Nebraska — 2nd District

D Democratic Denise Powell

Lower costs for working families

Powell focuses on reducing living costs by eliminating tariffs, building affordable housing, expanding access to childcare, and addressing price gouging by corporate monopolies. She advocates for policies that support small businesses and workers rather than corporate tax breaks.

• Stop tariffs to help lower everyday costs for Nebraska families
• Build high-quality, affordable housing attainable for first-time buyers and middle-class families
• Increase funding and support for Nebraska small businesses
• Establish guardrails and regulation on artificial intelligence to protect jobs while encouraging innovation
• Fight corporate monopolies and price gouging that artificially inflate consumer costs

“Stop Trump’s illegal tariffs to help bring down the costs of items Nebraska families need every day.”

“Build more high-quality, affordable housing that is attainable for first-time homebuyers and middle-class families.”

“Fight back against monopolies that drive up prices and price gouge consumers in order to give CEOs inflated bonuses.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Cut taxes and curb spending

Harding advocates for cutting taxes, curbing government spending, expanding domestic energy production, and lowering interest rates to fight inflation. He highlights his municipal record on the Omaha City Council of balancing budgets and voting to lower property tax levies.

• Cut taxes, bring down gas and grocery prices, and lower interest rates
• Expand domestic energy production to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources
• Ensure American leadership in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency
• Eliminate wasteful federal spending to reduce deficits and the national debt
• Highlight record of balancing Omaha's budget annually and voting three times to lower property tax levies

“In Congress, I will fight to cut your taxes, bring down gas & grocery prices, lower interest rates, create good-paying jobs, repatriate critical supply chains, expand American energy production to reduce our dependence on foreign countries, and ensure America is the global leader for emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, not our adversaries like China.”

“On the City Council, I have voted to lower Omaha’s property tax levy three times.”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Expand coverage and lower costs

Powell proposes creating a Medicare-like public option while preserving private insurance options and expanding the Affordable Care Act. She supports requiring Medicare to negotiate more prescription drug prices and capping insulin costs at $35 monthly.

• Require Medicare to negotiate prices for additional prescription drugs
• Cap insulin costs at $35 per month for all Americans
• Establish a Medicare-like public option giving Americans an affordable choice of coverage
• Build on the Affordable Care Act to limit out-of-pocket costs for premiums and deductibles
• Protect healthcare research at institutions like UNMC by reversing federal funding cuts

“Take on big pharmaceutical companies by requiring Medicare to negotiate prices for more prescription drugs and capping insulin costs at $35 a month for everyone.”

“Work to create a Medicare-like public option that gives every American the choice of affordable coverage while protecting private insurance for those who want it.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Lower drug and healthcare prices

Harding advocates taking on pharmaceutical and insurance companies so that Americans pay the same lower drug prices as developed foreign nations. He also supports making healthcare and fertility treatments accessible for Nebraska families.

• Take on Big Pharma and Big Insurance to guarantee Americans pay the same low prices for prescription drugs as other developed countries
• Make healthcare, including IVF, more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families

“Take on Big Pharma and Big Insurance to guarantee Americans pay the same low prices for prescription drugs as other developed countries”

“Make healthcare, including IVF, more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Protect abortion and reproductive freedom

Powell advocates for codifying federal abortion rights by restoring Roe v. Wade nationwide, protecting access to contraception, and passing protections for fertility treatments such as IVF.

• Protect abortion rights by restoring Roe v. Wade into nationwide law
• Support the Right to Contraception Act to protect contraception access and providers
• Pass the Right to IVF Act to expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments

“Protect abortion rights for Nebraska women by fighting to restore Roe v. Wade into law nationwide.”

“Work to pass legislation like the Right to IVF Act to expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments in health insurance plans, including for federal employees, veterans, and Medicare/Medicaid recipients.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Make IVF accessible and affordable

Harding explicitly supports making healthcare, including IVF, more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families. His platform in the provided sources does not state a position on abortion restrictions.

