Contentious Legislative Races About to Wrap Up

Following a contentious pandemic protracted legislative session, it should come as no surprise that campaigning for half of the seats in the Legislature has – in some cases -- turned ugly, very ugly.

If the race between incumbent Julie Slama and challenger Janet Palmtag in southeast Nebraska’s First District were a TV game show it would be called “Whose Republican Party Is It Anyway?” Both women are Republicans. Slama, a law college student, was appointed to the seat by Governor Pete Ricketts. Palmtag has the endorsements of former Gov. Dave Heineman, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and former District One State Senators Roger Wehrbein of Plattsmouth and Dave Pankonin of Louisville.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission is investigating the Nebraska Republican Party for illegal robocalls that falsely claimed Palmtag was lying about the endorsements. The commission issued a cease and desist order against the party. That’s the same Republican Party that was called out early in the campaign for a controversial mailer linking Palmtag with “extreme” Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha. A photo-shopped picture of the two – they’ve never met – was included and termed “race-baiting” by Heineman and others. Ricketts responded that it was appropriate political comment.

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