Transforming government, one candidate at a time.
Women Who Run Nebraska is the only Political Action Committee (PAC) in the Midwest dedicated solely to recruiting, supporting, and forward-thinking women.
Our guiding principles
We champion women who are ready to lead. We stand behind candidates who push for policies that open doors, remove barriers, and help women and girls reach their full potential.
We know some hurdles are higher. While all women face challenges, Black women, Latinas, Native and Indigenous women, trans women, and women with disabilities often face even more. We’re committed to making sure these candidates get the equitable support and resources they deserve to thrive.
We honor the women who make this possible. From the trailblazers who paved the way to the partners working alongside us today, we celebrate their strength and courage. Together we’re building a movement that will last — and creating the future we want to see.
our HISTORY
Denise (L) and Leanne (R) at a Women Who Run Yard Sign Drive-Thru event in 2018.
Denise Blaya Powell and Leanne Prewitt attended the Women’s March in Washington D.C., in January of 2017, and returned to Omaha fired up and determined to do something positive to change things for women and families in Nebraska. Rather than focusing solely on #resisting the administration, we founded Women Who Run Nebraska to make it easier for women to get involved in politics in Nebraska.
What started as letter writing quickly turned into candidate forums and meet and greets. That expanded to candidate training programs, voter outreach events, financial assistance, campaign publicity–basically any and everything we could to support our amazing candidates. Today, the organization provides all of this and more with the addition of She’s Electable Nebraska, LLC providing contract campaign services.
Meet the team
Denise Blaya Powell | Co-Founder and Partner
A Florida native who has proudly called Nebraska home for 15 years, Denise Blaya Powell has worked in community relations and grassroots marketing for more than two decades. As co-founder of Women Who Run NE (WWR), Denise has a passion for connecting candidates and community through trainings, events and volunteer engagement. An active community leader, Denise serves on the Board of Directors for the Common Senses Festival, and the Women’s Center for Advancement, an organization dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and trafficking.
*As of May 1, 2025, Denise has taken a leave of absence from Women Who Run to run for Congress in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District! We are so thrilled for Denise and know this is a significant step forward in her journey to effect change at a broader level.*
Leanne Prewitt | CO-FOUNDER
Leanne Prewitt, co-founder of Women Who Run NE (WWR), brings to the organization her professional experience as creative director for a marketing and design firm. An Omaha-native whose work has taken her to New York and back, Leanne brings that same creative energy to WWR and to the grassroots activities and opportunities the organization provides for candidates and the community. As a leader in the Omaha community, Leanne is actively involved and committed to giving back. In addition to her work with WWR, she has also donated her time and creative talents to her alma mater, Mercy High School, where she serves as a board member and recently led the organization in a complete re-brand.
Jessica Lathrop | Partner
Jessica Lathrop is an Omaha native and the managing partner at She’s Electable, NE LLC. A veteran of Nebraska politics, she has held leadership roles in campaign operations and compliance for numerous state and local campaigns. She previously worked in the Nebraska State Legislature, serving two State Senators, and later served as the Nebraska Political Director for Obama for America in 2008. A graduate of Creighton University, Jessica remains active in her community through volunteer work at her children’s school and sports programs and previously served on a local Foster Care Review Board.
Becky Nelson | Project Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
A lifelong Nebraskan, Becky started her political journey as a volunteer on a friend's State Legislature campaign. After volunteering with Women Who Run for years and working as a government affairs specialist in the private sector, she officially joined our team in 2024. Her favorite thing about working with volunteers is watching people find their power to engage with government.
Allie Berry | Fundraising & Campaign Advisor
Before joining Women Who Run, Allie served as the Campaign Manager for Protect Our Rights, the abortion ballot initiative in Nebraska. Prior to her move to Nebraska, she lived in Virginia, where she managed a House of Delegates race, was the Deputy Campaign Manager for a Virginia Senate special election, and worked as the Deputy Finance Director for the VA-02 congressional race. Allie is eager to leverage her campaign management and fundraising experience to support women across Nebraska!