OMAHA — National Democrats are investing some green in helping the Nebraska Democratic Party reach voters in and beyond the purplest congressional district in a red-led state. Nebraska voters in the state’s 2nd Congressional District will face a rematch between Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas, left, and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. (Courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
The Democratic National Committee announced Monday that it will spend $40,000 to fund a political staffer who will work with national, state and local Democrats in Nebraska.
Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said the Nebraska Democrats raised another $40,000 locally to pay the same staffer, who will help them with legislative elections in rural Nebraska.
“We now have enough resources to hire somebody full-time and make sure that they have resources to do organizing,” she said.
Advertisement
Rebuilding a blue party in red states
It is the latest step in a multi-year process of the DNC trying to help rebuild the party in rural states. This cycle alone, the DNC has spent more than $510,000 in Nebraska.
Kleeb has spent much of her seven-year tenure trying to persuade the national party to increase its annual support for state parties. Spending is up 25% since January 2021.
DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison has described this push as a 50-state strategy, fighting back against single-party GOP rule in largely rural states.
“Today’s announced investment in the Nebraska State Democratic Party shows that priority in action,” he said in a statement to the Nebraska Examiner.
“Nebraska Democrats have fought tirelessly to better the lives of Nebraskans and defend against Trump and Republicans’ extreme agenda,” Harrison said.
Advertisement
Helping in 2nd District and rural races
Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb, at left, addresses a crowd of more than 40 Democrats gathered to hear second gentleman Doug Emhoff speak. To her right is 1st District Democratic House candidate State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
Much of the staffer’s time will be spent helping Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas in his Omaha-based 2nd District House race against Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon.
The new political organizer will work to help turn out Democratic voters in local and state races, particularly in rural races with Democrats down the ballot, the Democrats said.
The staffer also will help President Joe Biden’s bid against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to win back the single Electoral College vote that Biden won in 2020.
Nebraska, like Maine, awards an electoral vote to the winner of the presidential popular vote in each of its congressional districts. The statewide winner receives two more.
Republicans in the state’s officially nonpartisan Legislature want to shift Nebraska’s method of awarding those votes to winner-take-all, which would benefit Trump. President Joe Biden seen speaking from the White House on Feb. 8, 2024. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Democratic state lawmakers in Maine have said if Nebraska does make that change, they might cancel out the action by doing the same thing, which would benefit Biden.
A spokeswoman for the Nebraska Republican Party said Sunday that the Republican National Committee had not funded a Nebraska campaign staffer but that it could.
Advertisement
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns have started adding staff in the state as well.
The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.
Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.
The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.
According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.
The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Advertisement
NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.
This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.
Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)
KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.
They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.
Advertisement
The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.
“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”
Students representing UNK include: Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano Minden – Evan Porter, percussion Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute
