Nebraska

100 Years Ago, A Nebraska Republican Changed Democracy in His State Forever

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2024

100 Years Ago, A Nebraska Republican Changed Democracy in His State Forever

Editor’s Note: This op-ed, written by Open Primaries Senior Vice President Jeremy Gruber, originally published on The Fulcrum and has been republished on IVN with permission from the publisher. Photo by Nicolas Henderson on Flickr.

With Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s announcement on Sept. 24 that he doesn’t have enough votes to call a special session of the Legislature to change the way the state allocates electoral votes, an effort led by former President Donald Trump to pressure the Legislature officially failed.

Nebraska is one of only two states that award a single Electoral College vote to the winner in each congressional district, plus two votes to the statewide winner of the presidential popular vote. Much has been made — justifiably — of Republican state Sen. Mike McDonnell’s heroic decision to buck enormous political pressure from his party to fall in line, and choosing instead to single-handedly defeat the measure. The origins of the senator’s independence, though, began in a 100-old experiment in democracy reform.

In 1933, after years of rampant corruption, Nebraska’s two-chamber, partisan gridlocked on a series of basic tasks, from tax allocation to the repeal of Prohibition. U.S. Sen. George Norris (R), a Republican, refused to sit idly by as his state faced enormous political and social unrest. He firmly believed partisan politics were detrimental to the democratic process. For him, “men in the legislature, elected on a partisan political platform, are inclined to follow the bidding and the dictates of party machines and party bosses.” Norris himself practiced a brand of practical, can-do politics that demanded he follow his own belief system. For him, partisan politics gets in the way of building any meaningful, lasting change.

So, he led an effort, using his own money, to fundamentally reimagine how Nebraska does politics, by putting a measure on the 1934 ballot to abolish the legislature and replace it with a unicameral body operating with nonpartisan rules and elected on a nonpartisan, open primary ballot. The entire political class of the state and both the Democratic and Republican parties opposed it. The people of Nebraska overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.

This restructuring has generally freed the Legislature from the type of strong-arm partisan politics that pervades political activity in Congress and most state legislatures. With no formal party alignments or caucuses, the Nebraska Legislature operates under a unique political reality that allows coalitions to form issue by issue. Because committee chairs are elected by the members and not partisan leaders, with minority party members regularly holding leadership posts, the Nebraska Legislature is largely a meritocracy.

Perhaps most unique about the Nebraska system is how voters elect state senators. Instead of separate, partisan primaries to select Republican and Democratic nominees, Nebraska utilizes a single, nonpartisan open primary. The primary ballot lists all candidates without partisan affiliation. The top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

That means that senators elected in the Nebraska system are not strictly beholden to their party and its leadership to get elected and stay in office. Senators can define what “left,” “right” and “center” mean — or don’t mean — instead of letting the party define it for them.

That Nebraska legislators are not bound by party dogma is incredibly empowering. It gives them the space to consider new legislative approaches, and to reach out more broadly in crafting policy. It shakes off the mythology and false assumptions of what it means to be a Republican, Democrat or independent. And it allows elected leaders to vote their conscience, and not be forced into supporting narrow party agendas.

That doesn’t mean Nebraska’s elected leaders are free from partisan politics — far from it. And the pressure is particularly acute since statewide offices and Nebraska’s federal delegation operate under typical partisan rules. What it does mean is that they are able to move the people’s business forward despite those challenges. Which is why they’ve made progress on issues ranging from tax reform to immigration, while the state’s congressional representatives — representing the same constituents — have stuck close to their party’s agendas and shown little leadership on the same issues despite their priority among voters.

That bring us to McDonnell, who in opposing the proposed change to how Nebraska counts electoral votes made a clear statement of conviction: “The idea that the coach calls a timeout with two minutes left and says, ‘I want to change the value of the field goal from three points to four, and that’s how I’m going to win,’ it doesn’t ring true, and that’s not part of Nebraska…If the people of Nebraska want to do it two years out and let whoever wants to run for president of the United States know the rules, I think that would be fair.”

It’s a statement that could have just as easily come from Norris himself.

