Chuck Herbster in 2022 NE Governor's race


On Crime: Contributed to a pro-death penalty initiative

In an interview, Herbster insisted that he had no animosity toward Ricketts and said he was baffled by the governor's decision to come out against him. He said he voted for Ricketts in both of his general elections, contributed to his first campaign and donated to his 2015 inaugural. Herbster recalled that shortly after taking office, Ricketts invited him to breakfast and asked for a contribution to a pro-death penalty initiative, which Herbster agreed to.
Source: Politico.com on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Education: There's zero place for CRT in the schools of Nebraska

He condemned Critical Race Theory. He said CRT arrived at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014. An effort to ban CRT at UNL by one of Herbster's Republican opponents failed, he said, but he commended NU Regent Jim Pillen for attempting to ban CRT. "It (CRT) teaches us to be divided rather than united. It works on erasing the history of the country," he said. "There's zero place for CRT in the schools of Nebraska."
Source: Kearney Hub on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Government Reform: Supports Trump's claim of 2020 election irregularities

Hours before a political mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, Herbster was in the crowd as Trump rallied supporters near the White House to keep fighting to overturn the election results. Herbster condemned the violence. He said he agrees with Trump that Congress should listen to the millions of Americans who have questions about election integrity. "It should be our duty to explore those election irregularities, no matter how big or small," Herbster said.
Source: Omaha World-Herald on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Jan 6, 2021

On Government Reform: Conservatives have to push against federal overreach

Herbster said a governor's responsibility was two-fold. First and foremost, a governor is supposed to lead the people of their state, he said. "But secondly, we're at a point in America where governors are going to have to be conservative individuals with a strong backbone. And they're going to have to push against federal government overreach."
Source: Scottsbluff Star-Herald on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Apr 28, 2021

On Government Reform: America is broke, and the answer is term limits

He said Washington politicians don't control their spending. "Washington is not going to fix itself." Raising the debt ceiling only puts the nation deeper in debt, he said. "America is broke, and the answer is term limits: two terms for the Senate and three or four terms for the House."
Source: Kearney Hub on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Health Care: The choice to be vaccinated is personal

He said the media is pressuring Americans to social distance, wear masks and be vaccinated. Herbster said the choice to be vaccinated is personal, between an individual and their doctor.

He condemned vaccine mandates, especially for the military, but said immigrants crossing the Mexican border should be vaccinated.

Source: Kearney Hub on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Immigration: Got to build damn wall, those people are coming to Nebraska

Despite being about 1,500 miles to the Mexican border, Herbster said immigration would be a critical focus. "We got to build a damn wall. You can't have a country if you're going to let everybody keep coming in," he said. Herbster said the reemergence of immigration on the southern border as a national issue prompted him to run for governor. "If we think those people are just gonna stay in Texas, in Arizona, we live in a glasshouse, those people are coming to Nebraska," he said.
Source: Scottsbluff Star-Herald on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race May 4, 2021

On Immigration: We got to build a damn wall; can't let everybody come in

Despite being about 1,500 miles to the Mexican border, Herbster said immigration would be a critical focus of his campaign and administration. "We got to build a damn wall. You can't have a country if you're going to let everybody keep coming in," he said. "If we think those people are just gonna stay in Texas, in Arizona, we live in a glasshouse, those people are coming to Nebraska."
Source: Scottsbluff Star-Herald on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Apr 28, 2021

On Immigration: Undocumented immigrants primarily bad people

Herbster said nations cannot exist without secure borders. "I believe in legal immigration," Herbster said. "These people are primarily bad people. They're coming for a free lunch," and they're smuggling millions of dollars worth of dangerous drugs into the US. In a recent visit to the border, Herbster said he saw parts of the unfinished wall laying on the ground or standing in trenches, waiting for the concrete base to be poured. "Some of the Mexicans probably are stealing parts of the wall," he said.
Source: Kearney Hub on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Principles & Values: Would never back away from support, loyalty for Trump

For Herbster, closeness with the former president is more than political posturing. Herbster said he and Trump have a friendship spanning 16 years. Herbster said he admires Trump's accomplishments, even if doing so alienates some voters. "I can assure you that, my loyalty to what he achieved, what he did, his willingness to put up with all the crap. I would never, in any way, back away from my support and loyalty for the president," Herbster said, referring to Trump.
Source: Scottsbluff Star-Herald on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race May 4, 2021

On Principles & Values: Attended Jan. 6 Trump rally; left before insurrection

Herbster has faced criticism after attending Trump's January 6th rally. Herbster flew out of Washington D.C. for Florida after the rally, but before the riot began, according to the Omaha World Herald, and condemned the actions of the mob. "While I support the right for every American to peacefully protest, what is happening at the Capitol is unacceptable and dangerous," Herbster posted to Twitter on Jan. 6.
Source: News Channel NE on Jan. 6 & 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Apr 29, 2021

On Principles & Values: God protects us because we protect Israel

This is Herbster's first shot at politics. "I'm running for governor because I'm worried about America," he said, noting that he became a born-again

Christian almost 30 years ago in Denver. "America is in trouble because we have lost our way. God protects us because we protect Israel."

Source: Kearney Hub on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race Nov 2, 2021

On Tax Reform: Constitutional amendment to replace state income tax

Herbster announced his support for adoption of a proposed new consumption tax to replace the state's income, corporate, sales and property tax system. The consumption tax proposal calls for a vote of the people in 2022 on a constitutional amendment that would revolutionize the state's tax system. The consumption tax would be applied to the purchase of services and new goods.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race May 4, 2021

The above quotations are from 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Jun 28, 2023