By Zach Wendling | Reporter
“I work for everyone, Republicans, Democrats, independents alike. - Brinker Harding, Republican nominee for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
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“I think when voters meet me … they’re like, ‘Oh, she’s a working baseball mom. She’s not some crazy extremist.’” - Denise Powell, Democratic nominee for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
Denise Powell speaking during a campaign event in Omaha on July 20, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
OMAHA — On a hot July day, Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic nominee Denise Powell spoke alongside Rahm Emanuel, local union leaders and Premier-Midwest Beer & Beverage workers on strike to make the case for why the district should elect a Democrat for the first time in a decade.
The official logo for Nebraska’s Legal Marijuana NOW party. (Logo courtesy the party | Nebraska Capitol photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — Legal Marijuana NOW U.S. Senate candidate Mike Marvin announced he can’t put more “energy” into the Senate race because of health issues and endorsed nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
Former state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the Democratic nominee for Nebraska governor, and Humboldt farmer Ben Steffen talk to reporters after Walz announced Steffen as her pick for lieutenant governor on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, on a farm north of Elkhorn. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — Former state Sen. Lynne Walz is calling for universal homestead exemptions, an end to “price gouging,” a temporary gas tax holiday and an annual school-supply sales tax holiday if she’s elected this fall as Nebraska’s first Democratic governor in three decades.
Officials celebrated the launch of Maryland’s legal sports betting market at MGM National Harbor in December 2021 in Oxon Hill, Md. As many states legalize sports betting, officials are increasingly eyeing a certain type of wager known as a prop bet for increased regulation. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for MGM National Harbor)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — Two statewide ballot measures seeking to legalize and regulate online sports betting have qualified to appear before Nebraska voters this November.
Rick Beard and Keenya Barnes, both of Omaha, are the 2026 governor and lieutenant governor candidates for Nebraska governor for the Legal Marijuana NOW party. (Photo courtesy of Beard campaign)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — The Legal Marijuana NOW nominee for Nebraska governor announced Friday the pick of an Omaha Housing Authority commissioner and local community ambassador as his running mate.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s downtown campus. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
EDUCATION
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Foundation announced $532.8 million in private donations, a first for the foundation, during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., left, and registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn will debate at the Nebraska State Fair at a televised debate hosted by News Channel Nebraska. In addition to News Channel Nebraska, reporters from the Nebraska Examiner, Flatwater Free Press and Omaha World-Herald will serve on a panel to ask questions. (Photo courtesy of News Channel Nebraska)
REQUEST FOR QUESTIONS
By Nebraska Examiner staff
Use the form at the link to submit a question intended for Nebraska's U.S. Senate candidates. Your question could be selected to be asked at the Sept. 1 debate. The Nebraska Examiner’s Juan Salinas II will serve on the panel of reporters asking questions.
Demolition work continued where the East Wing once stood at the White House on Dec. 8, 2025. President Donald Trump ordered the 123-year-old East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden leveled to make way for a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Ariana Figueroa
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump can continue building a White House ballroom for now, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday, reversing a federal judge’s order that barred above-ground construction on the grounds of the former East Wing.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled earlier this month that the state of Idaho cannot regulate abortion when a pregnancy threatens a person’s physical or mental health. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador has appealed the decision. (Otto Kitsinger for the Idaho Capital Sun)
ABORTION POLICY
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
A federal court ruling out of Idaho has potential implications for exceptions in abortion bans nationwide and could eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court to decide.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
GOP, Dems appeal to stop other political parties | Juan Salinas II
Advocates of ‘most vulnerable’ call on Pillen to pause funding cuts | By Cind Gonzalez
COMMENTARY
OPINION: Passion for informing brings editor to the Examiner | By Joan von Kampen
OPINION: Debate questions no one asked for | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Republicans appeal regarding overseas voter law | Zach Wendling
Judge allows both new Nebraska political parties on fall ballot | By Juan Salinas II
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