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Race2026 cycle · Special electionsPrimary day 12 May 2026Updated

Cite this page

DonorAlpha, “Nebraska 2nd District primary 2026”, https://donoralpha.com/races/nebraska-2nd-district-primary-2026?e=c2026&el=special, updated .

Nebraska 2nd District primary 2026

No. 44 of 527 House races in the 2026 cycle

This race is in the 2026 primaries.

The short version

In the 2026 Nebraska 2nd District primary, 22 outside groups spent $5.7M: $3.0M supporting Denise Powell (D), $100K opposing Denise Powell, $301K supporting John Cavanaugh (D) and $2.3M opposing John Cavanaugh.

$5.7M

outside money

supporting Denise Powell (D)
$3.0M
opposing Denise Powell (D)
$100K
supporting John Cavanaugh (D)
$301K
opposing John Cavanaugh (D)
$2.3M

Outside money supporting and opposing each candidate

Both sides on one scale
← OpposingSupporting →

  • Denise Powell Democrat

    $100K
    $3.0M

    $3.0M supporting Denise Powell · $100K opposing Denise Powell

  • Brinker Harding Republican

    $448

    $448 opposing Brinker Harding

  • John Cavanaugh Democrat

    $2.3M
    $301K

    $301K supporting John Cavanaugh · $2.3M opposing John Cavanaugh

The long version

The candidates

What each candidate’s own campaign raised, beside what outside groups spent supporting and opposing them.

  • Denise Powell

    Democrat

    the party’s nominee

    Own campaign raised
    $2.7M
    Outside money supporting
    $3.0M
    Outside money opposing
    $100K
    Denise Powell for Congress

  • Brinker Harding

    Republican

    the party’s nominee

    Own campaign raised
    $1.9M
    Outside money opposing
    $448
    Brinker Harding for Congress

  • John Cavanaugh

    Democrat

    Own campaign raised
    $1.4M
    Outside money supporting
    $301K
    Outside money opposing
    $2.3M
    John Cavanaugh for Congress
  • Campaign money to 30 Jun 2026

Week by week

Outside money each week, supporting and opposing the candidates, all candidates combined.

Week of 11 May 2026

Supporting $34,564Opposing $3,851

Supporting candidatesOpposing candidates

The groups on each side

The biggest outside groups in this race, by what they spent supporting or opposing each candidate.

Spent supporting a candidate

  1. Fight for Nebraska PACsupporting Denise Powell$1.3M
  2. CHC Bold PACsupporting Denise Powell$577K
  3. Bold Americasupporting Denise Powell$419K
  4. Congressional Progressive Caucus PACsupporting John Cavanaugh$287K
  5. Elect Democratic Womensupporting Denise Powell$214K
  6. Edw Action Fundsupporting Denise Powell$199K
  7. Pro-Choice Majority 2026supporting Denise Powell$121K
  8. Women Votesupporting Denise Powell$93,682

Spent opposing a candidate

  1. New Democrat Majorityopposing John Cavanaugh$735K
  2. Fight for Nebraska PACopposing John Cavanaugh$675K
  3. Lead Left PACopposing John Cavanaugh$435K
  4. Edw Action Fundopposing John Cavanaugh$199K
  5. Pro-Choice Majority 2026opposing John Cavanaugh$121K
  6. Progressive Promiseopposing Denise Powell$100K
  7. Women Voteopposing John Cavanaugh$93,682
  8. Youth Save Democracy PACopposing Don Bacon$9,282

Who’s connected to whom

The groups that spent supporting or opposing the candidates.

