OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln attorney Vince Powers has been selected as the next chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party.

Powers will take over for current party chairman Vic Covalt, who is stepping down when his second term ends in November.

Powers has a long history with the state party, having served the party over the last eight years as a national committeeman. He was selected by party membership during last weekend’s Nebraska Democratic Party state convention over two other candidates — Joe Higgins, a former high school government teacher from Omaha, and Mike Meister, the Democrats’ 2010 gubernatorial candidate and a Scottsbluff attorney.