From Prairie Populism to Partisan Politics - Nebraska and the Evolution of the Republican Party

Rick Galusha, Ph. D.

Nebraska, the 37th state to join the Union, emerged during a period marked by the contentious issue of slavery and the formation of the Republican Party. The state's admission process was intricately linked to the broader political landscape that ultimately led to the American Civil War. Throughout its existence, the state has reflected the many twists and turns of the evolving platform and ideology of the Republican Party.

The path to statehood in antebellum America was heavily influenced by the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This agreement sought to maintain a delicate balance between free and slave states. The compromise allowed for the simultaneous admission of Maine as a Free State and Missouri as a slave state, thus preserving the existing balance in the Senate.

A key provision of the Missouri Compromise was the prohibition of slavery in territories north of the 36°30' parallel, with the exception of Missouri. This geographical restriction had far-reaching consequences, including the distinctive shape of Texas's "panhandle."

However, the political landscape shifted in 1854 with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This legislation effectively nullified the Missouri Compromise by introducing the concept of popular sovereignty to the territorial admission process. Under this new framework, the residents of prospective states were granted the authority to determine the status of slavery within their borders.

This significant change in policy reignited the national debate over slavery expansion and increased tensions between the North and South.

In 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas, perhaps best known today for his debates with Republican abolitionist Abraham Lincoln, introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This pivotal legislation, while ostensibly designed to organize new territories and facilitate transcontinental railroad construction, had far-reaching consequences for the nation's delicate balance over slavery.

Douglas, though not explicitly pro-slavery, advocated for popular sovereignty, allowing settlers to determine the status of slavery in their territories. He anticipated that Nebraska would likely reject slavery, while Kansas might embrace it. However, this approach inadvertently set the stage for a violent confrontation that would foreshadow the impending Civil War.

The period from 1854 to 1859 saw the emergence of "Bleeding Kansas," a series of violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. This tumultuous era transformed Kansas into an ideological battleground, with both sides vying for control through a combination of electoral fraud, raids, and outright violence. Despite the turmoil, Kansas ultimately rejected slavery. The territory's admission to the Union as a free state in 1861 was facilitated by the absence of Southern senators, who had withdrawn or been removed from Washington, D.C., at the outset of the Civil War.

In contrast, Nebraska was assumed to be an anti-slavery state. It would be the proving ground as the burgeoning Republican Party replaced the floundering Whigs. The probability of Nebraskans limiting the spread of slavery weakened the Whig Party as northern Whigs rejected slavery. Voters solidified the future of the GOP in the Presidential Election of 1856. Republican John Fremont secured 33% of the popular vote in an election that would see James Buchanan win over Fremont and Know Nothing/ Whig nominee Millard Fillmore. Former President Fillmore's paltry eight Electoral College votes signaled the death knell of the Whigs and the rise of Republican abolitionists.

Nebraska became a state in 1867 when legislators overrode President Andrew Johnson's veto of the state's admittance to the Union. Johnson had vetoed the admission because, in his view, congress had overstepped its authority by requiring, as a condition of admission, that the Nebraska Constitution removes restrictions on suffrage for African American males. Out of this conflict, Nebraskans chose the state motto, Equality before the Law.  One day later, Nebraska voted to support the passage of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, assuring voting rights and liberties for formerly enslaved Americans and American citizenship for those born or naturalized in the United States.

Since its inception, the nature of Nebraska's prairie populism was to send moderate, fiscal conservatives to serve in the U.S. Senate. Historically, except for two periods, Nebraskans have sent Republicans. During the Great Depression (1933-1941), Nebraskans sent Democrats to serve under Franklin Roosevelt alongside "raging liberal," progressive Republican George Norris (1913 – 1943). Norris, along with William Jennings Bryan, is considered to be Nebraska's most influential political figures. Notably, Norris left the GOP and served as an Independent for his last term (1937 – 1943).

The second period when Nebraska elected Democrat Senators was from 1976 to 2013. Pro-business Democrats including Ed Zorinsky, Jim Exon, Bob Kerrey, and Ben Nelson were sent to Washington D.C.  Despite a rural hegemony over state politics, Nebraska's current senators come from population centers: Deb Fischer from Lincoln and Pete Ricketts from Omaha. Like Exon, Kerrey, Nelson, and Mike Johanns, Ricketts served as Governor before becoming a U.S. Senator.

