LINCOLN- A legislative race in northern Lancaster County features an incumbent looking to tackle and learn more about top issues for constituents and a challenger who wants to bring his life experiences to the Legislature.

Incumbent State Sen. Beau Ballard was appointed in 2023 and highlighted his background as a small-business owner and legislative aide. His priorities for this term are property taxes, housing, and economic development. He favors measured steps toward legalizing medical cannabis and champions “school choice” as a complement to public education.

Ballard’s opponent, Seth Derner, works as a consultant and was previously an educator. His focus is on emphasizing bipartisan and community-centered governance. Derner opposes public funding for private education and Nebraska’s current abortion law, arguing that reproductive health should rest in personal and medical discretion. Derner supports medical cannabis. However, Derner advocates for cautious approaches to recreational marijuana and sports betting.

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