FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 1, 2026

NE-02 Candidate Denise Powell Caught Lying About Support From an AIPAC-Affiliated Group While Being Funded by Billionaires 

A millionaire, Denise Powell has taken money from at least 22 billionaires, just loaned her campaign $50,000, and was caught lying about support from Trump And MAGA Republican Backed AIPAC-affiliated group.

Omaha, NE - Out of state interest groups are flooding Nebraska’s Second Congressional District with misleading ads. 

Denise Powell’s campaign has taken money from at least 22 billionaires. Among those billionaires are:

• Reid Hoffman: AI billionaire 

• Tench Coxe: AI billionaire

• Simone Coxe: AI billionaire  

• Michael and Sukey Novogratz: Crypto billionaires

• Sue and Steve Mandel: Hedge Fund Manager

• James and Kathryn Murdoch: Murdoch/Fox News Media Empire

• Sebastian Scripps

• Cale and Django Bonderman

• Jennifer Pritzker

• Pat Stryker 

• Seth Klarman

• Josh Bekenstein

• Mark Heising

• Miguel Fernandez

• Michelle Mercer

• Laurie Michaels

• Samantha Holloway

• Anita Bekenstein
  

While some of the money spent against Cavanaugh is not even reported – such as the money American Action Network spent on mail pieces –  at least $3.2 million has been spent against John Cavanaugh, as is laid out at darkmoneydenise.com.

Adding to the deluge of ads, Powell put $50,000 of her own funds into her campaign on April 17th, according to the campaign’s most recent FEC filing. 

In a clear sign of Cavanaugh’s momentum and his support from working Nebraskans, Cavanaugh outraised Powell in the April pre-primary reporting period - raising $104,117 in the first three weeks of April, compared to the $83,693 Powell raised from donors. 

National reporters have taken notice of AIPAC-aligned groups funneling money to support Powell. David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, recently reported “Controversial Pro-Israel PAC Launders Spending Through Another PAC”

Even after thorough reporting has shown Powell is being supported by AIPAC-aligned groups such as the Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), Powell has lied about being supported by them. 

The video of Powell answering a question about DMFI can be found here. Powell is asked about their support at the 1:10:33 minute mark.You can find the clip available for download here.

To summarize, DMFI is spending on behalf of Denise Powell and they are hiding the spending through the New Democrat Majority PAC because Powell has publicly rejected their support. Despite any claims to the contrary, Denise Powell is receiving support from Democratic Majority for Israel. She is also supported by at least 22 billionaires, and is putting her own personal wealth into her campaign.