OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - — Democratic hopeful Kara Eastman is again running for Rep. Don Bacon's congressional seat.
She lost by a slim margin in 2018, but is trying again with support from other democrats.
Eastman hosted a town hall at the Slowdown Saturday afternoon with State Representative Pramila Jayapal, who represents Washington's 7th district.
"I'm glad that she's running again because I think that a lot of times (especially people my age) like they don't know who's running," 20-year-old Nora Martin said. "They don't know what they believe in or anything because they're not informed."
In 2018, Eastman was just 2 percentage points from flipping the 2nd congressional district to blue.
"Based on the current state of politics in our country and the current administration we weren't ready to give up," Eastman said. "I wasn't taught to give up and I think we need to continue promoting this idea that we can do politics differently."
Eastman tells 3 News Now she wants people to understand the importance of voting as the primaries approach.
"When people say they feel like their vote doesn't count and I totally get that," Eastman said. "I lost by such a small margin everybody's vote counts and especially in this election the most important election of our lifetimes."
Supporters also heard from Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
"When Kara Eastman joins congress, she will be a valued member and we are about fighting for that opportunity," Jayapal said.
The two both discussed health care and the rising costs of prescription drug prices.
"I meet people everyday who tell me their prescription has changed from one day to the next, that they can't afford their prescription, [and] they're rationing their medication, Eastman said.
One woman in attendance voiced her concerns about Social Security.
"I would like to hear Democrats talk more about social security and what society can do to support seniors who have devoted their life to this country," she said.
"We have a lot of plans for that and just to say that expanding Social Security is not a hard thing ... it is actually not a financially difficult thing to do," Jayapal said.
Martin tells 3 News Now she's looking forward to voting.
"I believe democracy is not a spectator sport," she said. "I want someone to represent me that believes what I believe in and Kara is the real deal she's the full package."
Eastman is running against Ann Ashford, and Gladys Harrison.
The winner of the primary will take on incumbent Don Bacon in November.
