Nebraska's 2nd District
U.S. House · Nebraska
Denise Powell flipped the seat for Democrats, winning by 15.9 points over Brinker Harding.
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:22 PM ET
Where the race moved
Against the 2024 presidential vote
The seat's recent races
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two sides on one scale: their campaigns, and outside groups spending for them or against their opponent.
Top funders
Outside groups and direct contributors, ranked by what they put in; the color shows which candidate it helps.
| HMPAgainst Harding | $1.5M | |
| FIGHT FOR NEBRASKA PACFor Powell | $1.3M | |
| CHC BOLD PACFor Powell | $532.1K | |
| BOLD AmericaFor Powell | $418.8K | |
| Progressive Turnout ProjectFor Powell | $336K | |
| CIVIC RENEWAL FUND INC.For Harding | $316.1K | |
| Elect Democratic WomenFor Powell | $300K | |
| EDW Action FundFor Powell | $199K | |
| CFFE PACAgainst Harding | $193.5K | |
| NO GOING BACK PAC INC.For Harding, against Powell | $161.3K | |
| NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUNDFor Harding | $2.3K | |
| MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN ACTION INCFor Harding | $1.5K |
Show 4 more
Campaign money: FEC, through Oct 14, 2026. Outside spending: independent expenditures by super PACs, parties and other groups, primary and general, as reported to the FEC through Nov 1, 2026, updated Nov 3, 2026. It leaves out spending not reported as independent expenditures (most issue ads and much dark money), so it understates all outside money. The FEC lists only each candidate's largest spenders; totals count every spender.
Source: FEC campaign filings; FEC independent expendituresUpdated Nov 3, 2026, 1:05 AM ET
Polls against the result
The final average had Powell ahead by 13.8. Powell won by 15.9: a 2.1-point miss toward Republicans.
- Poll with Powell ahead
- Poll with Harding ahead
- Final polling average
- Result
| Pollster | Dates | Sample | Powell | Harding | Margin | Adjusted | Miss vs result | Grade | Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Public Affairs for God, Family, & Country PACR-sponsored | Oct 2–Oct 5 | 377 LV | 50 | 38 | D+12 | D+15.9 | −3.9 | — | backend.natpublicaffairs.com ↗ |
| SurveyUSA for Grant Forbes, LLC | Sep 8–Sep 13 | 182 LV | 46 | 42 | D+4 | D+4.8 | −11.9 | A | results.surveyusa.com ↗ |
Adjusted: after correcting for the pollster's house effect and likely-voter screens. Miss: the poll's margin minus the result; + means the poll leaned Democratic. Grade: the pollster's accuracy in past elections, A+ to D (pollster ratings).
Source: Each poll's release, via The New York Times and Wikipedia poll listsUpdated Oct 5, 2026
Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)
Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.
- Denise Powell
- 99%
- Brinker Harding
- 1%
- Projected margin
- D+14.3
The candidates
Candidate training group co-founderBrinker Harding (R)
Omaha city councilor from the 6th district (2017–present)
Also on the ballot: Eric Michael Foreman (Libertarian), 2.6%