Today, like much of the rest of the nation, Nebraskans are embracing a new form of Republicanism. At the moment, Nebraska politics is driven by debate over the Electoral College ‘blue dot’, the "1000 pound gorilla" of Joe Ricketts's money (Bamer 2024), and the conflicts and collapse of the Nebraska Democratic Party.

In 1992 Nebraska followed Maine when Unicameral Senator DiAnna Schimek (D) spearheaded a law splitting Nebraska's five electoral college votes (Rembert 2024). The bill was signed into law by then Governor and future Senator Nelson. Schimek believed the legislation would result in a fairer, more representative, and more energizing approach to voting, and bring the state’s voters more attention from presidential candidates.

The Blue Dot references the image of an isolated blue dot over the Omaha area amid a sea of red on election maps depicting Electoral College results. Political lexicon associates the Republican Party with the color red while Democrats are associated with blue. The representative meaning of the blue dot is when voters in Nebraska's 2d Congressional District award a single Electoral College vote to the Democrat Party's Presidential candidate.

Considered to be one of less than 30 congressional swing districts, results in the 2d District suggest Schimek's idea performed as described. Since the law’s passage, Second District voters chose a Democrat Presidential candidate and a Republican Congressional Representative in 2008, 2020, and 2024. In the 2024 election cycle, both Vice Presidential candidates stopped in the district, Walz had two appearances, and some estimate exorbitant expenditure increases also flooded into the 2d District (Open Secrets: Nebraska District 02 2024 Race n.d.). In December 2024, Governor Jim Pillen prioritized returning the state to a winner-take-all approach in his legislative agenda (Bamer, Omaha World Herald 2024).

Another center of Nebraska politics is the activities of multi-billionaire Joe Ricketts, father to Senator Pete Ricketts. Directly or indirectly, Joe Ricketts and his family are among top campaign donors. Former Governor and U.S. Senator Kerrey described Pete Rickett as "a genuine human being who cares about Nebraska." He further described the Ricketts family political expenditures as a "flood" that is “consistent, continual, relentless, and doesn't stop” (Media 2024). Others have not been as kind (Gentzler and Richards 2024). Rickett's money has recently shifted from a statewide focus to a national and international focus. Former Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director and University Professor Paul Landow, PhD, suggested this shift signals Senator Rickett's interest in a run for the White House. The Omaha World Herald reports that in 2024, Senator Ricketts made $4.2 million in political contributions to candidates and ballot initiatives, while his father gave $5.9 million and his mother, Marlene, gave $15 million (Press 2024). Most of the approximate $25 million went to races outside of Nebraska.

Based upon the family's donations, their primary interests are protecting a 12-week ban on abortion and school choice and restricting the expansion of access to medical marijuana. However, while voters upheld the 12-week ban on abortion, they moved against the Ricketts agenda by passing an initiative to legalize medical marijuana and killing efforts to use taxpayer money to support private and religious K-12 tuition. Past victories for the Ricketts collective included successful citizen-driven referendums on Voter ID and overriding efforts to end the death penalty.

Today, Ricketts is a consummate politician. However, as a new governor, Ricketts suffered numerous veto overrides by the Unicameral, including "a hike in provider rates, community corrections programs, urban housing, and the completion of a bike-hike trail" connects Omaha and Lincoln (KMTV 2022). Funding was restored over Ricketts's veto to increase pay for service providers for mental healthcare and those developmentally disabled and the state's aging population, including, according to Unicameral Senator Stinner, nursing and veteran homes, prisons, and other 24/7 facilities (Hammel 2022). Ricketts's effectiveness as the state's Governor was challenged when the Unicameral rejected his proposal to build a new, larger prison in 2021 (Hammel, Criminal justice reform bill goes down in flames after lengthy debate 2022). By August 2023, Pillen was able to buy the land and begin the state's new $350 million prison.

While not known for making controversial comments among centrists and those on the political left, Ricketts is heavily criticized. In 2022, as he termed out of the Governor's office, Pete Ricketts supported his replacement, Jim Pillen, with a $5.4 million donation, effectively blocking Trump supporter Charles Herbster from moving into the Governor's mansion. At the time, Herbster was the state's largest political donor, albeit most of his donations were to self-fund his failed gubernatorial campaign (Sanderford 2022). Despite strong denials, in what some allege was a quid pro quo, Pillen appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate, replacing Ben Sasse (Weaver 2023). Over the past quarter of the new century, the Peed family became a significant player in Nebraska's political donations, contributing nearly $22 million since 2000 (Hoffman 2023).

