Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District — the state’s “blue dot” — is threatened by GOP efforts to adopt a winner-take-all electoral system and by possible partisan redistricting. If Democrat John Cavanaugh wins a U.S. House seat, Governor Jim Pillen could appoint his state Senate replacement and potentially secure the votes to strip the district’s separate electoral vote before 2028. Denise Powell, founder of Women Who Run Nebraska, is presented as the Democratic candidate best positioned to flip the seat while protecting the blue dot and defending reproductive rights, education and social safety nets.
Protecting Nebraska’s ‘Blue Dot’: Why Democrats Should Back the Candidate Who Won’t Let It Vanish
Opinion: Nebraska’s lone Democratic-leaning electoral vote — the 2nd Congressional District’s so-called “blue dot” — is in danger. A single state legislative flip could eliminate the district’s separate electoral vote and make the seat safely Republican for years. The choice in this congressional race has consequences that reach beyond one district.
What’s Happening
Nebraska’s electoral system currently awards two electoral votes based on the statewide result and one electoral vote to the winner in each of the state’s three congressional districts. Republicans in the state Legislature have pursued legislation to switch the state to a winner-take-all allocation, which would remove the 2nd District’s separate presidential vote — the “blue dot” that backed Kamala Harris in 2024.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D) is running for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House. If Cavanaugh wins, Governor Jim Pillen (R) would have the authority to appoint his replacement in the state Legislature through 2028 — potentially delivering the extra Republican vote needed to pass a winner-take-all law before the next presidential election.
Recent Votes And Signals
Republicans narrowly failed to pass winner-take-all in April 2025; the measure lost by just two votes. State Sen. Merv Riepe (R), one of the no votes, said the timing explains his opposition:
“Winner-takes-all is not a 2025 issue. It’s an issue for 2028.”Governor Pillen has vowed to press the issue, saying he will "work with allies in the Legislature to get this done in time for the 2028 election." Retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) has acknowledged discussions among national and state Republicans about using redistricting to make Nebraska’s 2nd District reliably Republican.
Why This Matters
Erasing the blue dot would change presidential math and local representation. In a close presidential race, a single electoral vote can matter — a reality underscored by public calls from former President Donald Trump urging Nebraska lawmakers to eliminate the district’s separate vote in 2024. Beyond presidential politics, a Republican-appointed state senator could help tighten abortion restrictions, reshape districts, and alter policy outcomes for Nebraskans.
The Alternative: Denise Powell
Denise Powell, a mother and small-business owner who founded Women Who Run Nebraska after Donald Trump’s first inauguration, is running for the 2nd District. Her organization has supported hundreds of women candidates and worked on statewide ballot measures to protect reproductive rights and public school funding. Powell positions herself as a candidate who can defend the blue dot while advancing priorities such as health care, public education, social safety nets and lower costs for working families.
The Choice Ahead
The decision facing Nebraska Democrats is both strategic and substantive: support a candidate who can flip the congressional seat while preserving the state’s only competitive electoral vote — or risk a long-term loss of Democratic competitiveness and the further nationalization of Nebraska’s politics. With so much at stake, electing a candidate who can both win and protect the integrity of the 2nd District is critical.
Jessica Mackler is the president of EMILY’s List, the organization dedicated to helping women run for office.
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