Read Denise Powell's opening and closing statements from the first CD2 debate

Nebraska 2nd Congressional District candidates Denise Powell and Brinker Harding faced off Sunday on KETV in the first of three scheduled debates this week in a tense race to replace retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. Denise Powell, the Democratic nominee in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, speaks during the first 2nd District debate hosted at KETV's Burlington Station in Omaha on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD kAm#625 9@H !@H6== @A6?65 2?5 4=@D65 E96 7:CDE E6