• Make healthcare, including IVF, more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families

“Make healthcare, including IVF, more accessible and affordable for Nebraska families”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Secure border with citizenship pathways

Powell calls for funding personnel and technology for border security while enacting bipartisan reform that provides legal pathways to citizenship for long-term immigrants, essential workers, and Dreamers. She also demands oversight of federal enforcement agencies.

• Provide personnel, training, and technology necessary to secure American borders
• Create fair legal pathways to citizenship for essential workers, long-term residents, and Dreamers
• Demand oversight and accountability for federal immigration enforcement actions by ICE and DHS

“Work to create a fair path to citizenship for long term immigrants who have worked and paid taxes for decades as essential workers and Dreamers, and create legal avenues for workers needed to fill Nebraska’s essential roles in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality.”

“Demand accountability for the abuses of power committed by Trump, Kristi Noem, DHS, and ICE and their flagrant disregard for the rule of law.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Secure border and deport offenders

Harding focuses on securing the border, deporting criminal illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes, and preventing non-citizens from accessing safety net programs. He also supports mandating body cameras and identifiable uniforms for ICE agents.

• Deport criminal illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes
• Require body cameras and identifiable uniforms for ICE agents
• Protect safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from being extended to illegal immigrants

“Deport criminal illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes”

“Promote body cameras and identifiable uniforms for ICE agents like we do with the Omaha Police”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Ban stock trading and reform ethics

Powell advocates for ethical reforms including banning congressional stock trading, enacting term limits, implementing a lifetime lobbying ban for former members, creating a Supreme Court ethics code, and overturning Citizens United.

• Ban stock trading by members of Congress
• Enact a lifetime ban preventing former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists
• Enact congressional term limits
• Establish a mandatory code of ethics, financial disclosures, and recusal rules for Supreme Court justices
• Overturn Citizens United to eliminate dark money in politics

“Ban Congressional stock trading.”

“Pass a lifetime ban on members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.”

“Pass an Ethics Code for the Supreme Court that bans special interest gifts, requires financial disclosure, and recusal requirements when there’s a conflict of interest.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Enact term limits and voter ID

Harding supports governance accountability reforms, including congressional term limits, banning stock trading, halting congressional pay during shutdowns, and establishing nationwide voter ID rules.

• Support congressional term limits
• Ban congressional stock trading
• Halt congressional salaries during government shutdowns
• Pass nationwide voter ID legislation to ensure only citizens vote

“Support term limits, ban congressional stock trading, and halt congressional salaries during government shutdowns”

“Pass nationwide Voter ID to ensure only American citizens can vote”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Fund police and pass gun safety

Powell supports fully funding police departments alongside investments in social workers and officer mental health support. She also advocates for gun safety legislation including universal background checks and red flag laws.

• Fully fund police departments while expanding access to training, mental health support, and social workers
• Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act to protect domestic violence survivors
• Pass gun safety legislation including universal background checks, red flag laws, and community violence intervention

“Fully fund our police departments, providing access to training and mental health support for our officers, and investing in social workers to help expand the way we address the needs of our communities.”

“Save lives from gun violence by ensuring universal background checks to prevent convicted felons and gang members from obtaining guns, red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and fund community violence intervention programs.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Support police and tough sentencing

Harding points to his record on the Omaha City Council of increasing police pay and driving violent crime down to historic 40-year lows. He opposes defunding police and supports holding violent criminals accountable.

• Oppose defunding the police and provide pay raises to law enforcement officers
• Hold criminals accountable to maintain safe communities
• Rebuild military strength to ensure national and community safety

“We didn’t defund our police, we gave them the record pay raise they deserve. As a result, we have driven Omaha’s violent crime rate to historic 40-year lows.”

