District details

Helmick, a Republican, is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force. He served as the Cass County GOP chair, and the Nebraska GOP recognized him twice as its Outstanding County Chairman, according to his campaign website.

Knutson, a Democrat, is a stay-at-home mom and former special education teacher. She served two terms on the Omaha Education Association as a high school representative, according to her campaign website. She has been a union member throughout her career.

Helmick received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, former Gov. Dave Heineman, former Lt. Gov. and State Auditor Mike Foley, multiple Cass County officials and the Cass County Republican Party. See all of Helmick’s endorsers on his campaign website.

Knutson is endorsed by the Nebraska State Education Association, the Sierra Club, Lincoln Fire Fighters Association Local 644, Nebraska AFL-CIO and other organizations. Individual endorsements for Knutson come from current or former local and state school board members and legislative officials. See the full list on her campaign website.

On the issues

Helmick said he is running to continue serving the country after four decades in the Air Force. He said his top three priorities are controlling spending, controlling regulations and keeping an eye on the future. Knutson said she is running to put people first, as too many representatives are voting based on party lines or for special interests. She said partisanship has put a strain on progress.

Knutson said the cost of living is the district’s most pressing issue. She said the state’s cutting of income tax was the incorrect way to address this, as it only benefits the wealthiest people in the state. Helmick said the No. 1 issue facing the district is rising property taxes. He said the state has to grow its way out of its fiscal issues through increased jobs and revenue. 

Helmick said Nebraskans are very concerned about continually increasing property taxes, as well as rising prices and overall affordability. Any tax reform needs to be more than a simple shift, he said. Knutson said that increasing the sales tax will hurt working families and seniors even more, and there may be some sales tax exemptions she would consider. 

Knutson said representatives should not get to pick and choose which voter-approved initiatives they will respect, nor should they dismiss the outcomes of votes as being due to voters’ ignorance. If senators want to challenge an initiative, they can attempt to be part of its writing or organize a counter-initiative for the ballot, she said. Helmick said the Nebraska Constitution gives people the power to propose laws or amendments through the initiative process or to override the Legislature through the referendum process. The Legislature’s role, he said, is to implement initiatives and referendums passed by the people. 

Helmick said laws and policy related to data centers should be a state and local partnership, with the state protecting water and power. He said counties and municipalities should be able to make the final decision on whether a data center will be built in their area. Knutson said people need to know more about the energy, water and health implications of data centers so legislation can be more informed. She said the state should require the accurate measuring of energy and water usage.

Knutson said the government can’t cut its way out of the budget deficit without cutting essential services, but she does not agree with gutting services like caretaker hours to offset tax cuts for the wealthy. Closing tax loopholes and pausing income tax cuts to protect education and job training are solutions to the budget deficit, she said. The Legislature should not increase taxes for the next biennium and instead should focus on tax reductions, Helmick said. He said economic development efforts are needed for the state.

Economic development is key to reverse brain drain, Helmick said. Creating jobs by maintaining a competitive tax structure, an educated and trained workforce, infrastructure investments and affordable housing are all solutions, he said. Knutson said policies promoting entrepreneurship and investing in startups are one solution to brain drain. Removing economic burdens, such as filing fees, and establishing low taxes for new small businesses are also solutions, she said.