Nebraska Republicans In Disarray
The Nebraska Republican Party has a history of wild and divisive primary election contests. In the 1998 gubernatorial primary, Representative Jon Christensen ran around the state claiming that he and his fiancee were waiting until marriage to consummate their relationship. Christensen subsequently self destructed when he falsely accused Mike Johanns of being a child pornographer.
The 2012 Senate primary was equally ugly. In the last few days of the campaign, Joe Ricketts funded a TV ad showing dollar bills falling like snowflakes on Jon Bruning. This ad crystallized how Bruning had made millions of dollars on a government salary and knocked him out of the race.
The 2022 gubernatorial primary is equally nasty and weird. UNL Regent Jim Pillen is running a television ad falsely claiming that Democrats hate the police and the U.S.A. Pillen also ran an ad in which he cocked his rifle when he mentioned Joe Biden and Anthony Fauci.
Chuck Herbster’s campaign is even stranger. This Trump endorsed candidate has been credibly accused of sexually assaulting eight women. In all eight instances, there is a witness backing up the charge.
In response to the allegations of sexual assault, Herbster has sued State Senator Julie Slama for libel with the assistance of the Trump legal team. Chuck Herbster better be careful what he wishes for. Trump’s lawyers went 1–61 in the 2020 election litigation and Herbster will have to testify under oath.
In sharp contrast, State Senator Brett Lindstrom is running as a normal person. Nonetheless, Lindstrom is every bit as extreme as his rivals. The Omaha state senator supports a near total abortion ban, which contains no exceptions for the victims of rape and incest. Moreover, Lindstrom’s bill calls for criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortions and could expose physicians to felony charges.
James Carville did an excellent job in diagnosing what’s wrong with today’s GOP: “When you have Moscow Mitch saying, ‘We need more sane people,’ that means you got a lot of really crazy people...They are a weird political party,” he added. “These are people that talk about testicle tanning.”
Despite the dysfunction in the GOP, some Democrats are temporarily switching their registration to Republican to vote for the less insane but still radical Lindstrom. According to Nebraska Public Media and the Nebraska Examiner, approximately 2,000 voters have switched. Veteran political campaign manager and consultant Kevin Cass called it a “Drop in the bucket.”
It’s important that Democrats don’t switch their party registration — even on a temporary basis. Our candidates need your help on May 10.
The Lancaster County Democratic Party posted the following on their Facebook page:
“Nebraska Democrats
Pay ATTENTION:
Below is a Primary Ballot for Democrats. No GOP are listed for Congress or GOVERNOR.
If you switch party to vote for “least harmful” GOP YOU
WILL NOT SEE Carol Blood OR Patty Pansing Brooks names on that GOP BALLOT.
Do you get it that doing this hurts your best candidates?”
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb posted the following on Twitter:
“Dear Dems in Nebraska — please don’t fall for the GOP scam of switching your party to vote for the lesser of the 4 evils in GOP Gov’s race. There are Dem races that need your primary votes to show strength out of primary going into the general. Do not give your power to the GOP. “
Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Carol Blood had a similar message:
“People who are changing parties to pick the “lesser” of the evils can’t vote for me or for our congressional candidates. Those votes make a difference when it comes to like-minded organizations looking to help with funding if it doesn’t look like we can bring folks to the polls.”
Senator Blood made a very important point. There are many critical legislative races across the state. It is very important that the Democratic candidates finish first or a close second. Any candidate who finishes a distant second is frequently written off and can’t raise any money for the general election.
The legislative elections in 2022 are absolutely critical. The Republicans have a path to 33 seats — enough votes to break a filibuster. If the GOP gets a filibuster proof majority, they will wreck the state with their radical agenda. The GOP would try to ban abortions, pass punitive LGBTQ legislation and impose a regressive consumption tax.
Every Republican running for governor is an extremist who wants to turn the clock back in Nebraska. The only candidate offering any real solutions to our problems is State Senator Carol Blood. At a recent candidate forum, Blood said it best: “If you’re unhappy with how things have been the last few decades, if you’re unhappy with the fact that your property taxes are too high, then I’m going to ask you, Why do you keep voting the same way?”
State Senator Carol Blood has the experience to actually tackle Nebraska’s problems. She is the only candidate talking about genuine issues and solutions. If we are going to elect Carol Blood governor, we have to do more than vote for her. We have to contribute both our time and money to her campaign. We can do this! Let’s get it done!