OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Polls close at 8 p.m. for the Omaha city elections. KMTV has reporters covering the big races Tuesday night.
JOHN EWING JR. TO BE OMAHA'S NEXT MAYOR
10:12 PM Ben Gray concedes in race to represent Omaha City Council District 2. LaVonya Goodwin is expected to win the seat.
9:55 PM Gov. Jim Pillen speaks after Mayor Jean Stothert concedes the race
9:48 PM
At least 82,179 people voted in the city-wide elections.
9:25 PM
Mayor Jean Stothert concedes the race to challenger John Ewing, Jr.
Hannah McIlree with Tony Vargas at Ewing campaign party
8:45 PM Molly Hudson live at the Stothert campaign watch party
8:30 PM Three city council members expected to win re-election. Molly Hudson is at the watch party for Mayor Jean Stothert and local Republicans.
7:45 PM Melissa Wright at the watch party for LaVonya Goodwin, who is running for the District 2 city council seat.
7:30 PM Hannah McIlree at the Ewing Campaign watch party:
EWING CAMPAIGN 6 p.m. :
HANNAH MCILREE: John Ewing's watch party kicked off minutes ago, supporters got here at blank to help set up for what they hope will be a successful night. Attendees are slowly coming in.
I spoke Ewing. He tells me all day long, dedicated supporters have been door knocking and making calls
I also asked Ewing how he’s feeling, as we’re now two hours from polls closing. He told me he’s maintaining keeping calm with wife Vivian by his side.
STOTHERT CAMPAIGN 6 PM:
MOLLY HUDSON: Mary, I'm near 144th and Pacific where the Stothert campaign is making its final push with just two hours left until polls close.
Mayor Jean Stothert says her campaign team has been out waving signs this morning and now again to round out the day. They have also been phone banking and door-knocking, encouraging people to get to the polls and hoping to make her message clear to voters before casting their vote.
"We have a great story to tell; hope the voters see that and want that to continue," said the mayor.
Stothert is hoping for a fourth term as mayor, making history in Omaha. She says she is proud of her campaign, running on her record of progress through her last 12 years as mayor.
Some of the key issues she has focused her campaign around are public safety, jobs, city growth, and the streetcar.
CITY COUNCIL
NORTH OMAHA RACE 6 PM:
MELISSA WRIGHT: I'm Melissa Wright at the Urban League of Nebraska, one of the polling sites for District 2.
I spoke with the campaign team for both candidates, LaVonya Goodwin and Ben Gray, this afternoon. I'm told they wrapped up last-minute campaigning and sign waving this morning and are now getting ready to kick off their watch parties.
Ben Gray and LaVonya Goodwin are the final two candidates in the District 2 City Council race, narrowed down from nine candidates total.
Gray, a former councilman of 12 years, has focused his campaign on economic growth, grocery store access, and tackling homelessness.
Goodwin, known for her work with the North 24th Business District, is focused on neighborhood investment, public safety, and supporting small businesses.
One small business owner on 24th Street told me her main hope, regardless of who wins: "I just hope that whoever does get elected in that position really connects with the businesses that are down here because that is a lack of, as far as I'm concerned."
Gray's watch party is on Ames at his headquarters across from North High.
Goodwin's is at the Downtown Marriott on North 10th.
