Elections Intelligence

Nebraska 2nd District

OPEN SEATLean D

Don Bacon (R) has held this seat since 2017 and is not running. Before that: Brad Ashford (D).

Denise Powell Open-seat nominee
93.6¢
Party market · checked 2:09 PM ETView on Kalshi ↗
8.1¢
Brinker Harding Open-seat nominee

FTP Race Signal

FTP Race SignalA composite of market, polling and money. The prediction-market price anchors it; a polling average moves it: the last 30 days, or the three most recent pollsters when fewer polled. Polls paid for by a candidate, party or allied group move 2 points toward the other side and count half. When the three most recent independent pollsters each have the race within three points, it is a Toss-up unless the market is already decisive. Fundraising counts only at a five-to-one gap. Past results are context, not inputs. A rating changes only when the evidence clears the line.

A seat that went Republican by 2 points in 2024 is now priced for the Democrat.

Lean D
Safe DLikely DLean DToss-upLean RLikely RSafe R
Market · Likely DD 93.6¢: traders' price for a Democratic win, a flip from Republican. Polling · Toss-upD+3.8 (SurveyUSA, Sep 13). Prior result · Toss-upR+1.85 in 2024.

Market and polls both favor Powell.

As of October 12.

Market

BandPRICEToss-up50¢ to 65¢Lean65¢ to 82¢Likely82¢ to 95¢Safe95¢ and above
D 93.6¢

Kalshi party market · checked 2:09 PM ET

View market on Kalshi ↗

Polling

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 10Likely10 to 20Safe20 and above
D+3.8
SurveyUSA ↗ A+ Sep 8 to 13 · n=182 LV D+3.8 Independent

The latest poll on file.

Prior result

BandPOINTSToss-up0 to 5Lean5 to 12Likely12 to 25Safe25 and above
R+1.9

Don Bacon (R)

50.9% to 49.1% · 2024 general election

def. Tony Vargas (D). Margin verified against retrieved official results.

Fundraising

BandRATIO TO 1Parity1 to 5Lean5 and above
1.3 to 1

Raised 2025 to 2026 · thru Jun 30

Denise Powell$2.67M ↗$997.4K cash
Brinker Harding$2.03M ↗$1.07M cash

Total receipts in the 2025 to 2026 two-year cycle, through June 30, 2026; Powell leads 1.3 to 1, short of the 5 to 1 at which fundraising takes a place on the spectrum.

The general election is on November 3, which is 22 days away.