(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA — Lynne Walz spoke Wednesday afternoon to members of Omaha’s Jewish community at a candidate forum hosted by the Henry Monsky Lodge and the Jewish Community Relations Council. She took questions on gun policy, abortion, gambling, medical marijuana, and recent attack ads.
Walz Responds to Recent Attack Ads
As Election Day approaches, the airwaves are filled with political ads, many of them targeting political opponents on the other side. In one ad paid for by the Pillen campaign, Walz appears next to Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh beside Cavanaugh’s 2023 vow to “burn the session to the ground” over the Let Them Grow Act.
The Plains Sentinel asked Walz for her thoughts on the current wave of negative ads and how her campaign might respond.
“It’s kind of ugly,” Walz said. “I am just trying really hard to focus on my campaign and keep our campaign positive. I think one of the most important things a leader can do is be a good role model for the rest of the state. And when you practice dishonesty and name-calling, that’s not a good leader.”
One guest asked whether Walz would try to balance the state budget by raising property taxes. Walz pointed to another apparent attack ad on the topic.
“The last thing I want to do is raise property taxes,” Walz said. “I know the commercial says that I’m all about raising taxes, and I can’t wait to do it, but believe me, as an average Nebraskan, that’s not something I really want to do.”
Marijuana, Gambling, and Abortion
A guest asked about implementing medical marijuana, which voters approved by ballot initiative in 2024. Walz said she would act on “day one.”
“I’m going to uphold the will of the people,” Walz said. “Day one, there will be an executive order making sure that people can access medical marijuana with a prescription. And if the people on that commission can’t get it done, then we’ll get rid of them, and we’ll find people who will get it done.”
Another guest asked Walz her view on gambling.
“I’m not a proponent, but I’m also not a proponent of controlling people, because I can’t,” Walz said. “The people who want to gamble are going to go across the river and gamble. I cannot stop that.”
A guest also asked about ballot initiatives 440 and 441, which would legalize sports betting in Nebraska, and whether the measures would help balance the state budget. Walz was skeptical.
“I think that we can be more creative on how we bring money into our state,” Walz said. “I would hope that we don’t have to just depend on gambling money to save our state. For crying out loud.”
Another guest asked about Walz’s stance on abortion. Walz indicated she is pro-choice but said she would uphold the constitutional amendment approved as Initiative 434 in 2024, which prohibits elective abortions after the first trimester.
“I think that it really is between a woman, their family, and their doctor,” Walz said. “The people voted for a 12-week ban, and I will uphold what the people voted for on that issue. … I know it takes a ballot initiative to change this now.”
Gun Control
Early Wednesday morning, a shooting outside Burke High School left one student injured. The incident, which remains under investigation, prompted a guest to ask Walz about her voting record on gun control.
Walz discussed the School Safety Infrastructure Act, which she worked on with former Sen. Tom Brewer to provide funding and grants for schools to “harden their security.” She also cited her brother, an avid gun owner, who she said supports background checks before a firearm purchase.
“I think it’s important that people have to go through the process and that there’s background checks and we know that people are mentally capable of handling or having a gun,” Walz said.
On to November
The group seemed largely supportive of Walz. One guest treated President Trump’s planned visit to Grand Island on October 5 as a reason for optimism.
“The person, who I will not name, that sits in the Oval Office, they’re scared because they’re bringing that person here for Ricketts and for Pillen. So, that shows they are scared,” the guest said.
Another guest told Walz that most people in the room would vote for her as an “anti-Pillen vote,” but suggested she work harder to draw a contrast with her Republican opponent.
Election Day is November 3.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.