By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Ewing’s mayoral victory stemmed from effectively harnessing public discontent with Trump’s presidency, contrasting his opponent’s support for Trump’s 2024 bid. Campaign ads emphasized a rejection of “chaos” and a promise of effective governance. Conversely, Stothert’s campaign faced backlash for employing divisive, anti-trans rhetoric mirroring Trump’s tactics. This strategy, highlighted by a controversial PAC mailer, ultimately proved detrimental to her electoral prospects.
Read the original article here
The Trump effect undeniably played a significant role in the stunning Democratic victory in Omaha, Nebraska, where John Ewing Jr. became the city’s first Black mayor. This upset victory over three-term Republican incumbent Jean Stothert, who significantly outraised Ewing, highlights a growing trend: voters are increasingly rejecting candidates closely aligned with Donald Trump’s agenda.
The success of Ewing’s campaign underscores the power of harnessing public discontent with Trump’s policies. While the mayoral race itself was nonpartisan, Ewing effectively channeled widespread negative sentiment towards the former president, exploiting the lingering consequences of Trump’s time in office. This suggests that the impact of Trump’s presidency continues to resonate, even impacting local elections far removed from national politics.
Many observers see this victory as a potent symbol of resistance to Trumpism. The campaign effectively used a clever tactic, contrasting Stothert’s focus on divisive “culture war” issues, like the debate over transgender athletes in sports, with Ewing’s focus on practical, local concerns such as fixing potholes. This strategy directly countered the Republicans’ attempts to mobilize voters around controversial social issues, successfully shifting the narrative towards concrete local needs.
The win in Omaha carries broader implications. While the immediate impact on Trump’s broader political agenda might seem limited, the victory sends a powerful message. It demonstrates the possibility of winning elections even in traditionally Republican areas by focusing on issues that resonate with voters and effectively countering the Trumpian strategy of divisive cultural warfare.
The election results reveal a significant disconnect between the Republican party’s focus on divisive cultural issues and the concerns of local voters. The success of Ewing’s campaign showcases a winning strategy: connecting with voters on their daily concerns, rather than engaging in abstract, polarizing debates.
However, the celebration of this victory needs a crucial caveat. The inherent shortsightedness and forgetfulness of the electorate, amplified by the relentless stream of disinformation from partisan media outlets, present a significant challenge. While this win represents a powerful repudiation of Trumpism, the long-term effects remain uncertain. The tendency for voters to shift their focus and forget past grievances, particularly within the short election cycle, raises concerns about the sustainability of this momentum.
A crucial element contributing to the Democratic success in this election is the high voter engagement rate among well-educated individuals who tend to lean Democrat. This signifies the power of informed, politically active voters in shaping local election outcomes, especially in off-year elections. However, this pattern shouldn’t be misinterpreted as a guarantee of Democratic success in future presidential elections where less politically active voters often play a more decisive role.
Beyond the tactical success of Ewing’s campaign, the result offers a broader lesson for the Democratic party. The strategy of directly tying Republican opponents to Trump and highlighting the negative impacts of his policies proves remarkably effective. This straightforward approach effectively bypasses the complexities of broader political platforms and directly targets voters’ immediate concerns. Replicating this strategy in future campaigns could yield significant results, particularly in traditionally Republican-leaning areas.
However, it is crucial not to become complacent. This is a localized victory, even if it is a significant one. The ultimate goal remains to push back against Trump’s influence at a national level and to install checks and balances that prevent the erosion of democratic norms. The focus should remain on consistent political engagement at all levels, from local to national, to counter the cyclical nature of voter attention and the persistent threat of disinformation. The challenge for the Democrats now is to capitalize on this momentum, build on the lessons learned from this victory, and translate this local success into a larger-scale movement capable of neutralizing Trump’s enduring influence.