OMAHA — The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week announced reserving $1 million in television advertising time in Nebraska’s 2nd District U.S. House race.

The group said it had reserved none by this point in the 2022 election cycle, in the first race between Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha.

Bacon beat Vargas that time by about three percentage points in a campaign that was flooded with nearly $11 million in outside spending and more than $7 million in spending by the campaigns.

Already in this year’s rematch, Bacon has raised $3.5 million and Vargas has raised $2.4 million. Both have spent at least $800,000. Each has more than $1.6 million in cash on hand.

$28 million in national ads

The local slice of $28 million in initial DCCC ad reservations indicates the Nebraska race remains a national target despite the district’s slight Republican lean.

The group reserved TV ads for swing-district House candidates in 15 broadcast markets, including Omaha, and digital ads in 21 states, including Nebraska.

It also announced 2nd District digital ad reservations, but did not detail the amount.

Nationally, the group said it set aside $16 million of that $28 million total for TV ads and $12 million for digital to reach voters in some of the most important battleground districts.

DCCC Executive Director Julie Metz said in a statement that the party is trying to target harder-to-reach voters where they are, which is increasingly on their handheld devices.

“The stakes for the House Majority couldn’t be higher,” Merz said. “This approach ensures that we are equipped to effectively elevate the threat of GOP extremism.”