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Nebraska

Belmont forward Orme commits to Nebraska

Published

17 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Belmont forward Orme commits to Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska received its first commitment from the 2026 transfer portal on Thursday. Belmont forward Sam Orme gave his pledge to the Huskers.

Orme is a 6-foot-9 sophomore that emerged as a top portal target earlier in the week. Orme averaged 12.7 points while shooting 55.9 percent from the floor for the Bruins.

Orme joins Nebraska after the most successful season in program history. The Huskers won 28 games and advanced at the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Orme’s commitment comes on the same day that Braden Frager, the 2026 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, re-signed with the Huskers.

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Nebraska volleyball ready to open spring play against Iowa State

Published

12 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska volleyball ready to open spring play against Iowa State

Nebraska volleyball will play in three exhibition matches this spring. The Huskers will open the spring against Iowa State on April 11 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Cornhuskers are hitting the road for all three spring exhibition matches as the John Cook Arena at the Devaney Center has been under construction since late February. The facility is undergoing locker room upgrades and adding roughly 10,000 new seats with cupholders.

Last season, Nebraska finished the season 33-1 and No. 3 in the final AVCA poll. Iowa State ended the season 23-8 and lost to Minnesota in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Cyclones are coached by Christy Johnson-Lynch, who is entering her 22nd year as head volleyball coach. She also played and coached at Nebraska.

She was an All-American for the Huskers in 1994 and 1995. Johnson-Lynch was the starting setter for the 1995 team, which won the school’s first national volleyball championship.

This is the first spring season in which the Huskers will play three exhibition matches. Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly is excited about the potential to play against a different team and in a gym packed with Nebraska fans.

“Not only do we get to play against an opponent, but in front of fans and have that added pressure and a different vibe. I think that’s what this team needs. And when we’re ready for things, we need to continue to push them and not hold them back.”

Following Saturday’s match against Iowa State, the Huskers will play Creighton on Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m. at the D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha. Nebraska ends the spring season with an exhibition match against Northern Colorado on Saturday, April 25, at the Chicoine Center in Chadron, NE.

First serve on Saturday between the Huskers and Cyclones is at 1 p.m. CT from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The game can be seen on the Big Ten Network, and Cornhuskers Wire will have live updates.

LINK: How to watch Nebraska volleyball face Iowa State this Saturday

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

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Nebraska

‘Slap in the face’: Medical cannabis access uncertain in Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

‘Slap in the face’: Medical cannabis access uncertain in Nebraska

More than a year after voters overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis in Nebraska, the state is nowhere near having a functioning program.Some state lawmakers and cannabis advocates say the latest blow landed Tuesday night, when a bill offering protections to healthcare practitioners who recommend medical cannabis faltered on the legislative floor.”If there are no practitioners, there are no patients in this program,” Crista Eggers with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said. “What seems to be the goal of this is to make sure Nebraska never has a functioning program.”The stories of families fighting for a medical cannabis program stack up every day.”His seizures happen all the time. He’s probably he’s having probably hundreds a day,” Dominic Gillen said. “We thought we were the only family. And we’ve come to find out that there are thousands of Nebraskans that are in need of this.”Gillen’s son Will has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. So does Matthew Bronson’s son Teddy. Bronson is a disabled veteran and carries chronic pain with him every day.”I want to take something or use something that will help with the pain, but not impair me to the point where I cannot give aid to my child,” Bronson said.Both families celebrated when Nebraskans overwhelmingly greenlit a medical cannabis program.”That means 71% of the state says, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s try it,’” Bronson said.But they say lawmakers and other state officials hung the program out to dry since 2024.”The legislature has not fulfilled the real intent of the voters,” Gillen said.Sen. John Cavanaugh championed LB933, aiming to protect healthcare practitioners who recommend cannabis, a Schedule 1 substance.”Not a single doctor in Nebraska has made a recommendation because they are afraid that the retribution by the attorney general or other law enforcement against their license,” Cavanaugh said.A number of amendments, including one from Sen. Brian Hardin, throttled the bill on Tuesday night. Hardin called LB933 a “recreational marijuana bill masquerading as a medical marijuana bill” in an interview with KETV on Wednesday.That means practitioners still won’t have legal protections this year, something Cavanaugh said will be chilling to the program facing a critical attorney general.”You cannot have a medical cannabis program if no doctors are able to make a recommendation for their patients,” Cavanaugh said.Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ office said on Wednesday that he is “responsible for ensuring the safety of patients.”” is charged with reviewing complaints as to medical professionals who violate the terms of their licenses,” the statement said. “We take that obligation very seriously, and the office will look at any medical professional who has been alleged to have violated the conditions of their license.”Every other state with a medical-only cannabis program has protections for practitioners. Nebraska”It feels like a slap in the face,” Bronson said. “There’s no nice way of saying it.”Bronson and Gillen said they’ll continue to advocate for what they say is necessary for many Nebraskan patients.But they say they’re uncertain about the future as Nebraska continues to chart its own course. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission has missed deadlines, restricted forms of cannabis patients can use, and capped the total number of plants cultivators can grow to just 1,250. That’s a total of 5,000 hemp plants across the four licensed cultivators.”What I’ve heard from people who want to get licenses, they’re already saying that that won’t be enough,” Gillen said.The Medical Cannabis Commission did not respond for comment on Wednesday. But it will hold its next public meeting next Monday at 1 p.m. in the State Office Building in Lincoln.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

