Denise Powell

Denise Powell is a candidate training group co-founder who won the Democratic primary for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District on May 12, 2026, to challenge Republican Brinker Harding for the open seat vacated by retiring Rep. Don Bacon.

Party: Democratic
Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives
State: NE
Current office: Candidate Training Group Co-Founder

Incumbency status: challenger

Residence: Omaha, NE

Biography

Denise Powell is a candidate training group co-founder from Omaha, Nebraska. She won the Democratic primary for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District on May 12, 2026, defeating several other candidates including state Sen. John Cavanaugh. She is backed by EMILY's List and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC. She will face Republican Brinker Harding in November for the open seat vacated by retiring Rep. Don Bacon.

Professional background

Candidate training group co-founder; Community organizer

In this race

Brinker Harding (Republican)

Issue positions

Healthcare — ACA & Medicaid (Healthcare): Powell supports policies aimed at reducing healthcare premiums and safeguarding Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Social Policy — Gender Identity & Transgender Issues (Social Policy): Powell serves on the board of EducateUS, an organization that advocates for universal sex education for kindergarteners, which includes instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Federal Spending & the Deficit (Federal Spending): Powell advocates for investments in Head Start, opposes any efforts to dismantle Medicaid, and supports funding for education and veterans' programs.
Taxation — Working Families Tax Cuts (Taxation): Powell opposes the Working Families Tax Cuts, which would restore income taxes on tips for 4 million tipped workers, restore income taxes on overtime for over 80 million hourly workers, restore income taxes on Social Security for millions of retirees, cut the Child Tax Credit from $2,200 to $2,000 per child, reduce the standard deduction for 90% of taxpayers, eliminate the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, and reverse increased Medicare payments to rural providers. This constitutes the largest tax increase in American history.

Ratings & scores

League of Conservation Voters Action Fund: Endorsed (2026)
Reproductive Freedom for All (NARAL): Endorsed (2026)
Human Rights Campaign: Endorsed (2026)
Planned Parenthood Action Fund: Endorsed (2026)
NRA Political Victory Fund: 0% (2026)