In a spirited address to Omaha Democrats on Friday evening, former President Joe Biden declared, “Tuesday was a good start,” highlighting recent electoral successes for the Democratic Party. The occasion was the Nebraska Democratic Party’s annual Ben Nelson Gala, a key event where Biden discussed the victories in races such as the New York City mayoral contest and the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
Biden, who spent a significant portion of his 30-minute speech critiquing President Donald Trump and his policy decisions, emphasized the resurgence of the Democratic Party. “The Democratic Party’s back. That’s not hyperbole,” he asserted. He also touched on the importance of upcoming elections, including those in Omaha and the broader Nebraska area in November 2026.
“You have an election coming up soon, an open seat for Congress right here in Omaha, statewide races up and down the ballot,” Biden stated. “Folks, we can’t be afraid to dream big, not small. We’re getting back up in Nebraska and all America in 2026, so Democrats, let’s get up. Get up. Get up. It’s about to change again.”
This appearance marked a rare public engagement for the 46th president, who has mostly avoided the public eye while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. His presence at the gala was largely credited to Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, who highlighted Biden’s longstanding connection with the state party. Kleeb, also the Democratic National Committee’s Vice Chair, played a pivotal role in securing Biden’s attendance.
“At first, President Biden wasn’t really traveling and doing a lot of political events, but we made the strong case, and I’ve made the case to other state parties that President Biden gave 60 years to public service and to our party, and that he is deeply loved by the base of our party,” Kleeb remarked.
Precious McKesson, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, served as an elector for Biden in the 2020 election, thanks to Nebraska’s unique electoral vote allocation system, which saw Biden winning the Omaha-centric 2nd Congressional District.
The gala’s speaker lineup featured notable Democrats, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, known for his role during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The event’s theme, “Diverse, Strong and Ready,” underscored the Nebraska Democrats’ commitment to inclusivity across racial, geographic, and ideological lines.
“We really wanted to start making sure that the message is very clear to voters that you can be a progressive or a moderate and be very much welcomed in our party,” Kleeb explained. She contrasted this inclusivity with the Republican Party’s more rigid alignment with Trump, citing the example of Don Bacon, a Republican Congressman from Nebraska’s 2nd District who was censured by the Sarpy County GOP in 2024.
Bacon, who was criticized for his stances on spending, immigration, and social issues, announced his retirement from Congress earlier this year.
Despite the recent electoral triumphs, Kleeb noted that the momentum for Democrats began months earlier in Nebraska. “The blue tsunami that happened on Tuesday started in May of 2025 in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska,” she stated. This wave saw Democrat John Ewing Jr. defeating the three-term Republican incumbent Jean Stothert and Democrat-affiliated candidates sweeping all three Lincoln city council at-large seats.
