OMAHA — Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding leads Republican and overall fundraising in the latest quarter of the race to represent Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House.

The two-man GOP primary between Harding and former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha will decide which candidate tries to hold the Omaha-based seat that retiring GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon won five times.

Harding raised $561,527 in the third quarter, which ended in September. Lindstrom brought in $286,958. Lindstrom’s leadership PAC, Cornhusker Conservatives PAC, raised another $123,980 — though such PACs are typically used to support other campaigns.

Harding said his “patriotic and optimistic message of making America’s next 250 years more like its Heartland is resonating.” Harding has a cash on hand advantage of $437,830 compared to Lindstrom’s $276,120.

Harding has spent the most, $123,697, much of it on event sponsorships, campaign apparel, fundraising, social media and campaign consulting. Lindstrom spent $10,838 in the third quarter, mainly on campaign consulting. 

The spending hints at the race’s current dynamic. Harding is working on branding himself to GOP voters who might not know his city work, posting videos of himself reacting to national and local political developments on social media.

Lindstrom has leaned into name ID groundwork he laid as a candidate for governor in 2022 and as a two-term state lawmaker in suburban Omaha, Lindstrom has attended local GOP events across the district.

Andy Finzer, Lindstrom’s campaign manager, said the campaign feels confident that Lindstrom will win the primary.

“While others talk about cutting taxes, reducing government and delivering results for Nebraska families, Brett has actually done it,” Finzer said.

The 2nd District is the state’s most politically divided and diverse, with all of urban Douglas and rural Saunders Counties and a slice of suburban western Sarpy County. Political observers view the seat as a possible Democratic pickup in next year’s midterms, but national and local Republican operatives see a path to victory.

A crowded field of Democrats is competing to represent the party in November 2026. The list includes State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades and business owner Denise Powell, as well as Navy veteran Kishla Askins, former congressional staffer James Leuschen and Evangelos Argyrakis.

While Harding led third-quarter fundraising, Powell has raised the most of any candidate to date.

The GOP primary is May 12.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/29/brinker-harding-leads-brett-lind...