2022 Midterm Election Resources | OutNebraska

by | Oct 20, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Your Vote is Your Voice!

Now more than ever, your voice is needed to ensure equality for our gay and transgender neighbors. Over the last year, over 300 pieces of anti-gay or anti-trans legislation have been introduced around the country.

Here in our own state, lawmakers and candidates are using LGBTQ+ issues to drive voters on other issues. Your vote is your voice, so make sure to vote on November 8th! 

Find your polling place here. Polls will be open on General Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST and 7 a.m to 7 p.m. MT.

Research Tips

Become an informed voter! When you understand the initiatives and candidates on your ballot, you make informed voting decisions and use your vote more effectively. It can be hard to know where to start, so we’ve broken down some resources for you.

Nonpartisan voter guides (like this one) are presented without bias or preference to parties or candidates. They help you sort through information and often have questionnaires filled out by the candidates.

You can find voter guides from:

You can also do research on candidates and issues by going to their websites. Most candidates have a section on their campaign website about different issues that matter to us and our communities.

Our Voting Guide

To supplement these other voting resources, we have pulled information on candidates for governor, congress, state school board, and the Nebraska legislature and their stances on LGBTQ+ equality. We’ve also linked each of the candidate’s websites below so you can do more research.

Ballot Initiatives

In addition to candidates, we are voting on 2 important ballot initiatives. We support more Nebraskans being able to provide for ourselves and our families, and we oppose any effort to restrict our access to voting.

Let’s break down the ballot initiatives:

Initiative 432

What will it say on the ballot?

A vote “FOR” will amend the Nebraska Constitution to require that, before casting a ballot in any election, a qualified voter shall present valid photographic identification in a manner specified by the Legislature.

A vote ”AGAINST” means the Nebraska Constitution will not be amended in this manner.

Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to require that, before casting a ballot in any election, a qualified voter shall present valid photographic identification in a manner specified by the Legislature?

Voting options

Yes – For the measure (would require the legislature to implement photo ID requirements to vote)

No – Against the measure (would uphold current voting requirements)

To protect our right to vote, VOTE AGAINST Initiative 432.

Initiative 432 only exists to make voting harder for Nebraskans, and unfairly targets marginalized communities like our transgender community, rural voters, elderly Nebraskans, and young people.

We’re concerned the strict voter ID proposed by this initiative – which is stricter than almost every other state – could have a lot of unintended consequences on voting at the polls and voting by mail. The last thing we want is for eligible voters to be denied the right to vote due to a technicality.

We also know Nebraska photo ID also costs money. Either we have to pay it at the election office, or we pay for it as taxpayers. It’s estimated this measure would cost $3 million in the first year, and $1 million every year after that to maintain.

Learn more about how Initiative 432 makes it harder for communities to vote here.

Initiative 433

What will it say on the ballot?

A vote “FOR” will amend the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage for employees to increase the state minimum wage from nine dollars ($9. 00) per hour to ten dollars and fifty cents ($10. 50) per hour on January 1, 2023, to twelve dollars ($12.00) per hour on January 1, 2024, to thirteen dollars and fifty cents ($13.50) per hour on January 1, 2025, and to fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour on January 1, 2026, to be adjusted annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living.

A vote “AGAINST” means the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage for employees will not be amended in such manner.

Shall the Nebraska statute establishing a minimum wage for employees be amended to increase the state minimum wage from nine dollars ($9.00) per hour to ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour on January 1, 2023, to twelve dollars ($12.00) per hour on January 1, 2024, to thirteen dollars and fifty cents ($13.50) per hour on January 1, 2025, and to fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour on January 1, 2026, to be adjusted annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living?

Voting options

Yes – For the measure (would gradually increase Nebraska’s minimum wage and tie future increases to the cost of living)

No – Against the measure (would uphold current minimum wage)

To help Nebraska communities thrive, VOTE FOR Initiative 433

Initiative 433 gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, giving small businesses the time needed to adjust while meeting the needs of Nebraskans. Our communities would directly benefit from better wages, allowing parents to feed their children, families to find and keep housing, and workers to pay medical bills.

Nearly 300 Nebraska businesses have signed their support behind Initiative 433 because they know better wages means more engaged workers and more spending money for customers.

Learn more about how Initiative 433 will benefit our communities here.

