Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly endorses Lynne Walz in Nebraska governor’s race

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly traveled from Topeka to Omaha to meet with and endorse Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz.

“Lynne Walz is everything Nebraska needs right now and everything Kansas wants in a neighbor. She’s smart, she’s experienced, she’s got the right value set,” Kelly said.

Kelly said the two have a lot in common: Democratic women in politics in a red state, with the ability to work across the aisle.

“Yeah, I know it’s unicameral here, so it’s a little different, but you still have got to bring everybody together to build consensus in order to move things forward,” Kelly said.

Walz calls for unity

Walz said it will take political unity to deal with issues from property taxes to trouble on the farm.

“The number one thing we need to do is stand up against bad policy. The other thing I think is important is to be able to unite our state as one, as one strong voice. It’s not just business, urban versus rural, farmers and ranchers. It has to be the entire state working together. And if we can do that, it brings a stronger voice to Washington, D.C.,” Walz said.

Walz said she believes bringing the state together will be a tough chore. She said politics, even local politics, has changed over the years.

“For me, it started in 2023. There were a lot of social issues... that came to our legislative floor, issues that were meant to divide us, and it certainly did. Intentionally meant to divide us. It divided not only our Legislature but our state, our family, our friends,” Walz said.

Property taxes and the state budget

Walz said the state’s property tax issues won’t be solved overnight. The issue has been a hot-button topic in the state for years. She said the key is to grow the state’s economy and find a way to dig out of the state’s budget deficit.

“Nebraskans are smart enough to know that we’re in trouble,” Walz said of the state’s budget crisis.

“One of the things I won’t do as governor is a 5% cut across the board. That is lazy, it’s irresponsible, and it hurts so many families,” Walz said.

Walz said that in order to get things done, Nebraska must move past negative political rhetoric.

“I do not care if you’re a Republican or Democrat. I think it’s more important today, more than ever, that we bring people together,” Walz said.

Walz believes Brett Lindstrom getting into the Nebraska governor’s race could work against Gov. Jim Pillen’s re-election chances.