Their biggest giversGroups that spentCandidatesFight for Nebraska PAC spent $1.3M supporting Denise Powell · $1.3MNew Democrat Majority spent $735K opposing John Cavanaugh · $735KFight for Nebraska PAC spent $675K opposing John Cavanaugh · $675KCHC Bold PAC spent $577K supporting Denise Powell · $577KLead Left PAC spent $435K opposing John Cavanaugh · $435KBold America spent $419K supporting Denise Powell · $419KCongressional Progressive Caucus PAC spent $287K supporting John Cavanaugh · $287KEdw Action Fund spent $199K supporting Denise Powell · $199KEdw Action Fund spent $199K opposing John Cavanaugh · $199KPro-Choice Majority 2026 spent $121K supporting Denise Powell · $121KPro-Choice Majority 2026 spent $121K opposing John Cavanaugh · $121KGlobal Impact Social Welfare Fund (DC) gave $250K to Fight for Nebraska PAC · $250KWestern Futures Fund gave $113K to Fight for Nebraska PAC · $113KOpportunity Forward Alliance (DC) gave $3.4M to New Democrat Majority · $3.4MEffective Governing Coalition gave $2.3M to New Democrat Majority · $2.3MProximo Action gave $2.9M to Bold America · $2.9MDemocrats 2026 gave $1.2M to Bold America · $1.2MEdw Foundation gave $1.8M to Edw Action Fund · $1.8MBattleground Democrats gave $560K to Edw Action Fund · $560KPro-Choice Majority Action (DC) gave $57,000 to Pro-Choice Majority 2026 · $57,000Edw Action Fund gave $47,000 to Pro-Choice Majority 2026 · $47,000Global Impact Social WelfareFund (DC)Global Impact Social Welfare Fund (DC)Company or group · $250KWestern Futures FundWestern Futures FundCompany or group · $113KOpportunity Forward Alliance(DC)Opportunity Forward Alliance (DC)Company or group · $3.4MEffective GoverningCoalitionEffective Governing CoalitionCompany or group · $2.3MProximo ActionProximo ActionCompany or group · $2.9MDemocrats 2026Democrats 2026Company or group · $1.2MEdw FoundationEdw FoundationCompany or group · $1.8MBattleground DemocratsBattleground DemocratsCompany or group · $560KPro-Choice Majority Action(DC)Pro-Choice Majority Action (DC)Company or group · $57,000Edw Action FundEdw Action FundCompany or group · $47,000Fight for Nebraska PACFight for Nebraska PACGroup · $2.0MNew Democrat MajorityNew Democrat MajorityGroup · $735KCHC Bold PACCHC Bold PACGroup · $577KLead Left PACLead Left PACGroup · $435KBold AmericaBold AmericaGroup · $419KEdw Action FundEdw Action FundGroup · $398KCongressional ProgressiveCaucus PACCongressional Progressive Caucus PACGroup · $287KPro-Choice Majority 2026Pro-Choice Majority 2026Group · $242KDenise PowellDenise PowellCandidate · $3.1MJohn CavanaughJohn CavanaughCandidate · $2.6MDon BaconDon BaconCandidate · $9,282Brinker HardingBrinker HardingCandidate · $448
  • Fight for Nebraska PAC spent supporting Denise Powell · $1.3M
  • New Democrat Majority spent opposing John Cavanaugh · $735K
  • Fight for Nebraska PAC spent opposing John Cavanaugh · $675K
  • CHC Bold PAC spent supporting Denise Powell · $577K
  • Lead Left PAC spent opposing John Cavanaugh · $435K
  • Bold America spent supporting Denise Powell · $419K
  • Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC spent supporting John Cavanaugh · $287K
  • Edw Action Fund spent supporting Denise Powell · $199K
  • Edw Action Fund spent opposing John Cavanaugh · $199K
  • Pro-Choice Majority 2026 spent supporting Denise Powell · $121K
  • Pro-Choice Majority 2026 spent opposing John Cavanaugh · $121K
  • Global Impact Social Welfare Fund (DC) gave to Fight for Nebraska PAC · $250K
  • Western Futures Fund gave to Fight for Nebraska PAC · $113K
  • Opportunity Forward Alliance (DC) gave to New Democrat Majority · $3.4M
  • Effective Governing Coalition gave to New Democrat Majority · $2.3M
  • Proximo Action gave to Bold America · $2.9M
  • Democrats 2026 gave to Bold America · $1.2M
  • Edw Foundation gave to Edw Action Fund · $1.8M
  • Battleground Democrats gave to Edw Action Fund · $560K
  • Pro-Choice Majority Action (DC) gave to Pro-Choice Majority 2026 · $57,000
  • Edw Action Fund gave to Pro-Choice Majority 2026 · $47,000
GaveSpent supportingSpent opposingSwipe to see the whole map.

Group

Fight for Nebraska PAC

  • Fight for Nebraska PAC spent $1.3M supporting Denise Powell$1.3M
  • Fight for Nebraska PAC spent $675K opposing John Cavanaugh$675K
  • Global Impact Social Welfare Fund (DC) gave $250K to Fight for Nebraska PAC$250K
  • Western Futures Fund gave $113K to Fight for Nebraska PAC$113K
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