Despite supporting conservative causes and Nebraska politics, the Ricketts family stopped supporting the Nebraska GOP in 2022. At that time, the State Party formally ejected Ricketts supporters, including Party Chair Dan Welch, and replaced them with candidates less aligned with the family's "outsized influence" on the party to reduce Ricketts's influence on state politics (Sanderform 2022). Media outlets suggest the ouster of Ricketts loyalists was an attempt by the party to move further to the right and align more closely with Donald Trump's vision for the GOP.

Nebraska's unicameral system was designed to be more efficient and directly responsive to voters, using a relatively nonpartisan, and more open, and transparent approach than traditional bicameral legislatures. However, using strategic donations, Ricketts's influence on the Unicameral has been especially pointed, including $624,000 to preferred unicameral candidates and $1.6 million to the State Republican Party. In what signals a harrowing rift, in the 2024 Primary, the State GOP Party endorsed against their incumbents, including Ricketts and Congressmen Don Bacon and Adrian Smith (Nebraska GOP n.d.).

Among the many issues facing Nebraska is the increased demand for water. Nebraska's economy is driven by agriculture. And that means water usage is highly politicized. The concern for water is heightened due to human-driven climate change. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, in December 2024, 84% of Nebraska was experiencing drought conditions; while another 10% was abnormally dry (NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System 2025).

In April 2022, during the Ricketts Administration, the Unicameral approved $628 million for funding the Perkins County Canal (Smith 2024). The canal construction is based on a 1923 water rights agreement between Colorado and Nebraska. If it is built, water diverted into the canal will put strain on Colorado's front-range population, which is expected to grow from 3.8 million to 6 million residents by the mid-century. According to Nebraska Public Media reports, the water flowing into Nebraska will stifle Colorado from replenishing its groundwater levels. However, in addition to supporting Nebraska's agricultural industry, the enhanced flow will stabilize water levels in Lake McConaughy, support hunting and recreation, and support threatened and endangered bird species, including the Whopping Cranes and Piping Plovers.

At the same time, much of Nebraska sits atop The Ogallala Aquifer. The aquifer is the size of Lake Huron and underlies 175,000 square miles, running from southeast Wyoming through nearly half of Kansas and encompassing the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. Currently, 94% of the body's groundwater is drawn by farming and supports 1/5 of the United States' agricultural harvests (Texas Water Development Board 2016). Recent reports indicate the aquifer water levels have fallen as much as 300 feet in some areas due to over-pumping and climate change. Recent efforts by the Nebraska Resources District to address the falling water tables include enforcing water usage caps, drilling restrictions, and ongoing monitoring. The NRD reports aquifer water levels have fallen on average 38" since 2020 (Young 2024 ).

And while Republicans suffer from a rift between the Ricketts family and the State Republican Party, a similar ongoing rift occurs among Democrats. After Nebraska's brief dalliance with Democrat Governors and Senators in the 1970s and '80s, any success they find today tends to be electing a minority of Unicameral Senators and elected officials in Omaha and Lincoln. Despite overwhelming numbers in opposition, the party currently suffers from an internal schism between State Party Chair Jane Kleeb and Omaha-based Crystal Rhodes. According to news reports, in 2018, Rhodes, then Douglas County Democratic Party Chairwoman, accused Kleeb, the Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman, of using African Americans as props in photos and presentations (Jordan 2018). Precious McKesson, at that time the party's Constituency Director and an African American, defended Kleeb in a "ripping" email to Rhodes. The interparty feud escalated as each accused the other of orchestrating efforts to remove them from their respective party office.

Again, in 2020, a Facebook post renewed the conflict between the two women, each accusing the other of undermining their influence with party donors (Wade 2019). At that time, Douglas County was home to 37% of the state's registered Democrats. While Kleeb continued to espouse a unified state party, including fundraising, Rhodes argued Douglas County Democrats are doing well and do not need unwanted interference from the state party. Some say that Kleeb's leadership roles in the state party and as the founder of Bold Nebraska, which advocates against building the Keystone Pipeline, create unnecessary conflicts. Ultimately, at the heart of the issue is money and political philosophy. Kleeb advocates for a big tent party that includes moderates, while, according to the Omaha World-Herald, Rhodes is pushing for a more progressive and exclusive Democratic Party where "real Democrats" are not afraid to take stands.

