Omaha Mayoral Race Underscores Democrats’ Momentum and Investments in Grassroots Organizing Arrow

Yesterday's victory in Omaha underscores a growing trend of Democratic overperformances in 2o25 as voters reject Republicans' dangerous agenda

Yesterday, Omaha Mayor-elect John Ewing Jr. unseated the longest-serving Republican-aligned incumbent mayor in the country by an overwhelming majority in a referendum against Trump and Republicans' out-of-touch agenda that leaves working families in the dust. This isn't a surprise: In 2025 so far, Democrats have consistently overperformed in elections. The writing is on the wall: Every Republican who bends the knee to Trump and his billionaire friends instead of governing on behalf of the working families they represent will face voters' wrath at the voting booth.

This victory comes on the heels of the DNC's significant investment in Nebraska's Democratic coordinated campaign to mobilize grassroots organizing operations and ensure our partners were reaching every possible voter to bring home this win.

This included:

• Electorally investing in the Nebraska Democratic coordinated campaign
• Mobilizing our grassroots organizing operation to:

• Recruit volunteers to phone banks until Election Day.
• Send GOTV texts until Election Day.
• Help the Nebraska Democratic coordinated campaign with in-person recruitment to events in the lead up to the election.

• Recently, the DNC announced it's investing more money monthly into Nebraska than ever before, with the Nebraska Democratic Party receiving $22,500 a month, including receiving $5,000 a month through the DNC's Red State Fund.
• During the 2023-2024 cycle, the DNC invested over $1.7 million into the Nebraska Democratic Party to turbocharge on-the-ground organizing operations, beef up staffing, and build infrastructure within the Party.
  

As Democrats continue to overperform in elections, we are meeting the momentum by delivering on our mission to organize everywhere and compete everywhere.

DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

"Last night's history-making victory in Omaha is proof of this DNC's new approach: that when Democrats invest everywhere, we can win anywhere. Elections are decided in the states and thanks to the incredible work of Chair Jane Kleeb, the Nebraska Democratic Party, and the coordinated campaign on the ground, the longest-serving Republican-aligned mayor was defeated. This is exactly why the DNC is putting our money where our mouth is to support our state parties and give them the tools and resources to win tough races across the country. Momentum is on our side."

Yesterday, John Ewing Jr. made history in Nebraska, becoming the first Black mayor of Omaha and the first Democrat to secure the mayoral seat in over a decade.

Washington Post: "Democrats pull off an upset in Nebraska, electing Omaha's first Black mayor"

"John Ewing Jr. was elected Omaha's first Black mayor on Tuesday, defeating the city's three-term Republican mayor, Jean Stothert, in a race where Democrats sought to tie her to President Donald Trump's unpopular agenda - another warning sign for Republicans in a critical battleground area."

Nebraska Examiner: "Frustration over streets, a streetcar and seeing the same mayor for three terms showed at the ballot box Tuesday as politically divided Omaha voters sent Republican Mayor Jean Stothert into retirement in lieu of a fourth term.

"They elected Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr., the Democrat in charge of the offices where people pay their local car taxes who pledged a City Hall focused on providing better basic city services."

Associated Press: "Stothert was trailing by nearly 5,000 votes in early returns Tuesday night."

Democrats are overperforming in elections across the country.

KOLN: "Although Lincoln's city election is officially nonpartisan, Democratic leaders are declaring victory after several registered Democrats appeared to win key races, including seats on the City Council, Lincoln Public Schools Board, and Airport Authority."

Iowa Capital Dispatch: "Democrat Angelina Ramirez said Wednesday her victory in the Iowa House District 78 special election shows growing discontent among Iowa voters with Republican control in both the state and federal government."

Newsweek: "Democrat Flips Florida County That Donald Trump Won by 19 Points"

Orlando Sentinel: "But Tuesday's results showed a nearly 20-point swing towards Democrats compared to last year, a change that echoes similar shifts in recent special elections, including a state Senate win by a Democrat last week in a heavily red seat in Pennsylvania.

"Tuesday's special election for congressional District 1 in the Panhandle saw a similar swing, with Republican CFO Jimmy Patronis defeating Democrat Gay Valimont by about 14 points in a seat Matt Gaetz won by 32 points last year."

CNN: "Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a stretch of Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, scoring an upset in a territory that a Democrat hasn't represented in the chamber for 136 years."

Wisconsin Examiner: "Wisconsin voters elect Susan Crawford in rebuke of Trump, Musk"

"Dane County Judge Susan Crawford was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Tuesday, solidifying liberal control of the body until 2028 and marking a sharp rebuke by the state's voters of the policies of President Donald Trump and the financial might of his most prominent adviser, Elon Musk.

"Crawford rode massive turnout in Dane and Milwaukee counties and outperformed Kamala Harris' effort last year in a number of other parts of the state to defeat her opponent, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel by about 10 points."

NBC News: "In 16 special state legislative and congressional elections held so far this year, Democrats have bettered their margin of victory or defeat compared to the 2024 Trump-Harris battle by an average of about 11.5 points."