Former GOP State Senator Endorses Walz in Gubernatorial Race

by Matt Johnson

(Picture credit Lynne Walz Twitter)

In a notable display of bipartisanship, former Nebraska State Senator Mark Kolterman, a Republican who represented District 24, walked alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz in the Seward Fourth of July Parade last week.

Kolterman, who served in the Unicameral from 2015 to 2023, confirmed the appearance, citing his six years of collaboration with Walz on legislation and his concerns about the current direction of state government—particularly spending and a looming budget deficit.

“I served with Lynne for six years in the Legislature and worked on quite a bit of legislation with her and thought she did a good job,” Kolterman said in an interview on Thursday with The Plains Sentinel. “I’m a little bit concerned about what’s going on with our state government and the spending and how they’re doing things. And she asked me if I’d walk with her in the Seward parade, and I told her yes.”

When asked whether the parade appearance constituted an endorsement or a show of friendship, Kolterman replied, “Both.”

Fiscal Concerns Drive Support

One of Kolterman’s primary concerns was the sharp turnaround in the state’s financial picture since he left office.

“When I left the legislature four years ago, we were $1.5 billion in the black with the rainy day fund, and now we’re—what, looking $750 million in the face as they go into the legislature this coming session,” he said.

He described the shift as largely “self-inflicted” and called for a more measured approach to taxes and education funding. While an avid proponent of property and income tax relief, Kolterman argued that major changes should be paused until the education funding formula is overhauled.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “As you look at the short term, I think it’s time to just kind of put things on pause and hold. And before we implement all these income tax breaks—not get rid of them, but put them on hold for a year or two—and figure out the education formula and how we’re going to fund education, and then go from there. It has to be a balanced approach.”

Kolterman recalled supporting earlier bipartisan efforts on education funding, including work by Walz and Former State Senator Brett Lindstrom.

“When I was serving in the legislature, Lynn Walz and Brett Lindstrom had a really good bill to help rewrite the education formula. It didn’t go anywhere, but I thought they had a good idea. And I supported it. I helped promote it,” he said.

Call for Bipartisanship

Kolterman said that growing partisanship in the Legislature has become an obstacle to getting things done and contrasted it with the more collaborative environment he experienced.

“The legislature is supposed to be bipartisan, and there doesn’t seem to be anybody that’s willing to reach across the aisle and talk to each other, which we did have when I was in the legislature,” he said.

His message to fellow Republicans questioning his support for Walz was direct: “Reach across the line. Reach across the aisle, talk to your colleagues. You know, the legislature has functioned very well for many, many years, and the more partisan it gets, the more dysfunctional it gets. I believe we need to continue to work on relationships in the legislature and working together to get things done. That’s how we do things in Nebraska.”

Legislative Role vs. Top-Down Approach

Kolterman also emphasized that the legislature—not the governor—should set the state’s budget and policy tone. He praised the working relationship between former State Sen. John Stinner and the Ricketts administration as a model of cooperation.

Kolterman, who remains a Republican, stressed he was not interested in criticizing the current administration but in highlighting principles that worked during his time in office.

“It’s not about Pillen,” he said. “The legislature is supposed to be the one setting the budget and the tone of the state. That’s what the legislative branch is all about. The legislative branch is supposed to make the laws and set the budget and the governor is supposed to carry out those laws and meet the budget obligations. I think that they have to work hand in glove.”

He also praised Walz’s campaign style for its focus on listening to Nebraskans across the state.

“I think it’s proven already that she’s around the state listening to people. She’s been all over the state,” Kolterman said. “That’s what it’s all about—listening to the people and then acting. And surrounding yourself with good people.”

Kolterman’s support underscores Walz’s effort to campaign as a “purple” candidate willing to work across the political aisle. It also highlights how essential such a strategy is likely to be for a Democrat seeking to become the first statewide winner from the party in nearly two decades.

— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.