District details

Holdcroft, a Republican, has been in the Legislature since 2022. He is a retired U.S. naval officer and aerospace executive. 

Tompkins, a Democrat, is the executive director at Merck Animal Health, which manufactures animal health products. Tompkins volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, food drives and Eagle Scout projects, according to his campaign website.

Holdcroft is endorsed by Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London, according to his Facebook page. Other endorsements from state officials, state senators, local mayors and more are listed on his campaign website, though it does not appear to have been updated since 2021.

Tompkins is endorsed by the Sarpy County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 and the Nebraska State AFL-CIO, according to his Facebook page. He is also endorsed by the Sierra Club and the Nebraska Young Democrats.

On the issues

Holdcroft said he is running again to continue serving the public. He said he served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years and has served in leadership positions in the Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, Air Force Association, Navy League and the Nebraska Alumni Association. Tompkins said he is running because he has seen too many opportunities slip away from Nebraska, and leaders in the Legislature have lost sight of what’s important. He said he would focus efforts on solving Nebraska’s property tax crisis, preventing brain drain and developing the economy.

Tompkins said affordability is the district’s top issue. He said Nebraska needs leaders who will prioritize economic relief over partisan bickering, putting Nebraskans first. Holdcroft said property taxes are the top issue for the district. He said the state should continue contributing state funds to directly reduce individual property taxes and pass legislation to control excessive valuation increases while reducing tax levies.

Both candidates said they don’t support increasing Nebraska’s sales tax rate to offset property tax relief. Holdcroft said lawmakers should take a hard look at 293 sales tax exemptions, reduce income and property tax and rely on increased sales tax revenues through growing the state economy. Tompkins said people are already struggling to afford necessities, and attempting a tax shift with no guarantee of property tax relief would be irresponsible.

Tompkins said he does not support changes made to recent voter-approved ballot measures by lawmakers, and doing so showed a blatant disregard for their constituents. Holdcroft said the state’s constitution allows the Legislature to modify ballot initiatives, though lawmakers should take that action sparingly. He said the Legislature made small modifications to recent voter-approved ballot measures to protect small businesses.

Holdcroft said data centers do not significantly impact Nebraska’s water, and they pay property taxes, which relieves the tax burden on their neighbors. He pointed to a law passed in the spring that allows data centers to build their own power generation and locally sell excess power at discounted rates. Tompkins said lawmakers should proceed with caution on data centers and do everything they can to protect Nebraska’s natural resources and public power system. He said the cost of data centers should not burden taxpayers.

Tompkins said solving the budget deficit will take responsible budgeting, eliminating wasteful spending and expanding Nebraska’s tax base. He said his experience in lowering operating costs and duplicate invoicing at Merck will help him manage the budget. Holdcroft said the deficit is caused by a reduction in state income tax over the course of four years. He said a significant increase in sales tax revenue from business incentive programs and the state’s improving economy has countered this loss, and, if necessary, lawmakers will tap into the state’s strategic reserve.

Holdcroft said Nebraska needs to bring high-tech, high-paying jobs to the state. He said lawmakers should continue pushing business incentive programs, tax credits for small businesses and workforce training and assistance programs. Tompkins said Nebraska needs more secondary-level jobs that will allow people to climb the ladder of a business. He said the Legislature should focus less on “divisive culture wars” and more on well-rounded growth for Nebraska.