OMAHA, Neb. (AP) 鈥� Denise Powell won the Democratic primary in on Wednesday in a contest focused on the state鈥檚 鈥渂lue dot鈥� status in presidential elections.
The Omaha-area district, where Republican , is one of Democrats’ biggest targets this midterm season. It鈥檚 also a national focus every four years in presidential contests because Nebraska is one of just two states that splits its electoral votes. The 2nd District has gone to Democratic presidential candidates three times since 2008 鈥� a 鈥渂lue dot鈥� in an otherwise sea of red.
Powell, a political activist, defeated state Sen. John Cavanaugh and several other Democrats in a close race that could not be called Tuesday. She will face Brinker Harding, an Omaha City Council member endorsed by President Donald Trump. He ran unopposed in Tuesday鈥檚 primary.
Some Democratic critics argued that a Cavanaugh primary victory would have jeopardized the district鈥檚 鈥渂lue dot鈥� status because he鈥檇 be leaving his valuable state legislative seat, making it easier for Republicans in the Nebraska Legislature to change the law that allows the state to split its electoral votes.
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