Disabled protesters removed from House committee hearing
Disabled demonstrators protesting a Republican proposal to cut benefits were forced to leave a House committee hearing and arrested.
Omaha elected its first Black mayor, John Ewing Jr., ousting three-term Republican Mayor Jean Stothert in a race that is attracting attention far beyond city limits.
Stothert conceded the race late Tuesday night, ending over a decade of Republican leadership in a blue-leaning area of an otherwise solidly red state of Nebraska. Though an officially nonpartisan race, the Democrat-Republican matchup took on heavily partisan tones at the tail end, acting as a possible bellwether for 2026 midterm elections.
“Tonight, we embark on a new chapter,” Ewing said in an acceptance speech Tuesday. “I am deeply honored and humbled to stand before you today as your mayor-elect.”
Stothert said in her concession speech Tuesday night she called Ewing to offer her congratulations.
Ewing is Douglas County Treasurer and a former police officer, minister, and adjunct professor. He will become the first Black mayor of the state’s largest city, which is home to nearly a quarter of all Nebraskans. Stothert was the first woman to lead Omaha upon her 2013 election to the office.
In the last leg of the race, attacks between the two candidates deviated from concerns over traffic, crime, and other local policies to incorporate divisive national issues. Ewing criticized Stothert’s support for President Donald Trump and turning the local race into a referendum on the national Republican platform. The Republican mayor responded with ads criticizing Ewing’s for supporting transgender athletes and gender-affirming care for minors.
Political climate in Omaha
The capital city itself is politically mixed, with more registered Democrats than Republicans. Several major national businesses operate out of Omaha, including Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific Railroad and TD Ameritrade.
The city of Omaha and Douglas County make up the 2nd Congressional District, a small “blue dot” on the map in a sea of red. It was an area of intense focus in the 2024 presidential election for this reason, giving Democrats a potential electoral vote in a predominately Republican state.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and on X @KathrynPlmr.