“In Congress, I will fight to keep our border secure, deport criminal illegal immigrants, rebuild our military to restore peace through strength, hold criminals accountable, and stand with law enforcement to keep our communities safe.”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Protect farmers from broad tariffs

Powell criticizes broad tariff policies that disrupt agricultural export markets. She advocates for targeted tariffs, bridge assistance for impacted producers, right-to-repair laws, and passing a long-term Farm Bill.

• Pass a long-term Farm Bill to provide stability for agricultural producers
• Use targeted tariffs strategically to protect domestic commodities like beef and soybeans while securing export market access
• Fund Farmer Bridge Assistance programs using tariff revenue during market disruptions
• Enact Right to Repair legislation for farm equipment
• Expand loan access for small family farms

“Trump’s tariff policies and bailout of Argentina have hurt Nebraska’s farmers and cattlemen, a critical part of our state’s economy. Our farmers aren’t looking for bailouts, they’re looking for fair markets.”

“Advocate for Right to Repair to allow farmers to fix their own equipment and machinery.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Expand year-round E-15 bioethanol

Harding supports Nebraska agriculture primarily through biofuel policy, advocating for year-round E-15 fuel sales to lower gas prices and support local farmers.

• Pass year-round E-15 legislation to lower gas prices and support Nebraska biofuel producers

“Pass year-round E-15 to help lower gas prices and support Nebraska agriculture”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Rebuild alliances and diplomatic programs

Powell advocates rebuilding foreign alliances, re-establishing diplomatic programs like USAID, strategically investing in defense capabilities against adversary nations, and ensuring congressional oversight of military actions.

• Re-establish USAID and diplomatic programs to maintain global leadership
• Rebuild relationships with key international allies such as Canada and European Union nations
• Invest in military defense capabilities to counter threats from China and Russia
• Demand congressional oversight for military actions to prevent unchecked deployments

“Fight to reestablish USAID and other key U.S. programs, while also working to rebuild relationships with key allies to rebuild America’s position as a true world leader.”

“Demand Congressional oversight of military measures, stopping Trump’s unchecked actions without a strategic plan and clear exit strategy.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Restore peace through military strength

Harding criticizes recent foreign policy decisions regarding Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Middle East, advocating for rebuilding the military to restore global deterrence against adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.

• Rebuild the military under a doctrine of peace through strength
• Deter foreign adversaries including China, Russia, and Iran

“In Congress, I will fight to keep our border secure, deport criminal illegal immigrants, rebuild our military to restore peace through strength, hold criminals accountable, and stand with law enforcement to keep our communities safe.”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Protect Social Security and Medicare benefits

Powell promises to safeguard Social Security and Medicare benefits for seniors while managing federal deficits responsibly to ensure stability for future generations.

• Protect Social Security to ensure retirement security for all Nebraskans
• Manage federal deficits responsibly to protect long-term program stability

“Protect Social Security at all costs to ensure the promise of a secure and dignified retirement for all Nebraskans.”

R Republican Brinker Harding

Protect benefits for citizens only

Harding vows to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for seniors, veterans, single mothers, and disabled individuals, while restricting benefits from being extended to illegal immigrants or able-bodied adults.

• Protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for seniors, veterans, single mothers, and disabled individuals
• Ensure safety net programs do not extend benefits to illegal immigrants or able-bodied adults

“Protect critical programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare for single moms, veterans, the elderly, and disabled – NOT illegal immigrants or able-bodied adults”

D Democratic Denise Powell

Expand childcare funding and public education

Powell advocates expanding affordable childcare, making the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent, funding public education and universities, and strengthening high school vocational programs.

• Expand affordable childcare access and increase pay for childcare workers
• Make the $3,600 Child Tax Credit permanent
• Strengthen public schools, community colleges, and state universities
• Invest in high school vocational and apprenticeship programs

“Fight to expand the Child Tax Credit back to $3,600 and make it permanent, to ensure working families receive the support they need to care for their children.”

“Invest in strong vocational and apprenticeship programs in our high schools to provide a path to good paying jobs in the fields that matter to Nebraska.”