District details
Kauth, a Republican, is a mediator and conflict coach who is running to “make Nebraska as strong as possible.” She also is a military wife and mom. Kauth was appointed to the Legislature in 2022 after the death of Sen. Rich Pahls. She introduced the Sports and Spaces Act, which aimed to limit students’ sports participation and bathroom access to their gender assigned at birth. That bill didn’t have the votes to become law during the 2024 session. She also introduced a bill banning gender-affirming surgery for minors, a version of which eventually became law in 2023.
Folchert, a Democrat, is a former public school teacher and special educator. She resigned when she had children and has since been a community volunteer and full-time caregiver for her family. She’s running for office because she’s “frustrated by politicians who put divisive, partisan agendas above the common good of their constituents.”
Kauth has the endorsement of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Rep. Don Bacon, the Nebraska GOP and Nebraska Right to Life, among others. Folchert has endorsements from the state teachers union, Nebraska’s AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska and the Sierra Club’s Nebraska chapter, among others.
Both candidates have raised large sums of money. Kauth has raised $345,553 in cash contributions since being appointed to the Legislature. She had $33,337 on hand as of June. Folchert received $148,188 and had $77,120 on hand as of June.
Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district – 12,821 to 7,480 – but there are also 7,357 nonpartisan voters in the district.
On the issues
Kauth told the Flatwater Free Press her top three priorities are to overhaul the tax system, protect from federal overreach and protect children. Folchert said her top three priorities include expanding and growing Nebraska’s workforce, protecting public funding for public schools and expanding access to health care.
Kauth said she will continue fighting for legislation like her Sports and Spaces Act. Folchert said school districts should continue to use Nebraska School Activities Association’s policy. Transgender children can benefit from sports participation too, she said.
When asked what abortion restriction she would most support, Kauth said the state’s current 12-week abortion ban. Folchert said she would prefer no ban, adding that “medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not politicians.”
Asked about property taxes, both candidates said the state needs to assume a greater role for funding K-12 education. Kauth also said the state should eliminate some sales tax exemptions and put hard caps on how much local jurisdictions can levy in taxes. Folchert said lawmakers should examine unfunded mandates and explore new revenue streams.
Folchert said she opposes school choice proposals to give money to children so they can attend private schools. Kauth voted in favor of the school choice legislation passed by the Legislature earlier this year.
Location
This suburban Omaha district covers most of the Millard area between South 144th Street and South 192nd Street.
In the primary
Kauth received 59% of the votes and Folchert received 41%.
