Nebraska Democratic candidate Denise Powell, who is being positioned by her party as key to flipping a competitive House seat, drew attention for suggesting supporters read "fairy smut" to cope with political outcomes. Powell made the remarks in an Instagram video post on Inauguration Day 2025, advising those struggling with the 2024 presidential election results to find joy in personal activities and avoid excessive news consumption.
"Read some fairy smut — I’m super into that right now," Powell said, adding, "but just remember that we’re in it for the long haul, and today is just the start of something that’s going to be one hell of a ride, but we’ve survived it before. We’ll do it again, and we’re just gonna keep showing up."
"Fairy smut" is described as a sub-genre of "Romantasy," which blends romance and fantasy. In this genre, male faerie characters with magical abilities often engage in intimate relationships with human women, featuring explicit sexual encounters and fantastical elements like magical abilities during intimacy. Popular examples cited include "A Court of Thrones and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas and "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros, both of which gained significant traction, particularly on platforms like TikTok. "Fourth Wing" is currently being adapted into a television series for Prime Video.
Powell is running in Nebraska's Second Congressional District, an Omaha-based area known as a "blue dot." This district was one of the few won by Vice President Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, despite being represented by a Republican. The seat is a high-priority target for House Democrats in the 2026 elections, particularly after incumbent Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) announced in June 2025 that he would not seek a sixth term.
The Cook Political Report has rated the contest as "Lean Democrat." Powell won the Democratic primary on May 13, defeating state Sen. John Cavanaugh by approximately 1,400 votes. She is set to face Omaha city councilman Brinker Harding in the general election, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
During her primary campaign, Powell focused on opposing "Donald Trump and MAGA extremists" on issues such as tariffs, health care, and abortion. She has also been a vocal critic of potential Republican efforts to alter Nebraska's unique allocation of a single electoral college vote. Outside groups reportedly spent over $6 million in connection with these issues during the primary.
Powell, who participated in the 2017 Women's March, has made opposition to Trump and his allies a central theme of her campaign.