OMAHA- Democrat Alisha Shelton announced Tuesday that she plans to challenge Republican Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska’s competitive 2nd Congressional District. The district covers all of Douglas County, including Omaha, and western Sarpy County.

“I’m running for Congress because working Nebraskans need good jobs, affordable health care, and higher wages,” Shelton said in a statement. “Growing up, my mom would say, ‘We have to pay attention. When somebody needs us, we have to be there for them.’ That has been my mantra my whole life.” Shelton, a 39-year-old mental health practitioner, was among seven candidates who sought the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Sen. Ben Sasse last year. She received the state Democratic Party’s backing after the winner of the primary lost its support.

Omaha baker Chris Janicek won the nomination, but the state’s Democratic Party pulled its support over explicit comments he made about a staffer. The party’s state central committee then voted to replace him with Shelton, but Janicek never backed out and his name remained on the ballot. Sasse won reelection handily.

Tuesday, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb tweeted her support for Shelton: “We are going to flip” the 2nd Congressional District “... red to blue — and we have a great candidate who announced today.”

Bacon is in his third House term and will seek reelection in 2022, his campaign confirmed Tuesday.

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