Walz Picks Former Republican For Running Mate

by John Gage and Lewis Thune

(Picture credit Matt Johnson)

ELKHORN — Democratic gubernatorial challenger Lynne Walz revealed she has picked her running mate in her bid to unseat Republican Governor Jim Pillen. The Walz campaign held a press conference to officially announce the pick on a farm outside suburban Elkhorn on Tuesday morning.

Walz chose Ben Steffen, a former Republican and southeast Nebraska farmer, as her lieutenant governor.

“We found our guy,” said Walz. “This man is someone whom I describe as salt of the earth. He is humble, honest, and just an all-around good person. He has a proven track record of public service.”

Steffen said that he and Walz would be working together to “make things better for Nebraska.”

“I’m running after careful consideration; this was not an easy choice for a working farmer,” he said, thanking his wife and neighbors for their assistance and Walz for her selection. “I’m grateful for the trust you placed in me as your running mate.”

Steffen highlighted his qualifications, having served as chair for Richardson Country Farm Bureau, president of Ag Builders Nebraska, chairman of Nebraska Rural Radio Association, as well as positions on school boards, planning commissions, and water resource districts.

“When Lynne called and asked me if I would consider being her running mate, I was in a field planting corn,” he said.

Steffen, who is now a registered Democrat, owns Steffen Ag Inc., a business that “specializes in providing agricultural services and products to local farmers and businesses.”

Since leaving the Republican party, Steffan has become a critic of President Trump and Republican policies nationally and locally. This year, he spoke at a left-wing “No Kings” protest in Omaha.

“It’s the price at the pump, it’s the price at the grocery store and rent, and people are concerned about what’s going on in the Middle East,” Steffen said at the rally in March according to WOWT.

“People are thinking about things differently. The conversations have shifted. There’s a tremendous amount of unease around agriculture. The economics are in really bad shape. We haven’t been in shape like this since the 1980s, and it’s really opening up conversation. You know, maybe we need to think about things in a different way.”

Steffen is also a “storyteller” for the left-wing nonprofit, Nebraska For Us, which opposes Republican lawmakers and priorities. The organization is currently spending money attacking Republican Reps. Mike Flood and Don Bacon.

Walz promised in her campaign platform rollout last week that she will be appointing Republicans, Independents, and Democrats to key positions in her administration. Earlier this month, Walz picked up the endorsement of former GOP State Senator Mark Kolterman.

Following the Steffen announcement, the Nebraska Republican and Democratic parties sparred over the merits of Walz’s choice. Democratic Chair Jane Kleeb touted Steffen as a “farmer” while attacking the current Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly for being a “lawyer.”

The Nebraska Republican Party responded, saying Kelly is a “respected prosecutor” and calling Steffen a “glorified activist.”

The Pillen campaign issued a statement, saying: “This pick does nothing to change Walz’s liberal record on hiking property taxes, keeping boys in girls’ sports, and giving taxpayer subsidies to Big Tech data centers.”

— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.

— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.