The Nebraska Democratic Party’s signature donkey symbol decorated in LGBTQ pride colors during the 2023 Heartland Pride Parade. July 15, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
The Nebraska Democratic Party under Chair Jane Kleeb keeps finding ways to shrink its already minority status.
Once a big-tent party that won elections by occupying slightly right-of-center to liberal policy positions, the Nebraska Democratic Party now comes across as demanding ideological purity. Most recently, the Douglas County Democratic Party cut ties with State Sen. Mike McDonnell over his faith-based opposition to abortion. Never mind his labor background and possible strong bid to become Omaha’s next mayor.
It’s not all that surprising. The state party drove lifelong Democrat and Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, the most respected prosecutor in Nebraska, into the arms of the GOP because of a disagreement over one controversial case. The party came off, intentionally or unintentionally, as part of the defund-the-police movement.