It's hard to find a political insider in Omaha who thinks State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a lifelong Omaha Democrat, isn't running for mayor in 2025. 

And now we have more than just talk, there's a fundraising invitation for this Thursday. And while it doesn't say "McDonnell for Mayor" it might as well.

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Transcript:

It's hard to find a political insider in Omaha who thinks State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a lifelong Omaha Democrat, isn't running for mayor in 2025. 

And now we have more than just talk a fundraising invitation for this Thursday. And while it doesn't say "McDonnell for Mayor" it might as well have.

While it is still 2 1/2 years until the next scheduled city election, News Channel Nebraska has learned that McDonnell is strongly leaning to a May 2024 announcement, the timing no accused coming just as that year's legislative session is wrapping up.

We're told while McDonnell is not 100% in, but is very, very close.

One key question will Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, already serving an unprecedented third term after winning by a landslide's landslide, 66 percent, run for a fourth term.

She hasn't said one way or the other.

Other possibles: Two Omaha City Councilmen: Republican Brinker Harding and Democrat Pete Festersen.

As for McDonnell, he touts working with Republicans in Lincoln, is head of the labor rich Omaha Federation of Labor and a former Omaha Fire Chief.

Among those headlining his fundraiser, philanthropist Mike Yanney and Tony Conner, head of the Omaha Police Union who recently stared in several re-election ads for GOP Congressman Don Bacon.

By the way it was just last year that Conner and the Police Union endorsed a Republican for mayor, Jean Stothert.