State Sen. John Cavanaugh running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District
State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, center, meets with State Sens. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, from left. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
LINCOLN — After two months of speculation, State Sen. John Cavanaugh is throwing his hat into the ring Wednesday and running for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District.
The Omaha-based lawmaker joins one high-profile local candidate in PAC co-founder and small business owner Denise Powell, along with Mark Johnston and Evangelos Argyrakis.
The winner of the May 2026 Democratic primary will try to do what former Omaha State Sen. Tony Vargas fell short of doing so two times — becoming the first non-Republican to represent Nebraska in Congress since the late former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford served in early 2017.
Cavanaugh said he is banking on his record 'of being a leader in the Legislature' to separate himself from Powell. He said he has a record of standing up for 'working people' and protecting access to reproductive health care, something he plans to continue to do in Congress if elected. Bacon is anti-abortion in a district where a majority supports abortion rights.
The Cavanaugh name also holds weight in Omaha, as John is part of a state political dynasty. His father, in the late 1970s, held the congressional seat that he hopes to win, and his sister, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, serves in the statehouse with him.
Cavanaugh's pitch: 'The country is in crisis. [We] need strong leadership to help us correct course from this chaotic president and Congress.'
The attorney and former Douglas County Public Defender points to his experience in government as a contrast to Powell's campaign. Powell has argued people want a fresh face in political office. She said she would prioritize protecting Medicaid and Social Security, vote to ensure the federal government does its part to boost quality K-12 education and push back against the Trump administration.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the Omaha-based 2nd District seat held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., as a Republican toss-up. National and state Democrats are using the recent Omaha mayoral race as evidence of growing voter 'energy' against President Donald Trump and political fuel for the congressional midterms.
But the fundamentals of the district haven't changed. It remains Nebraska's most politically divided and diverse district, with a slight GOP tilt. The 2nd District contains Democratic-leaning Douglas County, home to Omaha, Republican-leaning slices of western Sarpy County, largely suburbs and exurbs, and rural Saunders County.
The 2nd District voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and former President Joe Biden in 2020 after voting for President Donald Trump in 2016 and Mitt Romney in 2012. It backed then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in 2008.
Bacon has fended off Democrats in close races five times in previous years and bucked the 'blue dot' voting trend in the past two presidential elections. The retired Air Force brigadier general is a reliable Republican vote on most matters. But he has again stepped into the national spotlight as one of the few House Republicans willing to criticize the Trump administration.
Bacon hasn't announced a decision yet on whether to retire from Congress, though he said that decision would come this summer. Nebraska Democrats, who view Bacon's seat as vulnerable with him in it or not, have multiple candidates to choose from. Republicans could have a 2nd District primary regardless of what Bacon decides.
Former 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom has told people in conservative political circles that he might be interested in a bid if Bacon retires. Another candidate that has been discussed is Dan Frei, who lost a bid to challenge Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary.
Denise Powell launches bid in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District
If Cavanaugh emerges from the Democratic primary, he would be the second Democratic-aligned state senator to run against Bacon, following Vargas.
Cavanaugh said the difference between Vargas and him is that he was born and raised in Omaha and has a 'stronger record of being a leader in the Legislature.'
Bacon has already criticized Cavanaugh's voting record early this year, saying that outside political groups would easily use it to highlight his 'left-wing votes.'
Cavanaugh said the biggest motivation for him to run is that the federal government is currently populated by 'people who are self-interested and self-dealing.'
'That starts with the president and includes Congress, but we saw it in the Legislature this year,' Cavanaugh said.
Cavanaugh spent much of the most recent legislative session arguing against efforts by the GOP-majority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to resist ballot measures passed by Nebraska voters, including new laws requiring paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage, repealing school vouchers, and legalizing medical marijuana.
He was often one of the Democratic-aligned lawmakers filibustering the majority's proposed changes to what voters approved.
'I don't shy away from a fight, but I'm not trying to be combative with people just for the sake of being combative,' Cavanaugh said. 'We need that kind of principled strength representing us in Congress.'
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