The 2134 Nebraska gubernatorial election was a fairly standard affair contested by the Democratic Labor Party and the Green Republicans. Nebraskans pride themselves on their unique government structure and politics, though to most outside observers, there's hardly any difference between the two main parties. The 21st century was dominated by the need to balance environmentalism and preservation of the Platte River, the Ogallala Aquifer and the Sandhills with the needs of a growing and booming population. Careful stewardship of the state's natural resources and an interstate compact with Colorado has allowed Nebraska to balance both of those concerns. The state has a population of more than 13.6 million, and of that, more than 13.1 million live either in the Missouri River Corridor or the Platte River Corridor, a pair of metropolitan areas that follow the two main rivers in the state. The Missouri River Corridor runs north-south along the entire eastern border of the state, from South Sioux City in the north down to Falls City in the south. Meanwhile, the Platte River Corridor runs west to east, anchored by Grand Island in the west and then meeting with the Missouri River Corridor in Omaha. The rest of the population lives in smaller suburban and agricultural regions in the state. Nebraska remains the second-largest producer of beef amongst the 50 terrestrial states (behind only Texas), with more than 7 million heads of cattle in the western panhandle. Meat packing remains an important industry in the state.
The Governor of Nebraska serves a single six-year term, and Green Republic Brent Lindstrom was term-limited after his six years in office. The State Legislature remain a non-partisan unicameral body, and had only included 49 members until after the 2130 census when it was decided to more than double the size of the legislature to 100 seats. After the 2130 census, it was found that once again, Nebraska's population was growing faster than Colorado's, and Governor Lindstrom had attempted to renegotiate the terms of the South Platte Interstate Compact with Colorado to increase the flow of the South Platte River, but so far, the Colorado government had declined. Democrats attacked Lindstrom and the Green Republicans over their inability to negotiate new terms of the interstate compact, which remained a sticking point heading into 2134, while also attacking Lindstrom for not doing enough to stop the flow of cheap fireworks from South Dakota and Missouri, cheap alcohol from Kansas and riverboat gambling in Iowa. To outside observers, both parties (Democratic Labor and Green Republicans) were two sides of the same coins, with strong social progressive policies (opposition to gambling, regulation of horse racing and boxing, blue laws to regulate alcohol and banning public smoking), liberal syndicalist views (the decision to nationalize the meatpacking industry in the 2100s had proven controversial at first but now both parties endorsed it) and environmentalism (almost the entire central portion of the state was covered by state parks and reserves). Little differentiated the two parties aside from rhetoric.
Once again facing an open election, both parties set out to name their best candidates. For the Green Republicans, U.S. Representative Kolbie Kolowksi became the early frontrunner. Her large war chest and fundraising ability managed to clear the field as she was endorsed by many prominent national Republicans. A Lincoln native, Kolowksi named panhandle cattleman McCoy Larson as her running mate. The Democrats were split between State Senator Lydia Raasch from the northeast and Amalgamated Meat Cutter organizer Raul Uribe of Omaha. Uribe had support from minority voters and the Douglas County Democratic Party, while Raasch had the support of suburban voters from the northeast, including many big voters. The primary was a close affair, but Raasch triumphed over Uribe with less than 25,000 votes--one of the closest primaries in years. Uribe declined a spot on the ticket as lieutenant governor, so Raasch chose one of his union allies--Hadley Garcia--as her running mate.
The election centered almost entirely around the candidates themselves, their life stories and their life experiences. Kolowksi was able to trumpet her federal government experience--she was a five term U.S. Representative and was the chief deputy minority whip for the House Agriculture Committee. Raasch, though, was able to claim her closeness to the state of Nebraska and her ability to work closely and efficiently with the non-partisan, unicameral legislature. The Democrats were also able to attack the Green Republicans for their inability to negotiate for a new interstate compact with Colorado, and also for their unwillingness to confront neighboring states for their uncivilized behaviors and sins (Raasch frequently called Sioux City and Council Bluffs the "sin cities of the Missouri"). Both candidates made few public appearances, mostly limiting their campaigns to surrogates or to television and radio ads, which were plastered across the state. In what would prove to be another slim election (all of the previous six elections had been decided by less than 80,000 votes), Raasch's local and state experience triumphed over Kolowski's federal experience. In the officially non-partisan legislature, the Democrats gained a small (and unofficial) edge over the Green Republicans.
The Governor of Nebraska serves a single six-year term, and Green Republic Brent Lindstrom was term-limited after his six years in office. The State Legislature remain a non-partisan unicameral body, and had only included 49 members until after the 2130 census when it was decided to more than double the size of the legislature to 100 seats. After the 2130 census, it was found that once again, Nebraska's population was growing faster than Colorado's, and Governor Lindstrom had attempted to renegotiate the terms of the South Platte Interstate Compact with Colorado to increase the flow of the South Platte River, but so far, the Colorado government had declined. Democrats attacked Lindstrom and the Green Republicans over their inability to negotiate new terms of the interstate compact, which remained a sticking point heading into 2134, while also attacking Lindstrom for not doing enough to stop the flow of cheap fireworks from South Dakota and Missouri, cheap alcohol from Kansas and riverboat gambling in Iowa. To outside observers, both parties (Democratic Labor and Green Republicans) were two sides of the same coins, with strong social progressive policies (opposition to gambling, regulation of horse racing and boxing, blue laws to regulate alcohol and banning public smoking), liberal syndicalist views (the decision to nationalize the meatpacking industry in the 2100s had proven controversial at first but now both parties endorsed it) and environmentalism (almost the entire central portion of the state was covered by state parks and reserves). Little differentiated the two parties aside from rhetoric.
Once again facing an open election, both parties set out to name their best candidates. For the Green Republicans, U.S. Representative Kolbie Kolowksi became the early frontrunner. Her large war chest and fundraising ability managed to clear the field as she was endorsed by many prominent national Republicans. A Lincoln native, Kolowksi named panhandle cattleman McCoy Larson as her running mate. The Democrats were split between State Senator Lydia Raasch from the northeast and Amalgamated Meat Cutter organizer Raul Uribe of Omaha. Uribe had support from minority voters and the Douglas County Democratic Party, while Raasch had the support of suburban voters from the northeast, including many big voters. The primary was a close affair, but Raasch triumphed over Uribe with less than 25,000 votes--one of the closest primaries in years. Uribe declined a spot on the ticket as lieutenant governor, so Raasch chose one of his union allies--Hadley Garcia--as her running mate.
The election centered almost entirely around the candidates themselves, their life stories and their life experiences. Kolowksi was able to trumpet her federal government experience--she was a five term U.S. Representative and was the chief deputy minority whip for the House Agriculture Committee. Raasch, though, was able to claim her closeness to the state of Nebraska and her ability to work closely and efficiently with the non-partisan, unicameral legislature. The Democrats were also able to attack the Green Republicans for their inability to negotiate for a new interstate compact with Colorado, and also for their unwillingness to confront neighboring states for their uncivilized behaviors and sins (Raasch frequently called Sioux City and Council Bluffs the "sin cities of the Missouri"). Both candidates made few public appearances, mostly limiting their campaigns to surrogates or to television and radio ads, which were plastered across the state. In what would prove to be another slim election (all of the previous six elections had been decided by less than 80,000 votes), Raasch's local and state experience triumphed over Kolowski's federal experience. In the officially non-partisan legislature, the Democrats gained a small (and unofficial) edge over the Green Republicans.
