A Tale of Two Cities — Lincoln and Omaha Elections
Nebraska’s two largest metropolitan areas just completed their election cycles. In Lincoln, the Democrats won big with the most diverse slate in the history of the city. The results in Omaha were inconclusive and were a bit of a draw — Jean Stothert was re-elected in a landslide and the Democrats maintained a 4–3 majority on the city council. In both cities, the status quo prevailed.
In Nebraska’s capital city, the Democrats began the cycle with the mayor’s office and a 5–2 majority on the city council. The results for the Democrats were a clean sweep of all three city council seats up for grabs. Incumbents Bennie Shobe and Sandra Washington won. In addition, political newcomer Tom Beckius knocked off longtime Republican incumbent Roy Christensen. The Democrats increased their majority on the city council to 6–1.
One factor that made the Lincoln Democrats’ huge win so remarkable and gratifying was the diversity of our ticket. Now that all of the smoke and dust have settled, the Lincoln City Council now consists of three LGBTQ members, two African-Americans and three women. Lincoln is now more than just a blue dot — we’re a rainbow dot.
The Lincoln Democrats’ big victory represented a vote of confidence in Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird’s handling of the covid-19 crisis. Lincoln on a per capita basis has had the fewest corona virus cases in the state and the most vaccinations. The Democrats on the City Council have supported Mayor Gaylor Baird during this crisis — over the partisan obstruction of the Lincoln Republicans, Governor Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska GOP.
Perhaps the biggest mistake the Lincoln Republicans made was that they ran as their true selves — as extremists. Just last December, the Nebraska and Lancaster County GOP tried to recall the mayor and three city council members at the height of the pandemic. If they had ousted these public servants, Lincoln would’ve been without a functioning government for several months.
During the campaign itself, the Lincoln Republicans pandered to the anti-maskers and the anti-vaxxers. What’s more, their anti-LGBT views were widely aired. The results were disastrous for the Lincoln Republicans — they got crushed.
Former Republican City Council member Robin Eschliman contended that: “The Republicans vastly overestimated the number of people opposed to the mask mandate and pandemic restrictions. Candidates in all races, not just the council, who opposed masks or vaccines lost.”
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert went in an entirely different direction in her campaign than did the Lancaster County GOP. Instead, Stothert postured as a moderate and came out in favor of medical marijuana. Stothert even said nice things about Joe Biden! Stothert was rewarded for her moderate positioning with a big re-election victory.
The status quo also prevailed in the Omaha City Council races. The Democrats maintained their 4–3 majority on the city council. As it turned out, Stothert won a lonely landslide and didn’t have any coat tails. Divided government will continue in Omaha and this further cements the river city’s status as purple.
The 2022 election cycle will be here before you know it. The 2022 elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House are now about the continuation of democracy itself. Senator Brian Schatz tweet. If the GOP regains control of the Congress, they will vote to steal the presidential election from Joe Biden.
The 2022 election will also determine whether the right wing of the GOP will wreck the state with ruinous tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Ricketts will be termed out and we will be electing a new governor. In addition, several Democratic and moderate Republican state senators won’t be running for re-election due to term limits. We have our work cut for us in 2022. Let’s get it done! Let’s leave it all out on the field! We can do this!