District details
Nebraska’s longest serving senator Ernie Chambers was set to face incumbent Terrell McKinney in a race expected to be one of the closest in the state. Then Chambers pulled his name off the ballot in July.
Since then, he has taken steps to qualify as a write-in candidate though he has yet to deliver the necessary paperwork to the Secretary of State’s Office.
McKinney is the land justice director at Bold Alliance, an advocacy network working for clean energy solutions. He’s also an assistant wrestling coach at Omaha North High School. He said he is proud of his legislative record. He pointed to the passage of the Economic Recovery Act Bill, which focused on economic development in North and South Omaha. He also led efforts to support small businesses, ban hair discrimination in the workplace, prohibit student suspensions in pre-K to second grade and hold the Omaha Housing Authority more accountable, he said.
He told the Flatwater Free Press that he is running for reelection because he believes he has more to accomplish to improve life in North Omaha.
On the issues
McKinney’s priorities include economic equity and opportunity, criminal justice reform and improving the educational system. He said reducing the prison population and recidivism rates will decrease the state’s financial burden and, in turn, lower property taxes. He said he would like Nebraska to abandon its plans for a new prison. He also supports legalizing marijuana and using those proceeds for property tax relief.
McKinney abstained from voting in the school choice legislation that provides tax dollars for private school scholarships. Opponents of the bill often believe the effort is taking money away from public schools. McKinney said both public and private schools have failed Black students. He said the schools in his district are suffering from an exodus of teachers to other districts, dropped special education programs and overcrowded classrooms.
Location
The district covers most of North Omaha, from as north as Redick Avenue south to Cuming Street. It goes as far west as North 50th Street.
In the primary
McKinney received just three more votes than Chambers in a three-way race.
