Nebraska 2nd District
Don Bacon (R) is not running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussBrinker Harding
Republican · Omaha city council vice president, commercial Realtor
BLiberty Score B84 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Harding has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Harding.
Raised $2,850,577 since January 2025: 56% from people, 27% transfers and other income, 17% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Denise Powell
Democrat · nonprofit executive, small business owner, organizer
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Powell, and what Powell has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Raised $5,093,104 since January 2025: 80% from people, 10% from PACs and other committees, 8% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Nebraska: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Brinker Harding, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Harding, so the grade above comes from this list: what Harding has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Backed the US and Israeli operation that killed the Islamic Republic's leader and wrote that only the radical left would think it a bad thing.
“Only the radical left would think killing America’s number one enemy is a bad thing.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing American and Israeli action against the regime is with liberty by this test.
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Said he hopes the Iranian people can experience the freedom they deserve.
“I hope the Iranian people can experience the freedom they deserve, and peace will finally come to the Middle East.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
He speaks for Iranians against their rulers, which is the with side of this measure.
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Said he supported the 2025 tax law that ended federal tax on tips and overtime and raised the child tax credit.
“I did support the Big, Beautiful Bill, the Working Family Tax Act, because it brought no tips on taxes, no tips on overtime, an increase in the child tax credit”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing named tax cuts is with liberty by this test.
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Lists guaranteeing that Americans pay the same low drug prices as other developed countries as a priority.
“guarantee Americans pay the same low prices for prescription drugs as other developed countries”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A guaranteed drug price set by comparison with other countries is a price control, against liberty by this test.
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Lists deporting criminal illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes as a priority.
“Deport criminal illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Deporting those who break the law is with liberty by this test.
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Said at a debate that people in the country illegally who commit heinous crimes need to be returned.
“committing heinous crimes need to be returned.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Deporting those who break the law is with liberty by this test.
Denise Powell, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Powell, so the grade above comes from this list: what Powell has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Said she has opposed the Iran war from the start and that the conflict makes America less safe, while agreeing Iran should never have a nuclear weapon.
“nothing about this conflict or the way this administration is handling it is making America any safer. On the contrary, I think it is putting us at great risk.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She says the conflict puts America at risk but names no policy, bill or vote, so by the site rule for "end the war" lines this does not settle a side.
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Said in a written statement that she has always supported Israel's right to exist and to defend itself.
“I have always unequivocally supported Israel's right to exist and its right to defend itself.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Israel's right to defend itself is with liberty on free nations.
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Told Jewish Insider she fully supports providing aid to Israel and has always supported its right to exist and defend itself.
“My position is clear: I fully support providing aid to Israel and believe that we should ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing aid to Israel and its right to defend itself is with liberty by this test.
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Listed rebuilding relationships with key allies and re-establishing USAID as a priority.
“Fight to reestablish USAID and other key U.S. Programs, while also working to rebuild relationships with key allies”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words name allies in general, not Ukraine, Taiwan or NATO, so they do not settle the free nations test.
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Listed stopping the tariffs as one of her priorities to lower costs for Nebraska families.
“Stop Trump's illegal tariffs to help bring down the costs of items Nebraska families need every day.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
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Said ICE needs to be completely overhauled and should get no more funding from this administration until significant changes are made.
“I believe ICE needs to be completely overhauled and they should not get a penny more from this administration until there are significant changes.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Withholding funding from ICE is against liberty by this test.
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Listed creating a path to citizenship for long-term immigrants as a priority.
“Work to create a fair path to citizenship for long term immigrants”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for those here illegally is against liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Eric Foreman (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Nebraska 2nd District
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