District details
Voters here are selecting a replacement for term-limited Sen. Justin Wayne, and they have a choice between two candidates with similar views on a host of issues.
Nonpartisan Nick Batter and Democrat Ashlei Spivey have both been nationally recognized for efforts they made to improve their communities. USA Today named Spivey Nebraska’s woman of the year in 2024 for her work as founder of the I Be Black Girl nonprofit, while Congress recognized a Sri Lankan aid team led by Batter that built refugee schools and supplied local hospitals during a civil war.
Both candidates grew up in North Omaha and said they are running to solve community specific challenges. Batter, the son of a 17-year-old single mom, wants to reinvest in a community that lifted him out of poverty, he said. Spivey, a lifelong North Omaha resident, said she wants to use her experience to continue solving issues facing the community.
Batter works as corporate counsel at Hawkins Construction Company where he has worked on projects like pollution prevention in the Missouri River, Eppley Airfield renovations and the Lincoln South Beltway. He also served in the Army. Former Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey has endorsed Batter, as did the Nebraska Farm Bureau.
Spivey told the Flatwater Free Press her career has revolved around solving the area’s most pressing issues. She is the past board president of ACLU of Nebraska and previously worked as the vice president of business access for U.S. Bank. She is endorsed by the Nebraska AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska.
On the issues
Both Batter and Spivey agree on multiple issues. For instance, they both won’t support legislation restricting transgender participation in sports and they both support the ballot measure that would generally allow abortions up until 24 weeks. They also both believe public dollars should stay with public schools, and the state teachers union endorsed both candidates.
They differ slightly on how they’d lower property taxes, which both identified as priority. Batter said Nebraska should capture more federal tax dollars and stop providing property tax relief to “slumlords” so that money can provide additional relief to home and business owners. He said he also wants to cap annual valuation increases. Spivey would like to explore alternative solutions such as raising the casino tax and legalizing and taxing marijuana. She does not support raising other taxes in order to provide property tax relief. Recent proposals in the Legislature to offset property taxes with an expansion in the sales tax have failed to receive enough support.
Batter and Spivey identified health care as a priority. Batter also prioritizes infrastructure, specifically to improve roads and water lines in the district. Spivey’s priorities include safe and secure neighborhoods, economic development and thriving public schools.
Location
This district covers much of northeast Omaha – from Eppley Airfield in the south to the county line in the north. It stretches from the Missouri River west to North 132nd Street.
In the primary
Batter received about 38% of the votes and Spivey received 24%. The remaining votes were split between two other candidates, including Tracy Hightower-Henne who later endorsed Batter.
