District details

Ehrke, a Republican, is the CEO of GROW Nebraska, an organization that provides small businesses with business training, technical assistance and promotion. She previously served as a member of the Furnas County Economic Development Committee and the board for the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, according to her campaign website.

Anderson, also a Republican, is the mayor of Sutton, a farmer and a former volunteer firefighter. 

Ehrke is endorsed by Ed Schrock, a former senator for District 38, multiple local mayors, county officials, business owners and organizations like the Nebraska Farm Bureau. See the full list on her campaign website

Anderson is endorsed by former legislative candidates for District 38 Jon Capps and Wes Wilmot, several state senators and local public officials. See the full list on his campaign website.

On the issues

Ehrke said she is running to be a strong voice for the people of District 38. She said she is committed to protecting the district’s rural way of life, supporting agriculture, improving access to healthcare and making sure taxpayer dollars are used wisely. Anderson said he is running to take his expertise in local government to Lincoln, get the state’s finances in order and keep a strong conservative representing the district.

Anderson said childcare is the top issue of the district. He said DHHS needs to prioritize fast-tracking and guiding new daycare opportunities. Ehrke said property taxes are the top issue of the district. She said she supports controlling government spending, broadening the tax base where appropriate and ensuring the state fulfills its commitments to education funding. 

Ehrke said she is cautious about shifting the tax burden from property to sales taxes. She said any proposal to do so should be evaluated to make sure it does not disproportionately impact working families and Nebraska businesses. Anderson said he would like to hear more information from people in favor of the shift, as people he has spoken to in service-type occupations are not for it. He said he doesn’t want to save money in one place and hurt other areas of daily life.

Both candidates said that the language of voter-approved ballot measures should be respected, but the Legislature can make adjustments up to a point. Anderson said the Legislature can ensure certain mandates or safety measures are in place. Ehrke said there are times when adjustments may need to be made to address unintended consequences, legal concerns or implementation challenges. She said any changes made should preserve voters’ original intent.

Ehrke said data centers can bring investment and jobs, but they must be responsibly developed. She said local communities should have a voice in decisions affecting their natural resources and quality of life, and lawmakers should ensure transparency. Anderson said moratoriums on data centers are the choice of counties and their zoning boards, and if they believe electric grids and natural resources will be impacted negatively, they should take action.

Anderson said he has always balanced the budget while keeping future projects, demands and cost of living in mind, when asked about the state’s budget deficit. He said lawmakers must raise revenue or cut costs where possible. Ehrke said she would focus on responsible spending, prioritizing core services, evaluating the effectiveness of government programs and identifying efficiencies before considering new taxes. She said new revenue streams, such as online gambling, could be carefully considered as well.

Ehrke said Nebraska needs more opportunities for young professionals to build careers and lives here. She said supporting workforce development, strengthening partnerships between businesses and colleges and connecting graduates to opportunities out there are solutions. Anderson said he would be in favor of tax exemptions for the state’s new workforce and families to help them get started. He said certain timelines to boost their early years would set them up for success and attract new businesses.