Bob Krist
Bob Krist was a member of the Nebraska State Senate, representing District 10. He assumed office on September 11, 2009. He left office on January 8, 2019.
Krist (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Nebraska. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
He ran on a joint ticket with the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, Lynne Walz (D).
Krist is a former nonpartisan member of the Nebraska Unicameral, representing District 10 from 2009 to 2019.[1] He was appointed to the chamber on September 11, 2009. Krist served as Executive Board Chair from 2015 to 2017. In the 2013-2014 session, Krist served as vice chair of the Executive Board. Krist was unable to run for re-election in 2018 to the Nebraska State Senate because of term limits.
In July 2017, Krist announced he would be leaving the Republican Party to run in the 2018 governor's race as a minor party candidate. He intended to remain as a Republican until his term ended in the Nebraska Unicameral but announced on September 13, 2017, that he was officially changing his party affiliation to nonpartisan.[2][3] On July 17, 2017, Krist declared that he would run for governor of Nebraska in 2018.[2] On February 12, 2018, Krist joined the Democratic Party.[4]
Biography
Krist graduated from the University of Saint Thomas. His professional experience includes working as Active Duty Air Force Advisor to Governor Ben Nelson, contract manager, and Chief Pilot in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Krist served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force; he is a Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran.[5]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • General Affairs |
| • Judiciary |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Krist served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • General Affairs |
| • Judiciary |
| • Urban Affairs |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Krist served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • General Affairs |
| • Health and Human Services, Vice Chair |
| • Urban Affairs |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Krist served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • General Affairs |
| • Health and Human Services |
| • Urban Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Krist served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • General Affairs |
| • Government, Military and Veterans Affairs |
| • Urban Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Nebraska
Incumbent Pete Ricketts defeated Bob Krist in the general election for Governor of Nebraska on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Pete Ricketts (R) | 59.0 | 411,812 | |
| Bob Krist (D) | 41.0 | 286,169 | ||
| Total votes: 697,981 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Nebraska
Bob Krist defeated Vanessa Ward and Tyler Davis in the Democratic primary for Governor of Nebraska on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bob Krist | 59.8 | 54,992 | |
 | Vanessa Ward | 28.8 | 26,478 | |
| Tyler Davis | 11.4 | 10,472 | |
| Total votes: 91,942 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska
Incumbent Pete Ricketts defeated Krystal Gabel in the Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Pete Ricketts | 81.4 | 138,292 | |
| Krystal Gabel | 18.6 | 31,568 | ||
| Total votes: 169,860 | ||||
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2014
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day. Incumbent Bob Krist was unopposed in the primary election and was unchallenged in the general election.[6][7][8]
2010
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010
| Nebraska State Senate, District 10 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Robert "Bob" Krist
|
3,884 | |||
| Tim Lonergan | 3,829 | |||
Campaign themes
2018
Campaign website
Krist's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Property Taxes - Tax Reform As the state has cut back on their share of funding for public education in an attempt to balance their budget, the property tax has been used to make up the difference. Not long ago the state contributed 20% of income tax revenues to help fund education. Now that figure is less than 3%. Governor Ricketts pledged to fix the property tax issue but has failed to do so. Instead, he has focused his energies on trying to cut taxes on upper-income earners, corporations, and special interests. His latest proposal — rejected by the Unicameral — would have provided T.D. Ameritrade, the company founded by the Ricketts family, a $13 million tax cut while the typical homeowner would receive a tax credit of $25. As Republican State Senator Steve Erdman noted of this recent proposal, “But he (Ricketts) has never been for property tax relief, he never will be, just face it, straight up.” (LJS 4.24.28) This is not the first attempt by Governor Ricketts to shift the burden of taxation onto the middle class. In previous years, plans offered by Governor Ricketts would have done more of the same. Dramatic cuts to corporate income taxes, slashed taxes for his wealthy friends, increased taxes on low-wage earners and next to nothing for the average property taxpayer. And when he ran for U.S. Senate, Ricketts was a strong advocate for the flat tax, also known as the 30% sales tax, which would have saved him hundreds of thousands of dollars each year while raising