Sunday, May 31, 2026
Vol. VIII
Est. 2019

The Mind Shield

News Ā· Opinion Ā· Politics Ā· Analysis

Democrat defeats incumbent in Omaha mayoral race, ending a decade of Republican leadership.

Democrat defeats incumbent in Omaha mayoral race, ending a decade of Republican leadership.

Omaha made history on Tuesday by electing the city’s first Black mayor and by doing so ended more than a decade of Republican control of Nebraska’s largest city.

Douglas County, Neb., Treasurer John Ewing Jr. (D) ousted Republican Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, the city’s first female mayor who was seeking a record fourth term.

Although the mayor’s office is nonpartisan, the candidates made it clear to voters that Stothert is a Republican and Ewing is a Democrat.

The race initially focused on local issues, but it became nationalized in the final stages as Stothert ran ads criticizing Ewing for supporting transgender athletes and gender-affirming care for minors.

Ewing fired back with ads tying Stothert to Trump, showing the mayor on a split screen with the president and saying, “Let’s say no to the chaos and elect a mayor who will actually get things done,” The Associated Press reports.

At her election night event, Stothert said she called Ewing and conceded in the race, according to KETV.

ā€œI called John Ewing, and I congratulated him,ā€ Stothert said. ā€œJohn Ewing is inheriting tonight a great city, and we leave a strong foundation for the city that we love. We are grateful and we are hopeful.ā€