Another candidate enters race for 2nd District seat

A former state senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate has announced plans to run for the 2nd District Congressional seat being vacated by Don Bacon.

Brett Lindstrom of Omaha said in a Monday morning social media post that he’ll, “work every day to secure our border, lower the cost of living and protect the Nebraska way of life.”

Lindstrom, who was born in Lincoln and grew up in Omaha, played football as a walk-on at the University of Nebraska. He later served two terms in the state Legislature and finished third behind Jim Pillen and Charles Herbster in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary.

Lindstrom, a financial advisor, describes himself as a “fiscal conservative” and voted numerous times in the Legislature in favor of bills that lowered taxes. But he is also considered to be a moderate on many issues. For example, as a freshman senator in 2015, he voted to repeal the death penalty in the state.

The field for the 2nd District seat is becoming crowded, with Lindstrom being the second Republican to officially announce a run. Omaha City Council President Brinker Harding announced his plans last week the day after Bacon announced he will retire when his term is up in January 2027.

On the Democratic side, State Sen. John Cavanaugh and nonprofit leader and businesswoman Denise Powell have announced plans to run.