dpOMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a campaign stop in Omaha Tuesday, appearing alongside Democratic Nebraska 2nd Congressional District candidate Denise Powell at Metropolitan Community College’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing, near 27th and Q streets.
Buttigieg has been traveling across the Midwest to rally with Democrats in competitive races, including a stop in Iowa earlier this week to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.
Supporters gathered outside MCC ahead of the rally said they want elected officials to respond to voter-approved measures and constitutional concerns.
“I think it is horrible that the voters have voted for the minimum wage raise, for medicinal marijuana and our elected officials are not listening to our voice and doing the exact opposite,” said Heather Schommer, an attendee. “That is a huge problem.”
Katie Cummings said she wants to see economic solutions for workers.
“I think the minimum wage should be raised. I think that would help everyone: the city, the community — everyone from top to bottom — it would help,” she said.
Steven Dawes said his focus is on the constitution. “Preserving the constitution right now. It is a battle from day to day — it is under attack,” he said.
Attendee Gedi Murauskas said voters need to reclaim power from special interests. “We need to flip both houses — the Senate and the House of Representatives. We need government to work for the people and not for big money interest and corporations,” Murauskas said.
Steve Bryant said the rally marked the start of a longer process. “There are a lot of things that we want to see get done this election. So the process starts here and that is why we are here,” he said.
Buttigieg said Powell is positioned to address voter concerns.
“Denise Powell is someone who understands not just what we have to stand up against, but what we have to stand for,” Buttigieg said. “She is somebody who can look to the future and embodies that idea of out with the old ways and in with something new and better.”
Powell took aim at her Republican opponent, Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, referencing an upcoming campaign appearance by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“He is going to try and convince you that he is a different kind of Republican, but he is not,” Powell said. “He has Speaker Mike Johnson coming here to fundraise for him this week because Mike Johnson and Donald Trump know that Brinker Harding is just a rubber stamp for their agenda.”
GOP response
Campaigns for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District have long been fiercely competitive, but is especially so this year with Rep. Don Bacon stepping down after serving in the seat for a decade. As all sides try to secure a seat largely up for grabs in Nebraska’s “blue dot,” it’s not unusual to see political heavy hitters making appearances alongside their candidates.
Brinker Harding, an Omaha City Councilman running against Powell and Libertarian candidate Eric Michael Foreman on the November ballot, will soon get his own high-profile endorsement: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is planning to attend a campaign event in the days ahead.
In the meantime, Harding’s campaign issued a statement Tuesday in response to the Dems campaign event saying that they will find success by focusing on local grassroots efforts and commonsense solutions:
“It’s no surprise to see Dark Money Denise bringing in failed former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as her surrogate for the General Election. It’s also telling that, despite a competitive Democratic primary, she has yet to earn the public endorsement of a single John Cavanaugh primary endorser. Instead of building support here in Nebraska, she’s relying on the same out-of-touch national political network and outside groups that have backed her campaign from the start.
Make no mistake — campaigns in NE-02 are won by earning the trust of Nebraska voters and building a broad local grassroots coalition, exactly what Brinker Harding has done from the very beginning. While Denise depends on out-of-state donors and foreign billionaire-funded groups, Brinker is focused on delivering commonsense solutions that make life more affordable, keep our communities safe, and hold the political class accountable.”
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