District details
Liphardt — in addition to her work with the Nebraska GOP — is an accountant who specializes in tax planning and preparation and has been working with small businesses for 34 years. She told the Flatwater Free Press that she was motivated to run for office after seeing how the pandemic affected small business owners and their families. She believes “career politicians and lifelong bureaucrats” have been in charge for too long. She said she wants to be the voice of the average American.
Prokop is the director of First Five Nebraska, a Lincoln-area nonprofit advocating for the improvement of early childhood care. He also previously served as a senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson and worked for both the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Nebraska Department of Transportation. Prokop told Lincoln’s 10/11 News Now that he is running for office to make Nebraska a better place to live for future generations.
Liphardt has the backing of the Nebraska GOP, the Lincoln Independent Business Association, Lancaster County’s attorney and sheriff and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, among others. Prokop has endorsements from the Nebraska teachers union, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, Nebraska AFL-CIO and a number of current and former state lawmakers and Lincoln city officials. Both candidates received endorsements from the Nebraska Farm Bureau.
The winner of the general election will replace Democrat Anna Wishart, who is barred by term limits from running again. She endorsed Prokop.
Prokop has a major money advantage. He’s received $148,496 in cash contributions. He had $64,391 on hand as of June. Liphardt has raised $37,561 in cash contributions. She had $8,045 on hand as of June.
On the issues
Liphardt’s top three priorities include reining in property taxes, improving education outcomes and cutting burdensome regulations. On property taxes, she wants to see a cap placed on how much those taxes can grow each year. She said the state needs to bring more balance to how it funds K-12 education and cut spending in order to reduce the burden on property taxpayers.
Prokop did not complete the Flatwater Free Press questionnaire. According to Lincoln TV station 10/11 News Now, his priorities include growing the economy by supporting local businesses and lowering property taxes. He wants the state to contribute more funding to K-12 education. He wants to invest in mental health services.
Asked what restriction she supports on abortion, Liphardt backed the state’s current 12-week ban, noting that voters in November also will weigh in on the issue and that as a lawmaker her duty will be to respect the law and represent her constituents appropriately. She also voiced support for legislation limiting students’ sports participation and bathroom access to their gender assigned at birth, saying she wants to defend the rights, safety and privacy of women.
Prokop, asked by 10/11 about these and other issues, said, “I trust that individuals can make decisions that are best for themselves or their children, better than politicians.” He also said those policies make it harder for Nebraska to attract and retain younger workers.
Location
The district includes a western sliver of Lincoln and rural Lancaster County.
In the primary
Prokop received about 56% of the vote compared to Liphardt’s 44%.
