The fight for Nebraska’s 2nd District Congressional seat took center stage Wednesday evening in a live debate between Republican Brinker Harding and Democrat Denise Powell. Each candidate shared their stance on affordability, immigration and the Iran war.
Powell introduced herself as a mom, small-business owner and a daughter of immigrants. Her opening statement leaned into issues of affordability and “Nebraska values.”
“People are struggling with the cost of groceries, of gas, of healthcare, childcare, and they no longer trust the government in D.C. to help them,” Powell said. “Nebraskans deserve better, and I am so honored to have a shot at representing the state in D.C.”
Harding, a commercial Realtor, spoke to his experience on the Omaha City Council, where he currently serves as vice president. He also focused on issues of affordability and on accountability.
“I’ve lived and worked here, both in the private sector and the public sector, my entire life for the betterment of this community,” Harding said. “I’ve lived, worked, and raised my family here in the second district my entire life, and I’ve helped to grow Omaha.”
Both candidates are competing in a race of national importance. Nebraska’s most politically diverse House district is in the spotlight this year as Democrats look to regain control of the so-called “blue dot.”
Democrats see the retirement of five-term Republican Rep. Don Bacon as a key opportunity to flip a seat as Republicans fight to keep the increasingly Democratic-leaning 2nd Congressional District under GOP control. As of early September, most election prediction models rate the district as leaning Democratic.
Gas prices and Iran war
Addressing the Iran war and subsequent rise in diesel prices, Harding said the war in Iran must be settled as quickly as possible, but only with assurances that Iran will never have access to a nuclear weapon.
“Look, they have been the main sponsor of terror across the world for too long. We have to make sure that we stop that,” Harding said. “They cannot control the Strait of Hormuz.”
Powell said she’s been opposed to the war since the beginning and pointed to its high costs. She argued that it does not make Americans safer.
“We need to get a handle on this,” Powell said. “While I absolutely agree that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, nothing about this conflict or the way this administration is handling it is making America any safer. On the contrary, I think it is putting us at great risk.”
Social Security, Medicaid
Powell said she is in favor of raising the cap on Social Security for earners over $400,000 a year.
“This is not the only solution, but it would help make Social Security solvent for the long run,” Powell said. “I’m talking to a lot of people who are genuinely worried, folks who are on Social Security right now and are worried that they might lose it.”
Harding called Social Security “a real issue.” He noted it is anticipated to run out by 2032 and called on lawmakers to make decisions far before then.
“We need to do that now, and there should be no changes to those who are currently receiving the benefits of Social Security,” Harding said.
He alleged Powell’s solution is to raise taxes. Powell pushed back.
“The reason that I was in opposition to the Big Beautiful bill is because it gutted Medicaid and it gutted people’s access to healthcare at a time where everything is getting more expensive,” Powell said, “and now people can get access to the care that they need.”
Harding said that the bill addressed COVID-era subsidies that were expiring and that were benefiting insurance companies.
“There was no incentive for the insurance companies to lower the costs,” Harding said.
Immigration
Powell said the topic of immigration is “personal to her.”
“I do believe that this immigration legal system has not been updated in more than 40 years, and quite frankly, no party has really wanted to touch it,” Powell said.
Harding said that those in the country illegally “committing heinous crimes need to be returned.”
“Under the Biden administration, you know the low end of the estimates, quite honestly, is that there were 11 million illegal immigrants who came over the border, unvetted,” Harding said, “and now we have it’s probably a closer number to 18 million.”
Asked about local partnerships with ICE, Powell said “there are a lot of communities that don’t feel safe right now.” It is important that our communities trust law enforcement officers to protect and serve everybody, she said.
Both candidates shared support for ICE body cameras.