Recently, big-name Democrats, including Unicameral Senator Mike McConnell (Sanderdford 2024), a likely 2025 candidate for Omaha's mayoral race, and Don Kleine (Mastre and Dvorak 2020), the Douglas County Attorney, switched party affiliation to become Republicans after they were publicly criticized over their positions on abortion and the choice to not prosecute a white bar owner over the death of a young African American engaged in rioting and filmed destroying private property. In addition, former Senator Bob Kerrey had his name removed from a significant statewide fundraiser, describing the state party as "pathetic” (Walton 2024).

Among the up-and-coming political figures in Nebraska are former Unicameral Senators Brett Lindstrom, Tony Vargas, and Adam Morfeld, as well as Dan Osborn, Nick Batter, Derek Oden, Harrison Johnson, Precious McKesson, LaVonya Goodwin, Amy Melton, Pete Peterson, Brinker Harding, and Eric Underwood.

In conclusion, amid the turmoil of national politics, Nebraska faces numerous challenges, including rising property taxes, a projected budget shortfall of $432 million (Open Sky Lights November), access to health insurance for the 101,000 Nebraskans currently using the Affordable Care Act (KFF The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2024) amid the Republican Party's threat to end Obamacare. Other ongoing concerns include the escalating annual Brain Drain of young college graduates (Schafer 2022), a lack of affordable housing, forging a viable plan that responds to employment changes caused by artificial intelligence, and an economic dependency on immigrant ag workforce in the face of President Trump's threat of massive deportations. In addition, Trump’s threat of tariffs presents the possibility of a tit-for-tat response from trading partners and the accompanying drop in ag industry exports. At the same time, land prices are rising due to consolidation and an increase in farm size, resulting in fewer rural jobs and a declining tax base as consumption falls. Small towns already suffer from a shortage of healthcare providers, but demand is increasing due to retirement and aging boomers.  As Nebraska’s median age goes up, expanded Medicare costs is putting increased pressure on state budgets. Higher education costs have increased, while K-12 education pushes for greater internet access in rural areas. Finally, as discussed above, the national and state governments are ignoring the effects of human-caused climate change, which has caused numerous extraordinary weather events in Nebraska, evolving weather patterns, and statewide drought. As the state experiences a widening divide between the MAGA Republicans, moderates, and the progressives living in Omaha and Lincoln, the increased partisanship in the Unicameral means cooperation and compromise are less likely, thus hindering the ability to effectively address many of these issues. Perhaps the spirit of George Norris’ idealism will come to our rescue, but, sadly, reasonability seems so “20th century.”

Works Cited

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—. Omaha World Herald. December 23, 2024. https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/taxes-defining-gender-blue-dot-among-nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-2025-legislative-priorities/article_fd0ceac8-bc99-11ef-bfec-bf66462fcda2.html (accessed January 9 , 2025).

Gentzler, Sara, and Alex Richards. Nebraska Public Media. September 20, 2024. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/ricketts-riches-wealthy-governor-billionaire-family-changed-nebraska-elections/.

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KMTV, 3 News Now. Nebraska lawmakers override Ricketts’ vetoes including funding for housing, healthcare and hiking. April 7, 2022. https://www.3newsnow.com/news/political/nebraska-lawmakers-override-ricketts-vetoes-including-funding-for-housing-healthcare-and-hiking (accessed January 9, 2025).

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Media, Nebraska Public. Ricketts' Riches: Record election spending shows senator's family far from done in Nebraska. December 26, 2024. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/ricketts-riches-record-election-spending-shows-senators-family-far-from-done-in-nebraska/ (accessed January 9, 2025).

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Press, Flatwater Free. Ricketts’ Riches: Wealthy governor, billionaire family changed Nebraska elections. September 19, 2024. https://flatwaterfreepress.org/ricketts-riches-wealthy-governor-billionaire-family-changed-nebraska-elections/ (accessed January 9, 2025).

