Democrat ousts incumbent Republican in Omaha mayoral race

Douglas County, Neb., Treasurer John Ewing Jr. (D) has ousted incumbent Republican Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert in the latest victory for Democrats during President Trump’s second term, Decision Desk HQ projects. 

Ewing, who is also a former deputy chief of police for Omaha, will become the city's first Black mayor. He denied Stothert a chance at an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office in an election that was officially nonpartisan but featured a Democrat and a Republican facing off against each other. 

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 2nd Congressional District it is part of have been considered a "blue dot" where Democrats have found success in recent elections. 

Democrats have won the district’s single electoral vote in three of the past five presidential elections, and they’ve engaged in competitive races for the district’s House seat despite falling short in recent years. 

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. 

And 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 in a statement, saying voters want leaders who will govern for working families, which is why Democrats like him are winning up and down the ballot. 

“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. 

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a statement that Ewing’s victory represents “a new era” for Omaha and the entire state. 

“As a public servant for 43 years, Mayor-elect Ewing’s commitment to the people of the great state of Nebraska speaks for itself, and I have no doubt that Omaha’s future is bright under his leadership,” she said. “My fellow Nebraskans: We made historic progress tonight, and tomorrow, the hard work continues on as we look to 2026. Democrats are here to do the work for the people.”