Update: Another take from RightCheer.com (https://rightcheer.com/jean-stothert-and-the-problem-with-a-fractured-party/).
Omaha has elected Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing for Mayor of Omaha. A lot of people are going to say Democrats are back or the resistance to Trump had something to do with Ewing winning. While this played an element in motivating Democrats to vote, it is not the how and why Ewing beat Stothert
First, the voter turnout was so low, a various number of elements contributed to Stothert’s demise.
Second, the uneven development of the City made people feel left out. Gene Leahy Mall gets millions of improvements, while the Crossroads Mall is a field of dirt. West Omaha roads need improvement, but the City is building a streetcar downtown. Also, the City was using a lot of TIF in eastern parts of Omaha, to the neglect of the rest of the City.
Third, in many ways, Stothert was not seen as conservative, from ever-expanding budgets to questionable stances on DEI, gun rights, and immigration. Doug Kagan’s Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom supported McDonnell. This is why McDonnell rose in the polls. In part, this may be because of factionalism in the GOP but the Omaha Mayoral office is a non-partisan office and this means nonpartisan voters matter. Some have stated Stothert failed to reach out to McDonnell supporters.
Fourth, Stothert also did not do enough town hall meetings to hear the public out. Instead, she seemed to be caught up in “Facebook” politics and developers lobbying for advantage from the Stothert Administration.
Fifth, Stothert's campaign had a lackluster digital campaign. In addition, the campaign did not take the opposition seriously until the primaries were over. From what I can determine, she did not campaign enough in west Omaha.
Fifth, Ewing is just an administrator and just does not garner outrage as a partisan hack. In part because he has been in elected office long enough to know politics, and what he can and cannot do. A treasurer and former policeman gave his resume strong bona fides. Also, normal Democrats don’t upset people. Progressives do and Ewing does not come off as a progressive. Leftist, yes but progressive, no.
Spot on. I would add several others. To me she seemexlije she was talking down to us. Her covid response was abhorrent, the idea of a couple of rubber bands and a coffee filter for a mask was so dumb it's hard to believe and adult thought and said it. If something you can see and feel readily flows through it it's not stopping 1 micron particles. Her gas lighting on prop taxes hurt her badly. People are o to the mil levy game. The street car named disaster was the coup de grace. The idea that is not going to cost taxpayer was an obvious lie. Okay so "omaha" property taxes were not funding it , taking her at her word. It is going to affect t taxes in the future. Mud rate payer are seeing a hit already as mud agreed to delay maintenance to pay for line removal and rerouting. She is a Rockefeller republican and that is not where the party is at today. So voters stayed home. Democrats this time did not field a complete lunatic, thus tge opening to replace her
Good analysis. Very good.