Trump Endorsed
NE-02 Republican nominee?
$70.0K
MAY 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCouncil Member
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationNebraska
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BackgroundOmaha City Council member
EducationUniversity of Kansas
Notable personal detailsBrinker Harding is a Republican candidate for U.S. House in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in the 2026 cycle. He has served on the Omaha City Council representing District 6 since 2017, and has worked in local government and economic development, including as chief of staff and director of economic development to Omaha Mayor Hal Daub from 1995 to 2000. He attended the University of Kansas.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting taxes for working families and small businesses and emphasizes stopping what he calls reckless government spending; highlights a record of reducing property tax levies at the local level. Advocates fiscal discipline and smaller government spending as part of his economic platform.
Healthcare
Brinker Harding emphasizes fiscal restraint in federal programs and frames entitlement spending (Social Security and Medicare) as at-risk from rising debt, pledging to eliminate wasteful spending to protect those programs. As an Omaha city councilmember he supported limiting public-health mandates, joining a 2022 legal challenge to the city’s mask mandate as government overreach. His campaign website does not propose expansions such as a public option or Medicare for All and focuses on reducing federal spending to preserve existing programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and enforcement, including finishing the border wall and deporting criminal undocumented immigrants. Emphasizes enforcing immigration laws and reducing illegal crossings as part of a broader public-safety platform.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate opposes expanding abortion rights and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion. Responses to a voter guide indicate opposition to creating a constitutional or statutory right to abortion and to public funding for providers that perform or refer for abortion services. No explicit campaign statement providing more detail on allowable exceptions or preferred restrictions was found on the campaign site.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports expanding American energy production to reduce dependence on foreign countries and emphasizes lowering gas prices and growing energy-related jobs. As an Omaha City Council member he questioned aspects of the city’s climate consulting contract and urged a phased/ cautious approach to the local climate action plan rather than immediate adoption of all measures.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports law enforcement and prioritizing public safety; emphasizes not defunding police and credits city policing policies with low violent-crime rates. Platform language frames security as a priority and commits to holding criminals accountable while standing with law enforcement.
News
Wil Brinker Harding has become the Republican nominee in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District after running unopposed. He is now set to face Democrat Denise Powell in what is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in 2026. The Omaha-area seat is open because Rep. Don Bacon is retiring, and both parties see it as a key battleground.
Denise Powell wins Democratic primary for top House battleground district in Nebraska
Denise Powell wins Democratic primary in Nebraska’s ‘blue dot’ 2nd District
Sen. Ricketts Wins Neb. GOP Primary; Dem Rival Might Quit
Nebraska's 'blue dot' takes center stage in Democratic House primary
Endorsements
Endorsers of Wil Brinker Harding for NE-02 Republican nominee?
Donald Trump
Public figure
Donald Trump endorsed Brinker Harding in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District race.
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Public figure
Nebraska Farm Bureau endorsed Brinker Harding for the 2nd Congressional District.
Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, and Tom Emmer
Public endorsement
House Republican leaders issued a joint endorsement statement backing Brinker Harding.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls