Nebraska Democrats Nominate Powell for House, Burbank for Senate on Dropout Plan

9 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 13

Denise Powell narrowly won Nebraska Democrats’ six-way primary for the Omaha-based House seat, a top pickup target after Republican Rep. Don Bacon chose not to seek reelection.
More than $5 million in outside spending flooded the race as Powell argued rival John Cavanaugh should stay in the state legislature to help protect Nebraska’s Democratic-leaning “blue dot” electoral vote.
Cindy Burbank also won the Democratic Senate primary after running on a pledge to withdraw and clear the field for independent Dan Osborn against Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
That unusual strategy followed a court fight after Nebraska’s Republican secretary of state removed Burbank from the ballot under a bad-faith candidacy law before a judge reinstated her.
November will test whether Democrats and independents can build a cross-party coalition in deep-red Nebraska, where Republicans make up about half of voters.

Is Nebraska's independent candidate strategy a new blueprint for elections in states dominated by one party?

What does West Virginia’s political shift reveal about the long-term impact of voter registration trends on state power?

When millions in outside money flood a local primary, how does it impact what voters learn about candidates?