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Sanderdford, Aaron. State Sen. Mike McDonnell’s switch to GOP spurs new push for winner-take-all in Nebraska. April 4, 2024. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/03/state-sen-mike-mcdonnells-switch-to-gop-could-spur-new-push-for-winner-take-all-in-nebraska/ (accessed January 9, 2025).

Sanderford, Aaron. Herbster gave himself 96% of his $4.9 million in fundraising last year. February 3, 2022. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/03/herbster-gave-himself-96-of-his-4-9-million-in-fundraising-last-year/ (accessed January 9, 2025).

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Schafer, Josie Gatti. Nebraska Faces Ongoing Brain Drain According to Latest 2022 American. 2022. https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/center-for-public-affairs-research/documents/brain-drain-2022-release.pdf (accessed January 9, 2025).

Smith, Jerd. Colorado pledges to play nice as Nebraska plows ahead on $628M canal at the state line. January 18, 2024. https://coloradosun.com/2024/01/18/colorado-nebraska-canal-2024/ (accessed January 9, 2025).

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Wade, Jessica. 'I won't be silent': Facebook post shows tensions between Nebraska Democratic Party leaders. November 9, 2019. https://omaha.com/news/local/i-wont-be-silent-facebook-post-shows-tensions-between-nebraska-democratic-party-leaders/article_50f5f020-1ccd-5acb-bd77-719a28bc6bcf.html (accessed January 9, 2025).

Walton, Don. Kerrey asks that name be removed from Nebraska Democratic event after dispute with Kleeb. November 25, 2024. https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/kerrey-asks-that-name-be-removed-from-nebraska-democratic-event-after-dispute-with-kleeb/article_ecc611fa-d5ff-5e97-b154-3c77c11be63d.html (accessed January 9, 2025).

Weaver, Al. Former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts tapped to fill Sasse’s Senate seat. January 12, 2023. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3805689-former-nebraska-gov-pete-ricketts-tapped-to-fill-sasses-senate-seat/ (accessed 9 2025, January).

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Nebraska's Blue Dot Envisions the (d)emocratic Ideals of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson

As a proud Nebraskan, I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to our state's unique Electoral College Vote (ECV) system. While I respect Governor Jim Pillen's commitment to lowering property taxes, I must express my concern about ending Nebraska's approach of splitting ECVs.

Our current system, shared only with Maine, gives Nebraska a louder voice on the national stage. It draws attention from presidential campaigns, media outlets, and brings presidential campaigns to our doorstep. This spotlight on Nebraska isn't just about political clout; it's about ensuring our values and concerns are heard at the highest levels of government.

The wisdom of our Founding Fathers echoes through this debate. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, architects of our nation's foundation, warned against the dangers of concentrated power. They envisioned a system where power checks power, fostering moderation and compromise. Our split ECV system embodies this vision, encouraging candidates to engage with Nebraskans, and sets a stage to encourage younger Nebraskans to stay here after graduation. An imbalanced, one party system stifles debate, encourages the brain drain, leads to extremism, and removes Madison’s intent that incumbents act with moderation and caution.

Madison's words in Federalist Papers #47 and #51 remind us that diffusing power protects against tyranny and corruption. By pitting power against power and subjecting government actions to a system of checks and balances, Americans created a form of government that today is the model for much of the world.  By maintaining our current ECV system, we honor this principle, ensuring that the diverse voices are represented in presidential elections.

The "blue dot" in Nebraska isn't a flaw; it's a feature that keeps our state politically dynamic and relevant. It forces candidates to consider the nuances of our electorate, promoting a healthier democracy where ideas compete and compromise flourishes. Eliminating this system would remove the fear of being punished in the next election cycle; a crucial incentive for elected officials to moderate their positions and respect the views of all voters.

In these times of political polarization, Nebraska has an opportunity to lead by example. By preserving our split ECV system, we can show the nation that it's possible to elevate the competition of ideas while ensuring the sanctity of our democratic process. Yes, some have and will abuse this intent but by leading with better ideas, rather than flexing political muscle, Nebraska  can demonstrate to the rest of the nation what’s been lost in these tumultuous times and help forge a path back to a healthy two party system.

As we look to the future, let's choose the path that honors our state's unique role in national politics, upholds the principles of our Founding Fathers, and strengthens the fabric of our democracy. Nebraska's split ECV system isn't just about electoral strategy; it's about preserving the very essence of American democracy that our forefathers envisioned.