The dog days of summer campaigning are over in Nebraska's most competitive congressional race, as Republican 2nd District nominee Brinker Harding prepares to roll out his GOP answer to a national Democrat's pending visit by hosting House Speaker Mike Johnson, The World-Herald has learned.
Harding, a member of the Omaha City Council, is set to announce a July 18 visit by Johnson to Omaha. It's a move Harding's campaign confirmed shortly after his Democratic opponent Denise Powell announced a visit coming Tuesday by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
House Speaker Mike Johnson visits Omaha in October 2024 to campaign for Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, who is now retiring.
The Harding camp has not yet shared specifics about Johnson's visit or the level of public access to him during his stay, but a spokesman confirmed the visit's timing and said more details would be released as the event draws nearer. He is scheduled to participate in at least one fundraiser.
For Johnson, the Omaha-area swing district remains a high-priority place to hold for his party, as one of a handful of politically divided districts nationally at greater risk of changing hands because of the retirement of a long-term incumbent, five-term Rep. Don Bacon.
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Omaha City Council member Brinker Harding speaks during a meeting in August 2023.
"Brinker Harding is a proven business and community leader who will deliver for Omaha and help us continue our work in securing the border, rebuilding our economy and restoring peace through strength," Johnson said in a statement. "I look forward to my next trip to Omaha as we work with Brinker to grow our majority, which runs through Nebraska's 2nd District."
Johnson, who represents a district in western Louisiana, visited CD2 in October 2024, during a string of national visits by House leaders of both parties in Bacon's second race with former State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, which Bacon won by about 2 percentage points.
Registered Republicans outnumbered registered Democrats by about 2 percentage points in 2024, and the GOP lead has grown to about 3.6 percentage points since then.
But it's difficult to survey the lean of the district's growing number of registered nonpartisans, and the Omaha-area district often splits its tickets for president and Congress, with Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024 carrying the district as Bacon was reelected.
When Johnson campaigned in 2024 for Bacon, Vargas' team criticized Johnson's loyalty to President Donald Trump, who endorsed Harding in April.
Harding, a commercial real estate broker and past staffer for former Omaha Mayor and U.S. Rep. Hal Daub, had geared up for a GOP nomination fight against former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, but Lindstrom dropped out. Lindstrom left the GOP and is weighing a nonpartisan bid for governor.
Powell, who co-founded the political action committee Women Who Run and owns a communications consulting firm for businesses and nonprofits, won a seven-way Democratic primary that featured two elected officials. She outraised and outspent them all and had more help from outside groups.
Harding said he was pleased to have Johnson's backing and to have the speaker visit the district. Johnson, for his part, has made no bones about his need for the GOP to compete and win as many contested races as possible for him and the party to keep control of the House.
Three seats switching from GOP to Democratic control would flip the House. Polling-based projections have given the CD2 open-seat race a slight Democratic lean, citing the national mood, history of parties in power, the economy and the district's history of being open to both parties.
"In Nebraska and around the country, our message of making life more affordable by growing the economy and making government more accountable by reforming Washington is resonating," Harding said in a statement. "I am honored to have Speaker Johnson join us in Omaha on the campaign trail."
Photos: 2026 Nebraska primary watch parties
Supporters mingle during a primary election watch party for Denise Powell at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is running for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.
A message supporting State Sen. John Cavanaugh is written on the mirror for the Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Jim Begley and Omaha City Council President Danny Begley check the first round of results at the State Sen. John Cavanaugh Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
People check their phones for the first round of results at the State Sen. John Cavanaugh Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Supporters mingle during a primary election watch party for Denise Powell at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is running for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.
Supporters cheer on during a primary election watch party for Denise Powell at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is running for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.
Denise Powell waves to supporters during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. At left is Powell's husband, Hobson Powell.
Denise Powell greets supporters during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh greets his supporters at his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh talks to his supporters at his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh enters his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Tim Conn, left, talks with State Sen. John Cavanaugh as Cavanaugh’s Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh talks to his supporters at his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh talks to his supporters at his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh greets his supporters at his Nebraska primary watch party at Underwood Bar, 4918 Underwood Ave. in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Supporters gather around a laptop with election results for Nebraska's second congressional district during a primary election watch party for Denise Powell at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Hobson Powell cheers on as his wife, Denise Powell, takes the lead in the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district, during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Supporters cheer on as Denise Powell speaks during a primary election watch party at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Powell is poised to win the Democratic primary for Nebraska's second congressional district.
