Primary Elections – May 12
With one month until Nebraska’s Primary Elections, let’s take a look at the candidates and Carnac the results. In consultation with many undependable sources, and with certain callous intentions, these hermetically sealed prognostications will offend many and identify those who will advance to the November 3 General Election. Note: Libertarians and Green Party candidates are not considered. They never win.
Elections are a good deal like marriages. There’s no accounting for anyone’s taste. Every time we see a bridegroom, we wonder why she ever picked him, and it’s the same with public officials. – Will Rogers
FEDERAL
- President Donald Trump (R) vs. Joe Biden (D) – Duh
- Senator Ben Sasse (R) vs. Daniel Wik (D)
- Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R) vs. Kate Bolz (D)
- Congressman Don Bacon (R) vs. Kara Eastman (D)
- Congressman Adrian Smith (R) vs. Mark Elworth (D)
STATE LEGISLATURE
Twenty-five of the 49 legislative seats are in play this year. While the Unicameral is technically nonpartisan, political affiliations are noted because it matters. In 2020, the Legislature counts 28 Republicans, 18 Democrats, and 1 Independent. The 16 pink races below have significant political implications in November.
- District 1 Senator Julie Slama (R) vs. Janet Palmtag (R)
- District 3 Senator Carol Blood (D) vs. Rick Holdcroft (R)
- District 5 Senator Mike McDonnell (D) vs. Gilbert Ayala (R)
- District 7 Senator Tony Vargas (D) vs. Jorge Sotolongo (R)
- District 9 John Cavanaugh (D) vs. Marque Snow (D)
- District 11 Terrell McKinney (D) vs. Fred Conley (D)
- District 13 Senator Justin Wayne (D)
- District 15 Senator Lynn Walz (D) vs. David Rogers (R)
- District 17 Senator Joni Albrecht (R) vs. Sheryl Lindau (D)
- District 19 Mike Flood (R)
- District 21 Senator Mike Hilgers (R) vs. Brody Weber (D)
- District 23 Senator Bruce Bostelman (R) vs. Helen Raikes (I)
- District 25 Senator Suzanne Geist (R) vs. Stephany Pleasant (D)
- District 27 Senator Anna Wishart (D) vs. Brenda Bickford (R)
- District 29 Jennifer Carter (D) vs. Jacob Campbell (R)
- District 31 Former Senator Rich Pahls (R ) vs. Tim Royers (D)
- District 33 Senator Steve Halloran (R)
- District 35 Senator Dan Quick (D) vs. Former Senator Ray Aguilar (R)
- District 37 Senator John Lowe (R) vs. Mercedes Damratowski (?)
- District 39 Senator Lou Ann Linehan (R) vs. Allison Heimes (D)
- District 41Senator Tom Briese (R)
- District 43 Senator Tom Brewer (R) vs. Tanya Storer (R)
- District 45 Rita Sanders (R) vs. Susan Hester (D)
- District 47 Senator Steve Erdman (R)
- District 49 Senator Andrew La Grone (R) vs. Jen Day (D)
Next week, we will send a full description of the candidates, including mugshots.
Select File
LB803 (Hughes) MONITOR – SPEAKER PRIORITY BILL
- Creates a new promotional checkoff program for pulse crops, including dry peas, lentils, chickpeas or garbanzo beans, faba beans, and lupine. The bill also expands a waiver of a distance limitation for overweight/oversize vehicles transporting crops to include pulse crops.
General File
LB1084 (Kolterman / MONITOR)
- The Nebraska Transformational Project Act would provide $300 million in state funding to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for their NExT Project. Before receiving $300 million, UNMC must show the economic impact to Nebraska is at least $2.7 billion during the planning and construction period and at least $4.9 billion over ten years.
- NExT Project has two components: a state of the art academic medical center facility and a federal all-hazard disaster response military and civilian partnership.
LB1159 (Stinner) SUPPORT
- Extends the initial training period for a noncertified pesticide applicator from 60 to 120 days prior to obtaining an initial commercial or noncommercial applicator license. The bill also authorizes unlimited exam attempts for the noncertified applicator during that training period.
Held In Committee
LB919 (Wayne / MONITOR)
- Hemp cultivator, processor-handler, and broker license and renewal applications shall only be denied if they are incomplete or deficient, including for nonpayment of the required application and registration fees, or if the applicant does not meet minimum qualifications.
LB946 (Briese / MONITOR)
- The bill lowers the sales tax rate and eliminates exemptions on services. Service includes all activities that are engaged in for other persons for a consideration and that involve predominantly the performance of a service as distinguished from selling or leasing tangible personal property.
Failed to Advance
LB974 (Linehan) MONITOR – REVENUE COMMITTEE PRIORITY BILL
- A complex property tax reduction and school funding bill. As amended by AM2433, the bill would reduce property taxes as a significant source of funding for K-12 education. Unless expressly exempt:
- Real property would be valued at 95% of actual value for the tax year 2020, 91% in the tax year 2021, and 86% in 2022 and after that.
- Agricultural and horticultural land would be valued at 65% of actual value in the tax year 2020, for purposes of taxes levied by a school district and 75% of actual value for taxes levied by other political subdivisions.
- Agricultural and horticultural land would be valued at 60% of actual value in the tax year 2021, for purposes of taxes levied by a school district and 75% of actual value for taxes levied by other political subdivisions.
- Agricultural and horticultural land would be valued at 55% of actual value in the tax year 2022, and each tax year after that, for purposes of taxes levied by a school district and 75% of actual value for taxes levied by other