Governor

Jim Pillen (R)

 Carol Blood (D)

  • Co-sponsored LR466, which backed a Supreme Court decision banning job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Co-sponsored LB120 to prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Co-sponsored LB321, which would prohibit a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation as a defense to a crime

House of Representatives 

Incumbents noted with an asterisk (*)

1st Congressional District

Mike Flood* (R)

  • Voted against the Respect for Marriage Act
  • Co-sponsored LB963, which would allow medical professionals to refuse to treat anyone for “ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.”
  • Introduced LB1050, which would allow religious student organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students which still receiving university funding and resources.
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Patty Pansing-Brooks (D)

  • Introduced LR466, which backed a Supreme Court decision banning job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Co-sponsored LB120 which would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Co-sponsored LB321, which would prohibit a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation as a defense to a crime
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)

2nd Congressional District

Don Bacon* (R)

 Tony Vargas (D)

  • Co-sponsored LR466, which backed a Supreme Court decision banning job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)

3rd Congressional District

Adrian Smith* (R)

 David Else (D)

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Mark Elworth Jr. (Legal Marijuana Now Party)

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
  • Note: The Library of Congress recognizes his Facebook page as his official campaign website

State Board of Education

Incumbents noted with an asterisk (*)

District 5
Kirk Penner*

 

 Helen Raikes
District 6
Danielle Helzer

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Sherry Jones

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 7
Robin Stevens*

 Elizabeth Tegtmeier

  • No public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 8
Marni Hodgen 

 

 Deborah Neary*

 

State Legislature

Incumbents noted with an asterisk (*)

District 2
Robert Clements*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
  • Co-sponsored LB1077, which would prohibit public schools, public postsecondary institutions, and governmental entities from training or teaching certain concepts relating to race and sex and provide for withholding of state funds
  • Voted against funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Sarah Slattery

  • No public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 4
R. Brad von Gillern

  • No public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek

  • No public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 6
Machaela Cavanaugh*

  • Co-sponsored LB229, which would provide for enhanced penalties and a civil action for crimes committed because of a victim’s gender identity or association with a person of a certain gender identity
  • Co-sponsored LB230, which would prohibit discrimination in public accommodations and under the Nebraska Fair Housing Act on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Co-sponsored LB321, which would prohibit a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation as a defense to a crime
  • Introduced LB745, which would make language around marriage and on marriage forms gender neutral
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Christian Mirch

  • No public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 8
Marilyn Asher

 Megan Hunt*

  • Introduced LB120, which would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Introduced LB229, which would provide for enhanced penalties and a civil action for crimes committed because of a victim’s gender identity or association with a person of a certain gender identity
  • Introduced LB230, which would prohibit discrimination in public accommodations and under the Nebraska Fair Housing Act on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Introduced LB231, which would prohibit conversion therapy
  • Introduced LB232, which would change provisions relating to gender designation on drivers’ licenses and state identification cards
  • Introduced LB517, which would provide for a gender neutral designation on operator’s licenses and state identification cards and provide for amendment of a birth certificate
  • Introduced LB1136, which would adopt the Senior Care LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Act
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
District 10
Wendy DeBoer*

  • Co-sponsored LB120, which would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Co-sponsored LB229, which would provide for enhanced penalties and a civil action for crimes committed because of a victim’s gender identity or association with a person of a certain gender identity
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Lou Ann Goding

  • Supported updating sex education during her tenure as school board president for Omaha Public Schools (1)
  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 12
Robin Richards

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Merv Riepe

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 14
John Arch*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
 Cori Villegas

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 16
Ben Hansen*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
  • Introduced LB1077, which would prohibit public schools, public postsecondary institutions, and governmental entities from training or teaching certain concepts relating to race and sex and provide for withholding of state funds
 Connie Petersen
District 18
Christy Armendariz

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Michael Young

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 20
Stuart Dornan

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 John Fredrickson

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 22
Mike Moser*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
 Roy Zach

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 24
Patrick Hotovy

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Jana Hughes

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 26
Russ Barger

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 George Dungan III

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 28
Roy Christensen 

 Jane Raybould
District 30
Myron Dorn*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Unopposed
District 32
Tom Brandt*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
 Unopposed
District 34
Loren Lippincott 

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Michael Reimers

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 36
Rick Holdcroft 

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Angie Lauritsen

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 38
Tyler Cappel

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Dave Murman*

  • Opposed comprehensive sex education standards (1)(2) proposed by the the State Board of Education
  • Co-sponsored LB1077, which would prohibit public schools, public postsecondary institutions, and governmental entities from training or teaching certain concepts relating to race and sex and provide for withholding of state funds
  • Introduced LB963, which would allow medical professionals to refuse to treat anyone for “ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.”
  • Voted for funding for HIV prevention and PreP (introduced in AM2561 to how Nebraska would spend the American Rescue Plan Act)
District 40
Barry DeKay 

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Keith Kube

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 42
Chris Bruns

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
 Michael Jacobson*

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available
District 44
Teresa Ibach

 Unopposed
District 46
James Michael Bowers 

 Danielle Conrad

  • Introduced LB485, which would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation as prescribed
District 48
Brian Hardin

 Don Lease II

  • No official public stances on LGBTQ+ rights available