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Thanks for wanting to be more involved to protect the queer kid(s) in your life.
Previous week’s emails can be found here:
https://www.rainbowparentsofne.org/blog
U.S. Senate Races
Rainbow Parents will be back to state and local concerns next week, but we wanted to round out our coverage of federal elections by spending a bit of time on the U.S. Senate races. Senate terms are 6 years, and ⅓ of the 100 seats are up for election every two years. This year, Nebraska is in the unusual situation of having two senate races–one regular senate election and one special election. This is because Pete Ricketts was appointed in 2023 to fill Senator Ben Sasse’s term until there could be a special election this fall. That seat will be up for election again on its regular rotation in 2026.
We believe that both Preston Love and Dan Osborn are solid choices to represent our families in the U.S. Senate. We did not officially survey the senate candidates, but have studied their public statements, and/or records. Love and Osborn both believe that the government should stay out of private health care decisions. On the other hand, both incumbents have poor records on LGBTQ+ issues, have continued to oppose same sex marriage, and have spoken in support of laws that discriminate against transgender youth.
Preston Love, Jr. vs. Pete Ricketts
This race is a special election for a two year term. Senator Ricketts is too new to the Senate to have an HRC score, but GLAAD points out that, as Governor, he opposed the Biden Administration’s rules preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. He also stopped the state human growth curriculum’s update to include LGBTQ information. He has not been a friend to the queer community.
Preston Love, Jr. has long been an activist on issues of civil rights, civic participation, education, and community engagement. He is the founder and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization, the Black Votes Matter Institute of Community Engagement. He is a faith leader, an author, a speaker, and an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is dedicated to economic development and inclusion, and wants to “put people over privilege” and “fight for ALL Nebraskans.” His campaign website does not spell out support for the LGBTQ community, but has a strong focus on healthcare access and reproductive rights for all, as well as a focus on mental health. He has attended Pride and other LGBTQ events, and our members’ conversations with him have been lovely. Rainbow Parents feel he is a supporter of the queer community and would continue to listen to us if elected. Check his website to donate and for volunteer opportunities. There are several canvassing opportunities in the next week, information can be found here.
Dan Osborn vs. Senator Deb Fischer
Deb Fischer was first elected in 2012 and is running for her 3rd 6-year term. She has an abysmal record when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ community, with a Human Rights Campaign score of 5/100.
Dan Osborn is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy and the National Guard. He has worked as an industrial mechanic and was the president of his union. A registered Independent, he has declined to accept endorsements from any elected officials. While he does not have a public record we can examine, his platform reads, “I oppose discrimination for any reason and think people’s private lives are no business but their own. I also believe that government intervention should only come into play when those fundamental rights are being infringed upon by others.” Though Republicans have long considered Senator Fischer’s seat to be solid, Slate Magazine published a recent article discussing the race and Osborn’s current strong standing. Osborn has invited Senator Fisher to debates, but she has yet to show up, so he debates an empty chair. Dan Osborn has 10 town halls and meet and greets scheduled all over the state in the next week, as well as a debate in Omaha on the 22nd. Will she show up to this one? Stay tuned! Check his website to see when he will be in your area, or to volunteer or donate.
