John Ewing Jr., the treasurer of Douglas County, Nevada, has unseated incumbent Republican Mayor Jean Stothert in a significant win for Democrats during President Trump’s second term. Ewing, a former police chief in Omaha, is set to make history as the city’s first Black mayor. Although he is officially an independent, he effectively denied Stothert the chance to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive term.
Omaha has not had a new mayor since 2013, when Jim Satoru, a former producer, lost to Stothert, the city’s first female mayor, during her re-election bid. Stothert maintained a comfortable lead in that election, and her closest contest was in 2017, which she won by just under six points.
Democrats were aiming for this win, particularly as parts of Omaha and the surrounding Second Congressional District have been considered “blue dots” of Democratic success in recent elections.
In the last five presidential elections, Democrats have claimed single district votes three times. Even though they faced challenges in recent years, they remained competitive for the House seats in the district.
Both candidates concentrated on local issues like jobs, public safety, and affordable housing. However, the latter part of the race saw national topics come into play, notably around transgender issues, with Ewing attempting to connect Stothert to Trump.
This race follows a trend of various states and local contests being viewed through a national lens, suggesting possible advantages for the party in the upcoming general elections.
Recently, Democrats celebrated a significant win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where liberal candidates decisively beat conservative ones. Although they fell short in two strongly Republican Florida districts on the same night, they managed to close the gaps more than expected.
The party’s modest resurgence includes important upsets in an Iowa state Senate district and Pennsylvania Senate district earlier this year.
Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, praised Ewing’s victory, asserting that voters are looking for leaders who prioritize working families and that Democrats are gaining ground across various regions.
“Democrats have outperformed Republicans in almost every election this year, from coast to coast, even in red states,” he noted, referring to vulnerable House Republicans like Don Bacon.
Bacon, a moderate representing Nebraska’s second district, has often been targeted by Democrats, though they have yet to unseat him.
Nebraska Democratic Speaker Jane Cleeve stated that Ewing’s win marks a “new era” for both Omaha and the state. She emphasized Ewing’s long-standing commitment to serving the people of Nebraska, concluding that the city’s future looks promising under his leadership. “Tonight, we made historic progress, and our efforts will continue as we look ahead to 2026. Democrats are here to serve the public,” she said.
