(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA — As Democrat Lynne Walz has campaigned for governor across Nebraska, she has made a point of sidestepping “divisive” social issues and keeping her focus on kitchen table issues—such as education, housing, childcare, and affordability.
At an event hosted by the Free Speech Society in Omaha on Saturday, however, Walz was questioned on some “culture war” issues and asked to give answers for some of them.
Walz opened her remarks by recalling the 2023 legislative session as “a really rough year,” and one that was “very divisive, especially divisive.”
“The entire session was spent debating issues that divide us,” Walz said. “I remember standing on the legislative floor during one of those heated, terrible debates, and just looking up and thinking, ‘Why are we doing this? Why are we doing this when we have so many people across the state who want us to be focusing on healthcare?’”
Walz became choked up recalling the moment.
Sports and Spaces Act
During Q&A, a guest wanted to hear Walz’s stance on the issue of biological males competing in girls’ sports. The guest cited a quote from Walz that appeared in The Hill in April 2024, during debate on LB575, the Sports and Spaces Act, which would have restricted sports and private spaces like locker rooms to students based on biological sex.
“We all know what this is about, no matter how we dress it up,” Walz is quoted as saying. “It’s discrimination. It’s a blanket ban on trans kids participating in extracurricular activities.”
On Saturday, however, Walz claimed that she did not recall saying that.
“Wait. Where, where did you get that quote?” Walz asked the guest. “I don’t remember ever saying that.”
The guest also asked whether Walz would follow in the footsteps of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, who the public learned last week had ended a rulemaking process that would have prevented biological males from competing in girls’ sports and using girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms.
“This is the question for today?” Walz asked. “Those are the exact things that I was talking about when it came to 2023.”
Walz stated that the Nebraska law was unnecessary and that restrictions on participation in boys’ and girls’ sports based on biological sex should be a matter of “local control.”
“[The Nebraska School Activities Association] already had very stringent policies in place regarding that issue. For me, that was local control. They already had policies in place,” Walz said.
In 2016, the NSAA created a waiver path for transgender students to compete according to gender identity. The NSAA stated in 2025 that around eight transgender students had applied to participate under this policy.
Ten Commandment Displays ‘Not Christian’
Another guest asked Walz about the role religion should play in government, as she often cites her faith as part of her stump speech when campaigning across the state.
Former radio host Tom Becka, who co-hosted the event, put a “finer point” on the question, asking how Walz felt about the Ten Commandments being placed in public spaces like government buildings as well as classrooms, as is now being done in Texas. State Senator Dave Murman has proposed a similar bill in Nebraska, LB 691.
“I do not believe in that. I do not believe that every teacher should be forced to put the Ten Commandments up in their classroom. That’s not Christian,” Walz said. “That tells me that we are afraid that our faith and our religion is going down the tubes, and we’re doing whatever we can to forcibly put that in front of people.”
Day One Medical Marijuana
Another guest asked about voter-approved ballot initiatives on medical marijuana, which passed with around 70% of the popular vote across the state.
“Medical marijuana will be available for everybody with a doctor’s prescription, day one,” Walz told the guest. “Who am I as a person to say what’s right for you, or try to control what you have decided? A good leader upholds the will of the people.”
Keeping this promise may be difficult, however. According to a story in Nebraska Public Media, the commission established by Initiative 438 has issued a few cultivator licenses and is taking manufacturer applications, but it has not licensed manufacturers or dispensaries. It has said it will not do so until updated fee rules are authorized, and the issue is not likely to be resolved until at least 2027.
No Debates Ahead of Election Day
With Election Day a few weeks away, incumbent Jim Pillen still shows a lead ahead of Lynne Walz according to recent polls. The pair are joined in the race by Brett Lindstrom, who recently entered the race as a last-minute nominee with the America First Party, and Legal Marijuana NOW candidate Rick Beard.
One final guest at Saturday’s event asked Walz about the possibility of debating Pillen before the election.
“No, he will not debate,” Walz said. “I know that the TV stations have asked, and he said, ‘I don’t need to debate.’”
The guest suggested Walz have an empty chair instead.
“Yeah, I guess I could do that,” Walz replied.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.