What does Omaha mayoral election bode for Maine's Second District?

Nebraska Democrat ousts 3-term Republican 56.17% to 43.55%

MOUNT DESERT, May 14, 2025 - The second Congressional districts in Maine and Nebraska are unusual political bellwethers in that they are in the only two states that split their electoral votes.

So when one sneezes, the other says, “Bless you.”

In 2024, the second district in Nebraska re-elected a Republican House member but gave its electoral vote to Kamala Harris, who lost in the other two districts. The opposite happened in Maine’s Second District where Donald Trump won the only electoral vote in New England and “Democrat” Jared Golden was re-elected to the House.

(Nebraska awarded two additional electoral votes to Trump because he won the popular vote in the state.)

Last night, Omaha elected its first black mayor, Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr., who campaigned against a three-term Republican incumbent by tying her to Trump.

“Voters denied Republican Mayor Jean Stothert a fourth term in a race overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s agenda in Washington - the latest test of attitudes in a political battleground,” the Washington Post reported.

The city hasn’t had a Democratic mayor since 2013, when then-incumbent Jim Suttle lost his reelection bid for a second term to Stothert, Omaha’s first female mayor, who has enjoyed comfortable electoral victories since then. Her closest race was in 2017, when she won by just less than 6 points.

But Democrats were hopeful about winning the race and electing Ewing. The city of Omaha and the wider Second Congressional District it is part of have been considered a “blue dot” where Democrats have found success in recent elections, According to The Hill.

Both candidates focused on local issues like jobs, public safety and affordable housing. But the race took on more of a national angle in the final weeks before the election, with Stothert slamming Ewing over transgender issues and Ewing seeking to tie Stothert to Trump.

The race came after a series of other state and local ones that have been viewed in light of the national context of which party may have the upper hand to win the general elections in November and next year’s midterms.

Democrats notched a major victory in a Wisconsin state Supreme Court race last month in which the liberal candidate comfortably defeated her conservative opponent. Democratic candidates in two strongly Republican-leaning House districts in Florida that same night fell short of winning but made both of their races much closer than would normally be expected.

And the party picked up low-key but still major upset wins in a state Senate district in Iowa in January and a state Senate district in Pennsylvania in March.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin congratulated Ewing on his victory. “From coast to coast, from blue to purple to even red states, Democrats are overwhelmingly outperforming Republicans in nearly every election held this year - as voters condemn Republicans’ plot to attack Social Security and health care while hiking prices on working families every chance they get,” he said. “After tonight, vulnerable House Republicans like Don Bacon are on notice.”

Bacon is a moderate Republican representing Nebraska’s 2nd District, whom Democrats have sought to oust in past cycles but have fallen short.

Martin will no doubt turn his attention in 2026 to Maine, where in addition to the state’s two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is facing reelection and the governor’s race is wide open, with Gov. Janet Mills unable to run because of term limits.

State Auditor and former Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said yesterday he's considering seeking the nomination for the House seat occupied by Jared Golden, whose name also has been floated as a possible candidate for the governor’s seat.

Former Republican Governor Paul LePage has declared his candidacy for the Second District House seat, while Secretary of the State Shenna Bellows is running for governor.

The Portland Press Herald quoted Golden as saying, “Matt Dunlap has a small chance of beating me, but zero chance of beating Paul LePage.

Bangor Daily News reported today on how some Democrats are openly talking about dumping Golden.

“Numerous former lawmakers are among those egging him on despite Golden’s solid electoral record in a conservative district,” BDN reported.

“I’m 110 percent behind Matt,” former state Rep. Kevin O’Connell of Brewer, who is also a utility lineman, said Tuesday.

O’Connell noted he supported Golden in past elections and “liked the guy and everything” but then gave a line of criticism that both those on the left and right have echoed on Golden, according to the BDN.

“Where is he on the fence? Hard telling, not knowing, and we don’t know,” O’Connell said, adding he has heard from other Democrats who would support Dunlap over Golden.

“Golden’s voting record and public statements, especially his willingness to work with President Donald Trump and express support for tariffs, have sparked anger from some Democrats, who are eager to see him primaried,” the Press Herald reported. “His mixed voting record could also make it difficult for Golden to win a Democratic primary.”