OMAHA CITY CHARTER | STATE AMENDMENTS & BALLOT INITIATIVES | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | GOVERNOR | STATE SCHOOL BOARD | STATE SENATE | DOUGLAS COUNTY ATTORNEY | JUDGES
The 2022 midterms are coming up FAST, with issues like reproductive justice, gay and transgender rights, policing, sex education and more all shaping the discourse.
General reminders:
Monday, Nov 7 (Last day to vote early in-person)
Election Day (Nov 8, polls open 8 AM to 8 PM, last day to return early voting ballot to election commission office or drop box location by 8 PM)
Election resources:
Civic Nebraska | Decoding the Ballot
League of Women Voters | Voting Guide
Women Who Run | Endorsements
Planned Parenthood | Endorsements
OutNebraska | LGBTQ+ Voting Guide
The Reader (Oct 2022) | Midterm Election Issue
ON VOTING
As a leftist organization, we don't believe that electoral politics alone will save us. However, many (mostly local) elections offer opportunities to improve our communities and slow down outright harm. We also understand feeling disillusioned with voting at all. Everyone has to make the choice that feels right for them.
The debate rages on, but at the end of the day, someone needs to keep an eye on the boring particulars of local government so that as a community, we can know what we're up against. A vote isn’t a love letter (and neither is this guide!) and should never be the end of your political activity! Turn in your ballot, if that’s the right choice for you, and then make a plan for sustainable community engagement and organizing.
Here are some ideas for building community outside the voting precinct:
Join or support local mutual aid efforts
Donate, share, and help fundraise for community members in need
Support workers who are trying to unionize or striking for better conditions
Support organizations that advocate for BIPOC communities and immigrants
Support organizations that advocate for disability justice
Cop-watch
Support organizations that advocate for incarcerated or system-impacted people (many of whom cannot vote)
Donate to or volunteer at abortion clinics and abortion funds
Show up to and organize rallies, marches, and protests
OMAHA CITY CHARTER
A special shout-out to Dr. Erin Feichhtinger, Scott Blake, and Arjav Rawal (The Reader), whose advocacy and writing helped us navigate these initiatives.
Charter Amendment 1, Councilmember Replacement Vote Measure
Charter Amendment 2, Mayor Disability Measure
Charter Amendment 3, Council President Line of Succession and Meeting Requirement in the Event of an Emergency Measure
Charter Amendment 4, Cash Reserve Fund Increase Measure
Charter Amendment 5, Master Plan to Address Development Measure
STATE AMENDMENTS & BALLOT INITIATIVES
Nebraska Amendment 1, Authorize Local Governments to Develop Commercial Air Travel Service Amendment
Nebraska Initiative 432, Photo Voter Identification Initiative
Nebraska Initiative 433, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
*Incumbent
Note: Candidate positions and stances were sourced from official campaign sites, Vote Smart, the Nebraska Legislature bill search, and voting guides mentioned previously in this article. These are not endorsements, nor is this an exhaustive list of positions, but includes issues that our team knows to be important to Strongly Worded Letters supporters.
Congressional District 1
Mike Flood (R)*
Patty Pansing-Brooks (D)
Congressional District 2
Don Bacon (R)*
Tony Vargas (D)
Congressional District 3
Adrian Smith (R)
David Else (D)
Mark Elworth Jr. (Legal Marijuana Now Party)
GOVERNOR
*Incumbent
Note: Candidate positions and stances were sourced from official campaign sites, Vote Smart, the Nebraska Legislature bill search, and voting guides mentioned previously in this article. These are not endorsements, nor is this an exhaustive list of positions, but includes issues that our team knows to be important to Strongly Worded Letters supporters.
Jim Pillen (R)
Carol Blood (D)
NEBRASKA STATE SCHOOL BOARD
*Incumbent
Note: Candidate positions and stances were sourced from official campaign sites, Vote Smart, the Nebraska Legislature bill search, and voting guides mentioned previously in this article. These are not endorsements, nor is this an exhaustive list of positions, but includes issues that our team knows to be important to Strongly Worded Letters supporters.
District 5
Kirk Penner* (appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts)
Helen Raikes
District 6
Danielle Helzer
Sherry Jones
District 7
Robin Stevens
Elizabeth Tegtmeier
District 8
Marni Hodgen
Deborah Neary*
NEBRASKA STATE SENATE
*Incumbent
Note: Candidate positions and stances were sourced from official campaign sites, Vote Smart, the Nebraska Legislature bill search, and voting guides mentioned previously in this article. These are not endorsements, nor is this an exhaustive list of positions, but includes issues that our team knows to be important to Strongly Worded Letters supporters.
District 2
Robert Clements*
Sarah Slattery
District 4
R. Brad von Gillern
Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek
District 6
Machaela Cavanaugh*
Christian Mirch
District 8
Marilyn Asher
Megan Hunt*
District 10
Wendy DeBoer*
Lou Ann Goding
District 12
Robin Richards
Merv Riepe
District 14
John Arch*
Cori Villegas
District 16
Ben Hansen*
Connie Petersen
District 18
Christy Armendariz
Michael Young
District 20
Stuart Dornan
John Fredrickson
District 22
Mike Moser*
Roy Zach
District 24
Patrick Hotovy
Jana Hughes
District 26
Russ Barger
George Dungan III
District 28
Roy Christensen
Jane Raybould
District 30
Myron Dorn*
District 31 (Special Election)
Kathleen Kauth* (Appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts)
Anti-abortion, endorsed by anti-abortion group Nebraska Right to Life, opposed COVID-19 mask mandates
Tim Royers
District 32
Tom Brandt*
District 34
Loren Lippincott
Michael Reimers
District 36
Rick Holdcroft
Angie Lauritsen
District 38
Tyler Cappel
Dave Murman*
District 40
Barry DeKay
Keith Kube
District 42
Chris Bruns
Michael Jacobson*
District 44
Teresa Ibach
District 46
James Michael Bowers
Danielle Conrad
District 48
Brian Hardin
Don Lease II
DOUGLAS COUNTY ATTORNEY
*Incumbent
Note: Candidate positions and stances were sourced from official campaign sites, Vote Smart, the Nebraska Legislature bill search, and voting guides mentioned previously in this article. These are not endorsements, nor is this an exhaustive list of positions, but includes issues that our team knows to be important to Strongly Worded Letters supporters.
Don Kleine* (R)
Dave Pantos (D)
NEBRASKA SUPREME & APPELLATE COURTS
Our limited time and resources kept us from completing this section. However, please check out the resources below:
"Law Student Riley Wilson Explains Voting for Judges in Nebraska" | NOISE (Scroll down to "Voting for Judges." The rest of the info on this article pertains to the 2020 election.)