Poll Shows Cavanaugh With Support of 43% of Primary Voters, a Commanding Lead in the Race for NE-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2025
Poll Shows John Cavanaugh With the Support of 43% of Primary Voters, a Growing and Commanding Lead in the Race for NE-02
Cavanaugh leads the next closest candidate by 28 points and has more support than all other candidates combined. The primary is on May 12.
Omaha, NE – A poll of 600 likely 2026 Democratic primary voters, conducted January 8-12, 2026, shows John Cavanaugh strengthening his already-dominant position in the race for the open seat in Nebraska’s 2nd District. Read the full survey memo HERE.
A survey first done in July showed Cavanaugh with 36% of the vote. John is the only candidate who has made significant movement with voters since then, with the support of 43% of likely voters.
In order to better understand how this race is likely to unfold as voters become more engaged and candidates begin to invest in paid communications to introduce themselves to voters, the survey tested balanced positive profiles for each of the five candidates tested, reflecting their own messaging to this point in the race. Cavanaugh’s support rises after this exercise to 47 percent while his lead grows to 29 points over his nearest opponent.
Cavanaugh’s gains after balanced messaging provide conclusive evidence that other candidates’ proclamations that the race will magically close once they get their message out are little more than wishful thinking – especially given the fact that Cavanaugh decisively outraised all other candidates in the last quarter of 2025.
In early January, Cavanaugh announced that his campaign will report raising more than $345,000 in the fourth fundraising quarter of the year, which covers October through December. Cavanaugh entered 2026 with nearly $400,000 cash on hand, 97% of which can be used in the primary election and is not reserved for the general election.
Cavanaugh said: “Whether I’m knocking on doors, at a community event, or just meeting voters while I’m out grocery shopping, I hear from Nebraskans who are looking for a Representative who can effectively lower costs and stand up to Trump and MAGA Republicans when they cheat and steal from Nebraska’s taxpayers. I’m glad our message is resonating and reaching people. I look forward to continuing to earn the trust and support of Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike. Our campaign has the momentum needed not just to win in May, but to finally flip this seat blue in November.”
Cavanaugh’s campaign is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 1483, IBEW 763, the UA Steamfitters & Plumber Local Union 464, the Machinists, which includes IAM Locals 31, 180, 602, 612, and 1569, along with District 8 and District 19, AFSCME, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Trainmen Nebraska State Legislative Board.
His long list of endorsers includes former Nebraska Governors and Senators Ben Nelson and Bob Kerrey, former Omaha Mayors Jim Suttle and Mike Fahey, and State Senators Terrell McKinney, Ashlei Spivey, George Dungan, Danielle Conrad, Victor Rountree, Dan Quick, and Machaela Cavanaugh.
Cavanaugh also has the support of Congressman Jamie Raskin, Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. He is endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Media Contact
Katie Bartizal