Denise Powell at her campaign event on June 4, 2025. (Courtesy of Denise Powell for Congress)
OMAHA — An influential abortion-rights group is weighing in on the crowded Democratic primary in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
EMILY’s List on Thursday endorsed business owner and political action committee co-founder Denise Powell. The group’s president, Jessica Mackler, said they’re “proud to support her in this race as she fights for Nebraska.”
“She stepped up to be the leader her community needed when public schools were threatened and extremists tried to pass abortion bans, all while helping women in Nebraska run for office,” Mackler said.
EMILY’s List endorses Democratic women running for office who support abortion rights; it doesn’t typically endorse in Democratic primaries if more than one woman is running, especially in high-profile races like the 2nd District.
But there have been some recent exceptions, including 2018, when the group backed former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Evans in the Democratic primary for Georgia governor. The 2nd District Democratic primary has two other women running, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades and Navy veteran Kishla Askins.
The group pointed to Powell’s role in state politics as the reason for the endorsement. It said she had helped with organizing recent ballot initiatives seeking to codify the right to an abortion, which failed, and to repeal a publicly funded voucher program for private K-12 schools, which succeeded.
The race’s other Democratic candidates are State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, former congressional staffer James Leuschen and Evangelos Argyrakis.
Rhoades received an endorsement from Omaha Mayor John Ewing last month. Cavanaugh announced the endorsements of four local unions this week.
The Omaha-based race is typically competitive, but it’s drawing more attention with U.S. Rep. Don Bacon retiring.
