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| Laura Ebke |
by Grant Schulte
LINCOLN, Neb. -- A Nebraska
lawmaker who left the Republican Party to become one of the nation's few
Libertarian state legislators is facing the political fight of her life
against two Republicans challengers, including one backed by Gov. Pete
Ricketts.
The
showdown began after state Sen. Laura Ebke switched parties in 2016,
citing concerns about the GOP governor's public demands for more
"platform Republicans" in the Legislature.
The
race is one of the most closely watched in a Tuesday primary that will
eliminate one of the three candidates for the seat and also determine
party nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and Nebraska's three U.S. House
seats.
GOP
officials have unleashed a wave of negative mail and radio ads against
Ebke, of Crete, turning the small-town primary into one of the most
hotly contested races in Nebraska. Ricketts, a multimillionaire, has
donated $5,000 to one of her opponents, Al Riskowski, a longtime ally.
Ebke
said she expected party officials to target her in the election and
acknowledged they might succeed. Incumbents have traditionally fared
well in Nebraska legislative races, but in 2016, three moderate
Republican senators lost their seats after the governor endorsed and
contributed to more conservative challengers. Ricketts said the senators
were defeated because they didn't reflect their conservative districts.
"I
am fully aware that I'm in a precarious position here, especially when
you have the financial power of the governor," Ebke said...
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