The Race
Brasher is a former litigation attorney and a former deputy county attorney in both Dodge County and Dawson County. From 2018 to 2023, she served as assistant Nebraska attorney general, according to her campaign website and LinkedIn page.
Nebraskans elected Hilgers to his first term as attorney general in 2022. He had founded his own law firm, which he worked at during his six-year tenure representing the Nebraska Legislature’s District 21, which includes northern and northwestern Lancaster County. Legislators elected him as the speaker of the Legislature in 2021, before which he served as the rules chairman and the chair of the Executive Board.
Brasher has endorsements from several current and former state senators, county commissioners and organizations, including Democrat Ben Nelson, a former U.S. senator and Nebraska governor. Read the full list on her campaign website. Hilgers’ campaign website does not list any endorsements.
In the primary
Brasher and Hilgers were the only candidates who ran for attorney general in their respective primaries. Hilgers earned about 50,000 more votes than his general election opponent.
On the issues
Brasher said she’s running to restore power to the people with integrity, accountability and public service. She said the current Attorney General’s Office has become increasingly partisan, serving politics instead of people. Hilgers said he would build on the progress his office has made in building the office into “one of the best pound-for-pound law firms in the country.”
Hilgers said he is the most qualified candidate because of the experience he gained in his first term. He said he has led teams of professionals both before and throughout his time in office, handling complex litigation. Brasher said she’s the most qualified because her previous experience in the Attorney General’s Office will allow her to serve people from day one. She said she has a track record of fighting for families, prosecuting criminals and holding “corporate predators” accountable.
Brasher said if elected, her priorities will be protecting consumers, strengthening public safety, respecting Nebraska voters and restoring trust in government. Hilgers said his priorities would be finishing litigation his office has started on Big Tech, supporting law enforcement and standing up to unaccountable interests trying to make decisions for Nebraskans.
Hilgers said he has a track record of defending state laws he doesn’t agree with because the attorney general must uphold the law and defend the Constitution. Brasher said faith and spiritual beliefs shape who she is, but they would not determine how she enforces the law or exercises authority if elected.
Brasher said she would consider whether a federal action affects Nebraskans and if legal action would benefit them. The Attorney General’s Office should not get involved in “national political fights” that do not affect the state, she said. Hilgers said the office will act when a federal policy or action is unconstitutional, harms Nebraskans and when the office can make a meaningful difference.
Hilgers said he has the experience and leadership needed to win important fights for Nebraska. Brasher said Hilgers has focused on political litigation and challenges to voter-approved measures while in office. She said her approach would be to evaluate whether an issue affects Nebraska before committing taxpayer dollars and resources to litigation.