More than a year after voters overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis in Nebraska, the state is nowhere near having a functioning program.

Some state lawmakers and cannabis advocates say the latest blow landed Tuesday night, when a bill offering protections to healthcare practitioners who recommend medical cannabis faltered on the legislative floor.

“If there are no practitioners, there are no patients in this program,” Crista Eggers with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said. “What seems to be the goal of this is to make sure Nebraska never has a functioning program.”

The stories of families fighting for a medical cannabis program stack up every day.

“His seizures happen all the time. He’s probably he’s having probably hundreds a day,” Dominic Gillen said. “We thought we were the only family. And we’ve come to find out that there are thousands of Nebraskans that are in need of this.”

Gillen’s son Will has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. So does Matthew Bronson’s son Teddy. Bronson is a disabled veteran and carries chronic pain with him every day.

“I want to take something or use something that will help with the pain, but not impair me to the point where I cannot give aid to my child,” Bronson said.

Both families celebrated when Nebraskans overwhelmingly greenlit a medical cannabis program.

“That means 71% of the state says, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s try it,’” Bronson said.

But they say lawmakers and other state officials hung the program out to dry since 2024.

“The legislature has not fulfilled the real intent of the voters,” Gillen said.

Sen. John Cavanaugh championed LB933, aiming to protect healthcare practitioners who recommend cannabis, a Schedule 1 substance.

“Not a single doctor in Nebraska has made a recommendation because they are afraid that the retribution by the attorney general or other law enforcement against their license,” Cavanaugh said.

A number of amendments, including one from Sen. Brian Hardin, throttled the bill on Tuesday night. Hardin called LB933 a “recreational marijuana bill masquerading as a medical marijuana bill” in an interview with KETV on Wednesday.

That means practitioners still won’t have legal protections this year, something Cavanaugh said will be chilling to the program facing a critical attorney general.

“You cannot have a medical cannabis program if no doctors are able to make a recommendation for their patients,” Cavanaugh said.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ office said on Wednesday that he is “responsible for ensuring the safety of patients.”

“[The Attorney General] is charged with reviewing complaints as to medical professionals who violate the terms of their licenses,” the statement said. “We take that obligation very seriously, and the office will look at any medical professional who has been alleged to have violated the conditions of their license.”

Every other state with a medical-only cannabis program has protections for practitioners. Nebraska

“It feels like a slap in the face,” Bronson said. “There’s no nice way of saying it.”

Bronson and Gillen said they’ll continue to advocate for what they say is necessary for many Nebraskan patients.

But they say they’re uncertain about the future as Nebraska continues to chart its own course. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission has missed deadlines, restricted forms of cannabis patients can use, and capped the total number of plants cultivators can grow to just 1,250. That’s a total of 5,000 hemp plants across the four licensed cultivators.

“What I’ve heard from people who want to get licenses, they’re already saying that that won’t be enough,” Gillen said.

The Medical Cannabis Commission did not respond for comment on Wednesday. But it will hold its next public meeting next Monday at 1 p.m. in the State Office Building in Lincoln.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

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