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OMAHA — House Democrats’ main Super PAC is bringing more money to an already expensive race in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. House Republicans’ Congressional Leadership Fund answered with reservations of its own. And both are happening earlier than usual.
House Majority PAC announced plans Thursday to spend nearly $2.9 million on television and digital advertising reservations, essentially reserving ad time and space ahead of time. In 2024, the group spent about $1.9 million in the Omaha market. In 2022, the PAC spent around $660,000.
The Omaha-area ad buys are part of a larger nationwide effort by the PAC, which is placing $272 million in ad buys for the 2026 cycle.
“HMP’s historic television and digital ad reservations reflect that Democrats are firmly on offense heading into November,” said Mike Smith, HMP president.
Congressional Leadership Fund, the largest House GOP super PAC, announced $2.2 million in Omaha-area ad reservations on Thursday. The GOP House super PAC’s Nebraska investments are part of an overall $153.1 million reservation across 38 media markets.
“Our record fundraising gives us the firepower we need to make a significant first investment to protect our House Majority,” said CLF president Chris Winkelman.
Both groups made the reservations in April, months before many are typically made.
Nebraska’s always-competitive Omaha-area 2nd District is currently seeing a six-way Democratic primary race. Republicans are waiting to find out who GOP Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding will face in November.
The urban, suburban and rural district is the state’s most politically divided and diverse. National pundits view the Nebraska district as a possible pickup for congressional Democrats since Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican, announced last year that he would not seek reelection.
The 2nd District includes all of urban Douglas and rural Saunders Counties and a significant slice of western suburban and rural Sarpy County. The district includes the state’s largest concentration of Democrats and was redistricted to include a larger swath of Republican-leaning rural voters in and around Wahoo.
Early voting has already started. Nebraska’s primary election is May 12. The general election is Nov. 3.
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- 7:39 amEditor’s note: This story has been updated to include the initial ad reservations of the Congressional Leadership Fund and statements from each.
