The2025 Omaha mayoral election was held on May 13, 2025, to elect themayor ofOmaha, Nebraska. A primary election was held on April 1, in which the two highest-placing candidates advanced to the general election on May 13.[1] Municipal elections in Omaha are officiallynonpartisan.
Incumbent Republican mayorJean Stothert ran for re-election to what would have been a record fourth term in office, but was defeated by DemocratJohn Ewing Jr. Ewing became the first electedAfrican American mayor of Omaha, and the first Democratic mayor to be elected since2009.[2]
Incumbent mayor, RepublicanJean Stothert was re-elected in2021 after defeating R.J. Neary by a margin of 29.62%. The last mayor affiliated with the Democratic Party to be elected wasJim Suttle in2009.
The filing deadline to appear on the ballot was February 28, 2025.[3]
Key issues in the campaign included crime, infrastructure, and affordable housing. Controversies surrounding theOmaha Streetcar project and the usage of Tax Increment Financing have also served as the center of messaging and debates between candidates in the campaign.[11][12]
Controversy arose when an anonymousReddit user posted screenshots of an email exchange betweenNebraska Democratic Party chairJane Kleeb and Mike McDonnell's campaign manager, which showed that Kleeb had sent photos of an anti-Stothert advertisement to McDonnell's campaign several weeks before it was released to the public. Both Democrats in the race, John Ewing and Jasmine Harris, criticized Kleeb's action. Rumors spread that the Nebraska Democratic Party was supporting the Republican McDonnell's candidacy, possibly in exchange for hisvote to preserve Nebraska's split Electoral College vote system. These allegations were denied by McDonnell's campaign and by Nebraska Democratic Party executive directorPrecious McKesson, who affirmed the party's support for Ewing and Harris.[13]
McDonnell also attracted controversy over racially-charged remarks about a city official whom Stothert appointed to work on homelessness, claiming the employee to be "aDEI hire" and suggesting that the employee is responsible for the growing rate of homelessness. Stothert, Ewing, and Harris all criticized McDonnell's comments, with Stothert labelling the comments as sexist and Ewing characterizing the comment as McDonnell "resorting to bullying and intimidation."[14]
Stothert has also been scrutinized over her frequent absences during her tenure, and allegations that she has moved out of the state.[15][16]
The election results garnered national attention for several reasons. With his win, Ewing became the first electedAfrican American mayor of Omaha and the first Democrat to win an Omaha mayoral election since 2009.[43] National analysts tied the race to an increase for support of Democratic candidates nationwide since the election ofDonald Trump in2024, whom Stothert publicly supported in spite of the Omaha-based2nd congressional district of Nebraska providing a vote in the Electoral College forKamala Harris.[44][45][46] Local analysts also noted parallels with the2001 mayoral election, in which then-mayorHal Daub lost to businessmanMike Fahey.[44]
Following the election,Nebraska GovernorJim Pillen blamed lack of turnout from Omaha-area Republicans for Stothert's loss.[47] Other factors cited included the controversial streetcar project and continued dissatisfaction with the condition of local roads, an issue in the 2021 election as well.[44]
^McDonnell endorsed Ewing both in his capacity as the president of the Omaha Federation of Labor and by his own personal recommendation ahead of the union vote, per the article cited.
^Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
City council district results
State legislative district results
Precinct results
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