Nebraska Democrats announce Preston Love Jr. as write-in candidate for Senate

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - In an announcement Thursday from a popular north Omaha eatery, the Nebraska Democratic Party said it is backing Preston Love Jr. as a write-in candidate for U.S. Senate in the November election.

Love is the 2nd associate chairman of the state Democratic party and also serves at the 1st vice president of the Omaha chapter of the NAACP. According to a news release from his campaign, he “worked in the civil rights movement alongside many icons of the movement" and today is teaching Black studies and politics at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

“2020 has been a unique year," he said in a news release. “Many of our young people can’t go to school, many of our adults are not working, evictions are at an all-time high, disparities for people of color have finally become recognized, and our elderly are chronically at-risk."

Unveiling the campaign slogan “All You Need is Love” at a news conference from Big Mama’s Kitchen, state Democrats are pitting Love against incumbent Republican Sen. Ben Sasse in lieu of backing Chris Janicek, the official — but embattled — Democratic candidate. The party called on Janicek to withdraw from the race in June, saying he had made “sexually inappropriate” comments about a staff member in a group text message. But Janicek has maintained his commitment to work on behalf of Nebraskans, particularly those in the western part of the state, and participated in a live debate with the incumbent.

Other remarks from Love in the state Dems statement took aim at Washington, and Sasse’s voting record in particular.

Notable Nebraska Democrats also offered their endorsements of Love on Thursday:

Congressional candidate Kara Eastman said: “I am happy and excited to endorse my good friend Preston Love for the United States Senate. Preston would be an amazing Senator and I am honored to be running with him and Vice President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.”

From NDP chairwoman Jane Kleeb: “Voters expect and deserve a choice when they receive their ballot in the mail or when they go to their polling place on Nov. 3 — a choice for the U.S. Senate who affirms their values of equality, justice and hard work. Preston Love is a statement candidate. Love always combats hate. Nebraskans from Omaha to Scottsbluff will be proud to write-in Love.”

Alisha Shelton, who lost to Janicek in the primary, said: “I fully support Mr. Love stepping up. He is the write-in candidate that we need. A person who actively led parts of the civil rights movement. A person who speaks up for the people. A person who identifies the common goal in every circumstance and believes we all have a right to the American dream.”

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