Excerpt included. Read the full piece by Rachel Adamsen on journalstar.com.
In just a few weeks, Nebraskans will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election while early voting is already underway.
In addition to the presidential race, voters will decide who they want in two U.S. Senate contests, U.S. House seats and six statewide ballot measures addressing issues including abortion policy, paid sick leave, marijuana access and school scholarship funds.
Many voters in the Lincoln metro area also will make choices in races for the Legislature, State Board of Education, local school boards, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, natural resources district boards and the Lancaster County Board.
To help Southeast Nebraska voters and Journal Star readers make informed decisions in the upcoming general election, the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald asked candidates in state and local races to complete candidate biographies and answer questions about issues in their races.
Candidates were limited to 80 words per answer. The answers were edited for spelling and minor grammatical errors.
BALLOT QUESTIONS
Nebraskans will have the opportunity to vote on six ballot issues in November, covering the topics of abortion rights, medical marijuana, paid sick leave and whether the state should pay for private school scholarships.
Because the two abortion measures on the ballot are competing measures — one would expand abortion rights and one would limit it — the Secretary of State has said that whichever receives the most votes will become law.
And while two medical marijuana initiatives appear on the statewide ballot — one would allow doctors to recommend cannabis to their patients, while the other creates a regulatory scheme for medical marijuana in Nebraska — a pending lawsuit seeks to invalidate both initiatives due to signature irregularities on petitions.
Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer is running for reelection against independent Dan Osborn. Her current term expires in January 2025.
6-year term
Deb Fischer
Age: 73
Home: Lincoln
Occupation: Rancher, United States senator
Party: Republican
Elected offices held: Valentine School Board; Nebraska Legislature
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Family: Husband, Bruce; three sons; six grandchildren
Website: debfornebraska.com
Why are you running for office?
I’m running for reelection to the United States Senate to make life better for working families. I want to keep America safe and build a stronger Nebraska for the next generation.
What experiences qualify you for this office?
My husband and I raised our family on our family ranch south of Valentine. I learned the value of hard work and what it takes to take care of a family. Ever since, I’ve been working to make Nebraska a better place to work and live, whether it was on the local school board, in the Nebraska legislature, or in the U.S. Senate.
What is your top priority?
Continuing to care for our all-volunteer military and provide them with the resources they need to perform the vital missions they are given to ensure our national security.
Keeping Nebraska’s farm economy strong. With so many Nebraska jobs tied to agriculture, we need to pass a farm bill that lets our ag economy thrive.
Supporting Nebraska families by making my paid family and medical leave law permanent. You shouldn’t have to choose between earning a living and taking care of loved ones.
What do you see as the top problem facing Nebraskans?
Cost of living: Too many struggle to afford groceries, gas, rent, or child care. I opposed the reckless spending that’s fueled inflation, and I’ll continue to oppose it.
Public safety and national security: It is the primary responsibility of the federal government to protect our homeland. America must be strong abroad, at the border and in our communities.
Transportation and infrastructure: Nebraska’s future depends on good roads, bridges, and airports, clean water and reliable internet.
What role should the federal government play in regulating access to abortion, contraception and fertility treatments?
I believe in the sanctity of innocent human life, and taxpayer money shouldn’t be used for abortions. The Supreme Court was right, morally and legally, to strike down Roe v. Wade, returning the issue to the states.
Raising a family in this country is a beautiful part of the American dream. I strongly support IVF, which has made that dream a reality for millions of Americans, including my extended family.
How should the federal government handle undocumented immigrants already in this country?
I support the deportation of illegal immigrants in the United States, but our first priority should be to stop the flow of illegal immigration before the problem gets even worse. Those here already absolutely should not be given benefits like Social Security. We must secure the border.
Dan Osborn
Age: 46
Home: Omaha
Occupation: Industrial mechanic, steamfitter at Grunwald Mechanical
Party: Independent
Elected offices held: Former president of my Union, BCTGM local 50G
Education: Roncalli Catholic High School
Family: Married to Megan Osborn, three children
Website: osbornforsenate.com
Why are you running for office?
The US Senate is a country club full of millionaires working for billionaires. Nebraskans need a voice that will speak for them. I’m a lifelong independent, and I believe we need to break the two-party doom loop in D.C. if we want anything to change.
What experiences qualify you for this office?
As the leader of my union, I successfully fought to preserve the benefits and jobs of hundreds of my coworkers when our company — in a year of record profits — threatened to take away our health care and cost-of-living adjustment. I built a coalition across party lines, bringing together leaders of both parties and eventually even then-Gov. Ricketts to support our efforts. That’s what I would bring to the Senate — a dedication and ability to work with anyone and everyone to get results.
What is your top priority?
I want to stand up for family farms, small businesses and working families that are struggling to make ends meet. That means addressing inflation and out-of-control government spending. And it means being willing to take on giant corporations and the politicians who let their corporate sponsors write our laws.
What do you see as the top problem facing Nebraskans?
Nebraskans tell me all the time on the campaign trail that the high cost of living is the most pressing problem in their lives. I know what it’s like to work extremely long days only to come home see how much the government is taking away from you, leaving little left to support your family.
What role should the federal government play in regulating access to abortion, contraception and fertility treatments?
My opponent has voted against protecting IVF. I think that’s crazy. So many people rely on IVF to start a family. Honestly, I’m in the middle on abortion. My opponent supports extreme national bans without exemptions for incest or assault. I’m totally opposed to bans like that. But I don’t support late-term abortion, other than in extremely rare cases when the life of the mother is at stake. I think the Roe standard was a good compromise.
How should the federal government handle undocumented immigrants already in this country?
Securing the border is a top priority for me. It’s shameful that our government hasn’t secured its own borders, and politicians in both parties are to blame. Legal immigration helped build this country and is critical to Nebraska’s economy. Illegal immigration creates a pool of cheap labor with no rights and is detrimental to every American worker. I oppose ridiculous plans to mass deport people, and support finding ways for hard-working immigrants already here to legally join our country.
