Fact Check: "John Ewing was inaugurated as the first Black mayor of Omaha on September 19, 2023, after defeating incumbent Jean Stothert in the previous election."
What We Know
John Ewing Jr. was elected as the new mayor of Omaha, defeating the incumbent mayor, Jean Stothert, in the city’s mayoral election. The election took place on May 13, 2025, and Ewing's victory was confirmed with unofficial results showing he received 45,336 votes compared to Stothert's 36,307 votes (KETV NewsWatch 7, Nebraska Public Media). Ewing's election marks a significant milestone as he is recognized as the first Black mayor in Omaha's history (MSN, NBC News).
However, the claim states that Ewing was inaugurated on September 19, 2023, which is incorrect as the election occurred in 2025, and the inauguration would typically follow shortly after the election results are confirmed.
Analysis
The claim contains a factual error regarding the date of the election and the inauguration. John Ewing was indeed elected as the first Black mayor of Omaha, but the election took place on May 13, 2025, not in 2023. The assertion regarding his historic election is supported by multiple reliable sources, including local news outlets and national media (KETV NewsWatch 7, NBC News).
The timeline of events is critical here. The claim's reference to an inauguration on September 19, 2023, is misleading as it conflates the election date with a future event that has not yet occurred. Inaugurations typically follow elections, and given the election date, Ewing's inauguration would not have taken place until after that date, likely in mid-2025.
The sources used to verify this information are credible, including local news organizations and established national outlets, which report on political events and election results. Their coverage of Ewing's election and its significance is consistent and corroborated across various platforms (Nebraska Public Media, Fox News).
Conclusion
The claim that "John Ewing was inaugurated as the first Black mayor of Omaha on September 19, 2023" is Partially True. While it is accurate that John Ewing was elected as the first Black mayor of Omaha, the date of the election and the assertion of an inauguration in 2023 are incorrect. The election took place on May 13, 2025, and any inauguration would logically follow that date.
Sources
- Omaha mayoral race results: John Ewing Jr. wins - KETV NewsWatch 7
- John Ewing Jr. wins Omaha election; becomes city's first Black mayor - MSN
- John Ewing defeats Jean Stothert; will become Omaha's next mayor - KMTV
- John Ewing Jr. elected mayor of Omaha | Nebraska Public Media
- Democratic-aligned candidate defeats Omaha mayor in ... - NBC News
- Omaha elects its first Democrat mayor since 2013 as longtime Republican ... - Fox News
- Democratic candidate John Ewing wins the Omaha mayoral election after ... - Voz
- Ewing's lead grows in latest Omaha election results - Omaha World-Herald