  • Federal benefits and services for noncitizens
    His campaign website says he would protect programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare for single mothers, veterans, older adults and people with disabilities, and not for people in the country illegally or able-bodied adults.6
  • Masks and identification for immigration officers
    His campaign website says he would promote body cameras and identifiable uniforms for federal immigration (ICE) agents, as is done with the Omaha Police.6
  • Fraud and improper payments in federal programs
    His campaign website says he wants to crack down on waste and fraud in government.6
  • Preventing government shutdowns
    His campaign website says he wants to halt congressional salaries during government shutdowns.6
  • Property taxes
    His campaign website lists three votes on the Omaha City Council to lower the city's property tax levy among his accomplishments.8
Denise Powell — 20 issues
  • Abortion law
    Legal until about 24 weeks, as under Roe v. Wade, and later to protect the woman's life or health
    Her campaign website says she has defended reproductive rights in Nebraska for a decade, including by pushing back on a proposed total abortion ban and collecting signatures for a ballot measure to protect access to care, and that she wants to restore Roe v. Wade as national law.7
  • Who sets abortion law
    A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
    Her campaign website says she is fighting to restore Roe v. Wade into law nationwide.7
  • Farm payments and crop insurance
    Her campaign website says she would push to use tariff revenue to fund Farmer Bridge Assistance programs, which support farms affected by disruptions.7
  • Ethics rules for Supreme Court justices
    Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions
    Her campaign website says she would pass an ethics code for the Supreme Court that bans gifts from special interests, requires financial disclosure and sets recusal requirements when there is a conflict of interest.7
  • Small business loans and programs
    Expand SBA loans, research awards and contracting help for small businesses
    Her campaign website says she would increase funding and support for small businesses in Nebraska.7
  • Tariffs
    Her campaign website says she wants to stop the president's tariffs to help lower costs for families, and also to use tariffs aimed at specific imported goods, such as beef and soybeans, to raise domestic prices and gain leverage for better trade deals.7
  • US Department of Education
    Her campaign website criticizes President Donald Trump's cuts to the Department of Education and says she will not let them stand.7
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    Her campaign website says she wants to overturn Citizens United and remove dark money from politics.7
  • International climate agreements
    Her campaign website lists the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement among actions it says damaged the United States' position in the world.7
  • Child care costs
    Her campaign website says she wants more affordable child care, including investing in Head Start and child care centers and advocating for legislation to raise pay for child care workers without raising costs for parents.7
  • Child tax credit
    Her campaign website says she would work to make the Child Tax Credit permanent and bring it back up to $3,600.7
  • Foreign aid
    Restore or increase foreign aid, including programs cut in 2025
    Her campaign website says she would fight to reestablish USAID and other key U.S. programs.7
  • Who decides on military action
    Her campaign website says she would demand congressional oversight of military actions and wants to stop unchecked actions that lack a strategic plan and a clear exit strategy.7
  • Background checks for gun sales
    Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
    Her campaign website says she supports universal background checks, aimed at keeping guns from people convicted of felonies and from gang members.7
  • Red flag laws
    Adopt more red flag laws, including a national one
    Her campaign website says she supports red flag laws, aimed at keeping guns from domestic abusers.7
  • Health insurance system
    Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
    Her campaign website says she would work to create a public option, similar to Medicare, that every American could choose, while keeping private insurance for those who want it, and would build on the Affordable Care Act so families are not spending too much of their income on premiums and deductibles.7
  • Legal immigration levels
    Her campaign website says she would create legal avenues for workers needed in Nebraska industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, health care and hospitality.7
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
    Her campaign website says she would work toward a fair path to citizenship for immigrants, including Dreamers, who have lived and worked in the country for decades as essential workers and paid taxes.7
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    Expand it to more drugs and to people with private insurance
    Her campaign website says she would push to have Medicare negotiate the prices of a larger number of prescription drugs.7
  • Rules for artificial intelligence
    Her campaign website says she wants more guardrails and regulation for artificial intelligence, balancing investment in new technology with protection of American jobs.7
Eric Michael Foreman — 1 issue
  • Mandatory minimum sentences
    Add or raise mandatory minimums, for example for selling fentanyl
    His campaign website lists harsher punishment and mandatory sentences for crimes against children among its platform points.9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.