Prediction Edge
Democrat
Crystal Rhoades

Crystal Rhoades

Overview

Current roleFormer Commissioner

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyMainstream Democrat

Age48 years old (Mar 17, 1978)

GenderFemale

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LocationNebraska

BackgroundPolitician

EducationUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha — BA, Political Science and Psychology (2004)

Notable personal detailsCrystal Rhoades is an American politician and public administrator from Omaha, Nebraska. She has served as Clerk of the District Court for Douglas County since January 2023 and previously served on the Nebraska Public Service Commission (2015–2023) and the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors (2006–2014). Rhoades ran for the U.S. House in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle.

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Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports tax relief targeted to middle- and working-class families, protecting Social Security, taxing legalized cannabis for revenue, and opposes tax breaks for billionaires while advocating policies to grow wages and reduce costs for households.

Healthcare

Supports expanding government-provided health coverage, endorsing either a public option or Medicare for All and addressing Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement and system waste to expand access and lower costs.

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Immigration & Border

Supports comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship for workers in needed fields, and policies to ensure immigrants are not living in fear and can participate fully (including paying taxes).

Climate & Energy

Supports actions to address climate-related risks to infrastructure and has opposed at least one major oil pipeline route over concerns about flooding, erosion, and impacts to land and water; emphasizes monitoring and preparing for climate impacts while supporting clean-energy–oriented measures at local institutions.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate has expressed support for stricter gun laws and has publicly backed Democratic candidates who favor stronger gun-control measures. Statements indicate she views tighter gun regulations as necessary to protect children and reduce fear about school safety.

News

AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026

Crystal Rhoades is one of the leading Democrats in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District primary, where the party is choosing its nominee for the Omaha-area House seat. The race is competitive and has drawn heavy outside spending, with the winner set to face Republican Brinker Harding in the general election. Recent coverage has focused on the primary’s broader political stakes, including debate over Nebraska’s split Electoral College system and the impact of the nominee choice on the district’s balance.

fec.gov+47

Polls

NE-02 Democratic nominee?
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
15%
39.5%
9.5%
5%
Crystal Rhoades
C. Rhoades
John Cavanaugh
J. Cavanaugh
Denise Powell
D. Powell
Mark Johnston
M. Johnston
Date (Start - End)SpreadRhoadesCavanaughPowellJohnston
Polling Average
Cavanaugh+24.5
15.0%39.5%9.5%5.0%
GBAOJan 8 - 12
Cavanaugh+28.0
15.0%43.0%10.0%
GBAOJul 21 - 23
Cavanaugh+21.0
15.0%36.0%9.0%5.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

Endorsements

NE-02 Democratic nominee?

Endorsers of Crystal Rhoades for NE-02 Democratic nominee?

Nebraska Democratic Party

Political organization

The Nebraska Democratic Party endorsed Crystal Rhoades for her 2026 U.S. House campaign.

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John Ewing

Elected official

Omaha Mayor John Ewing endorsed Crystal Rhoades in Nebraska's 2nd District Democratic congressional primary.

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Fundraising

Latest report: Cycle 2026
Total raisedCash on hand
$182.8K
$137.1K
$91.4K
$45.7K
$0

2026

Latest
Year
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate

Cycle 2026

$182.8K
$112.00
$182.7K
$10.7K

Source: FEC