In a surprise defeat, Republican incumbent Jean Stothert was ousted by Democrat John Ewing Jr. in Omaha’s mayoral race Tuesday, ending Stothert’s bid for an unprecedented fourth term and flipping the largest city in deep red Nebraska.
Ewing, the Douglas County Treasurer and former deputy police chief, built an early lead through strong early voting turnout that continued to grow as Election Day results came in. By 10:15 p.m., his margin had expanded to nearly 11,000 votes, with final results showing Ewing leading 48,693 to 37,758.
“Tonight, we embark on a new chapter,” Ewing told cheering supporters at his downtown Omaha Hilton victory celebration. “Together we will build an Omaha that offers opportunity for the ‘good life’ — to everyone.”
During his victory speech, Ewing pointed out a pastor in the crowd who, along with another minister, had told him about 13 years ago that he would become Omaha’s first Black mayor. “I didn’t know if I truly embraced it at that moment,” he said. “But they said that to me with such conviction, it stuck with me.”
Ewing will be Omaha’s first Democratic mayor since 2013, when Stothert defeated then-incumbent Jim Suttle. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by about 18,900 voters, according to the Douglas County Election Commission.
Stothert struck a proud tone in her concession speech around 9:15 p.m., reflecting on her three terms in office. “Tonight, I’m very proud, grateful and hopeful. Proud of 12 years of success. I’m grateful for your support, your friendship and your trust. And I’m hopeful that the momentum we have created will continue,” she said.
“I called John Ewing and I congratulated him,” Stothert added. “John Ewing is inheriting tonight a great city, and we leave a strong foundation for the city that we all love.”
The race initially focused on local issues like street repairs, public safety, and garbage service, with Ewing promising to deliver better basic city services. He campaigned on building better streets, hiring more police officers, working with neighborhood groups to address root causes of crime, and ensuring all parts of the city benefit from economic growth.
“To ensure that every Omahan has a place to call home,” Ewing said Tuesday night, emphasizing his affordable housing goals.
In the campaign’s final weeks, however, the race took on more national dimensions. Stothert’s ads claimed “Ewing stands with radicals who want to allow boys in girls’ sports,” while Ewing connected Stothert to President Donald Trump, showing them on a split screen and urging voters to “say no to the chaos and elect a mayor who will actually get things done.”
Former Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, who attended Stothert’s election night gathering, attributed the result to demographic shifts. “It’s been moving that way for some period of time,” he said. “The demographics of Omaha are changing.”
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who had endorsed Stothert, expressed disappointment but pledged cooperation. “As governor, I’m going to support the new mayor. That’s what we do in Nebraska. But yes, I’m disappointed. I’m selfish. I wanted her for four more years.”
The election’s turnout was described as “so-so” at around 32% for an off-year city general election, with approximately 7,000 early voting ballots still to be counted.