COURIER: Mayor-Elect John Ewing Jr: I Just Beat a Three-Term Republican Mayor in Omaha. Don’t Count Us Out.

By John Ewing Jr.

This past week, I won a race that many people thought couldn’t be won. In Omaha, Nebraska—a city that’s often overlooked or written off—I defeated a three-term Republican incumbent to become the next mayor. I didn’t win by avoiding tough issues. I won by facing them head-on and by focusing this campaign on the people of our city.

And let me be clear: This victory wasn’t about one person. It was about a community ready for change and leadership rooted in public service and accountability. For too long, cities like Omaha have been ignored by national political strategists and the media. We’re considered flyover country, not a political battleground. But that kind of thinking is short-sighted. Our communities are engaged, our people are paying attention, and when we run bold, people-first campaigns, voters show up.

People here are tired. Tired of crumbling streets and unaffordable housing. Tired of being told to accept the status quo. Tired of leadership that looks the other way when our communities are hurting.

At the same time, they’re hopeful. They’re hungry for progress, for fairness, for a government that actually listens and delivers.

We ran a campaign focused on respect, safety, and opportunity for everyone. We went to every neighborhood, listened to concerns, and made it clear that no one would be left out of our vision for the future. We talked about affordable housing, improving city services, addressing homelessness with compassion, and building an economy that works for working people.

We didn’t take the bait of divisive politics. When outside groups tried to stir up fear or distract from the real issues, we stayed focused on solutions. That’s the kind of leadership people are craving right now—clear-eyed, steady, and grounded in service.

My background is in public service. I served as a Deputy Chief with the Omaha Police Department for nearly 25 years, and I’ve been the Douglas County Treasurer for more than a decade. It gave voters confidence that I could manage city government effectively and put their needs first. But this victory wasn’t inevitable. It took organizing. It took every single volunteer who knocked on doors, made calls, and spread the word. It took donors who believed in the mission and voters who believed we could do better.

To every pro-democracy leader wondering whether it’s worth stepping up in a so-called “unwinnable” place, do it.

To every organizer working to flip a local office or turn out their community, keep going.

To every voter who feels like their voice doesn’t matter, you are not alone.

Omaha just proved what’s possible. We are not an exception. We are an example of what’s possible when you take a stand and fight for your community.

John Ewing Jr. is the mayor-elect of Omaha, Nebraska. 

Read the original op-ed here.