(Picture credit NSEA)
Capital Cash is a series by The Plains Sentinel investigating the intersection of money, influence, and politics in Nebraska, bringing readers stories on some of the most powerful figures and biggest donors in our state who have typically not seen the type of scrutiny from other outlets.
As the election approaches, millions of dollars have been flowing into statewide, legislative, and local races from political groups and PACs. One of the big players in shaping legislative races over the years has been the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA), the state’s largest teachers’ union.
Filings with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure (NADC) reveal that the NSEA’s PAC has spent nearly $250,000 this year supporting progressive candidates and groups. The group has not financially supported a single Republican on the November ballot so far.
The NSEA’s top contributions were $40,000 to Preserve the Good Life, a group which funds attack ads against Republican state senators; $30,000 to Trust Nebraska Teachers, a group which funds attack ads against Republican state board of education members; $25,000 for Democrat Lynne Walz’s gubernatorial campaign; and $20,000 to Darin Tompkins, who is running against incumbent Republican State Senator Rick Holdcroft in Legislative District 36.
Additionally, the NSEA has issued 20 endorsements in races for the Nebraska Legislature – only two were for Republican candidates. One was for incumbent State Senator Merv Riepe, who is running against Christy Knorr, a “proud lifelong Democrat” who is also endorsed by the NSEA.
The group also endorsed Janell Anderson Ehrke, a Republican running in Legislative District 38, against Tim Anderson, who is also a Republican.
Only one GOP candidate who ran this cycle received money from the PAC. Kurt Zadina, who was running in Legislative District 48, received a $2,500 contribution from the NSEA. Zadina lost his primary, where he ran as a more progressive alternative to incumbent State Senator Brian Hardin.
NSEA Becoming More Partisan
The NSEA has historically favored Democratic candidates more than Republican candidates in its endorsements and spending but a review of recent endorsements by The Plains Sentinel reveals that the group’s endorsements have become more partisan in recent election cycles.
Up to 2022, the group touted that a “bipartisan committee” determined its endorsement. Its most recent slate does not say whether or not it still picks by a bipartisan committee.
In its 2026 voter guide, the NSEA states simply, “All candidates were interviewed by NSEA members and earned the recommendation because of their support of public education.”
The NSEA did not respond to a request for comment on the story.
In 2018, the NSEA endorsed nearly a dozen Republicans for State Legislature while last cycle, the group only endorsed four Republicans.
Former Republican state senators told The Plains Sentinel that the NSEA, while giving less than some groups on paper, was effective in how it used its money to influence state politics.
“When I was there the teacher’s union probably had as much influence on the votes as any lobbyist group,” Steve Erdman, who represented Legislative District 47 from 2017-2025, said. Erdman added that the group’s strategic use of political giving has made “easy” for the NSEA to lobby for its priorities.
“Their financial contribution plays a big part of how people vote,” he said. “The lobbying is done by the support that they give to the candidates to get them elected. Once they are elected with that kind of support that they give them, it is easy for those people to lobby the senators to vote the way they want them to.”
Former State Senator Julie Slama described its influence as “insidious” and “far-left.”
“The NSEA is the puppet master for Democrat politicians in Nebraska,” Slama said. “Their far-left extremism- from elections to the Legislature- is insidious and does not represent the views of the overwhelming majority of hardworking teachers in Nebraska.”
Aligned PAC Support
The NSEA’s impact is not limited to its direct candidate giving. The group has been successful in influencing elections by leveraging its dollars with other groups.
Preserve the Good Life, a PAC that invests in state legislative races, has spent nearly $300,000 this year. The PAC is funded solely by the NSEA and Democracy Nebraska, which shields its donors by funneling money through nonprofit groups.
Preserve the Good Life has spent money in 10 different legislative races in support of progressives or against Republican candidates and has also spent money against Governor Jim Pillen’s reelection campaign.
Democracy Nebraska, in turn, has funneled over $2.4 million this year into political races, focusing much of its spending on legislative races. The group has given over half a dozen progressive legislative candidates gifts of $100,000 or more.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.
The general movement to the more radical left, seems to be the order of the day for left leaning organizations as well as Democrats who already hold political office such as Lincoln's Mayor.
Why can’t we find out what donors have been “shielded “! I think it would be very helpful in determining who is actually running the show on the left and start targeting them!