Key Races, Big Issues: Compare the Candidates

Election Day is almost here, and the ads are everywhere. High-profile races have brought national attention—and spending—to Nebraska.

But where do the candidates on your ballot actually stand on the issues that matter most, like protecting human life, girls’ sports, religious freedom, and parental rights?

While Nebraska Family Alliance does not endorse candidates, our online voter guide makes it easy to find where the candidates running to represent you stand on the issues. 

Here’s a closer look at how the major-party candidates compare in two key races based on their survey responses, publicly available positions, voting records, and endorsements.

U.S. Senate

Life

• • Pete Ricketts: Supports pro-life policies, including life-saving care for babies born alive after failed abortion attempts, and opposes taxpayer-funded abortion.
  • Dan Osborn: Endorsed by Planned Parenthood and shared that he believes government should not be involved in creating abortion restrictions, saying, “Stay out of our bedrooms and our doctors’ offices. That’s not the role that Congress should have.”

Girls’ Sports and Spaces

• • Pete Ricketts: Supports policies prohibiting men from playing in girls’ sports and using women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
  • Dan Osborn: Supports the Equality Act, which would allow biological males to participate in girls’ sports and use women’s bathrooms and locker rooms.

Religious Freedom

• • Pete Ricketts: Supports protecting sincerely held religious beliefs and practices about marriage, family, and sexuality from government discrimination.
  • Dan Osborn: Supports the Equality Act, which would empower the government to punish people for adhering to sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage and sexuality.

Nebraska Governor

Life

• • Jim Pillen: Supports pro-life policies and opposes proposals to create a constitutional right to abortion, eliminate existing pro-life laws, and allow taxpayer-funded abortion.
  • Lynne Walz: As state senator, opposed major pro-life protections, including LB 574, which restricted abortion at 12 weeks. Indicated she is pro-choice, saying, “I think that it really is between a woman, their family, and their doctor.”

Girls’ Sports and Spaces

• • Jim Pillen: Supports policies prohibiting men from playing in girls’ sports and using women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
  • Lynne Walz: Voted against LB 575, the Sports & Spaces Act, in 2024.

Parental Rights

• • Jim Pillen: Supports the right of parents to control what their child is taught in the classroom, including on topics like sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Lynne Walz: Opposed LB 374, the Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act, in 2023.

Additional candidates who filed after our voter guide survey deadline may appear on your ballot. Visit NebraskaVoterGuide.com to explore the candidates’ full profiles, review their responses and positions, and compare additional candidates for Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Nebraska Legislature, State Board of Education, Nebraska Board of Regents, and U.S. Congress.

Know the Candidates. Understand the Issues. Make Your Plan to Vote.

Access our Election Resource Center to find your polling place and sample ballot, view a judicial performance evaluation, and get the facts on why Nebraskans should reject Initiatives 440 & 441 🚫 and support Initiative 442. ✅

Nebraska Family Alliance is here to equip you and your family with the information you need to make an informed decision about the issues and candidates on your ballot.