taxes on the middle class. Senators Krist and Walz take a different approach. They believe we need to restore the balance in how we pay for education by increasing state aid in exchange for reducing property taxes used to fund education. Krist and Walz want to reform the tax system so it is fair to hard-working Nebraskans. Not behind closed doors, but in the open, where the citizens of Nebraska can be heard and ideas are measured against one standard: is this fair to the people of Nebraska? Non-Partisanship They understand that no single political party or individual has all the answers; that sound policies reflect the collective wisdom of Nebraskans and that progress often comes as a result of compromise. “When I served in the Air Force and was planning or flying combat missions in the Middle East,” Krist noted, “we didn’t have a Democratic way or a Republican way to execute the plan. We only thought about how to do it the right way. And that has been my philosophy ever since.” Unfortunately, the current governor has taken a “my-way-or-the-highway” approach to governing; often attacking and threatening members of the Unicameral if they do not support his policies, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat those that disagree with him. Governor Ricketts calculates his decision based on how they will affect his political future and his personal fortune. If people and programs get harmed as result, to him it is of little consequence. A Krist-Walz administration will help restore the non-partisan philosophy to the Unicameral; an approach that served Nebraska well for over a century. And they will have a blind-eye to partisanship when it comes to nominating judges, hiring a cabinet, and developing and executing government policies. The bottom line for all decisions will be based on one concern: is this good for the people of Nebraska? Agriculture And while much of our country’s farm policy is formulated at the federal level, the Krist-Walz administration will be a strong advocate for agriculture and rural Nebraska at the state level. Their agenda includes the following: Fix the property tax problem. Property taxes are out of control and the current administration has failed to address the issue. We must restore state funding for education and cut the property tax. Oppose the Trump trade war. Nothing is more dangerous to Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers than a trade war that reduces our exports and lowers commodity prices. Krist-Walz will speak out forcefully when actions by the President threaten our livelihood and economic future. Promote and support renewable fuel standards. They are good for the environment, good Nebraska’s economy, and provide thousands of jobs here in Nebraska. Expand and improve rural broadband. Without broadband connections to the world, the capacity of rural Nebraska to grow is reduced and the quality of life is diminished. From health care to manufacturing, and everything in between, rural broadband is essential to agriculture and rural Nebraska’s future. Prepare now for the impact of climate change. We need to look at how changes in our weather patterns may affect our farm economy, and develop alternative plans for a more arid and warmer environment. Promote alternative cash crops. We need to “think outside the box” and look for ways that alternative cash crops can become a viable source of income and serve as an alternative to the standard rotation of crops Fight for federal policies that will expand markets and for Nebraska’s farm product both at home and abroad. Focus on transportation issues (like roads, bridges and railroad crossings) that impact the capacity of our farmers and ranchers to efficiently deliver their product to the market, create safety hazards, or impact future economic development. K-12 Education Bob and Lynne want to treat teachers as partners in the education of our children, not as political enemies. They will turn the page from an administration that is more interested in attacking teachers than supporting students, putting the focus back on the children where it belongs. This is one of the reasons why the Nebraska State Education Association supports the Krist-Walz ticket. Putting the focus back on educating kids means making sure that the state provides meaningful aid to local school districts, so districts have the resources they need to educate our kids, instead of cutting state aid year after year in order to balance the state’s budget. As local school districts are primarily funded by property tax dollars, overhauling state education aid is also a way we can reduce property taxes. It means a focus on early childhood education. Studies have shown that pre-K programs have a positive effect on a child’s development both in and out of the classroom. This is why Bob has pledged to champion programs and funding that provide opportunities for all children, regardless of geographic or demographic barriers. It means investing in the mental health of our students, not only for the general well-being of children across the state but as a school safety issue as well. This is why Lynne introduced LB998, which would have used private donations to fund behavioral health services, particularly in rural school districts, across the state. Despite a strong, bipartisan majority of senators passing the bill, Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed it. Nebraskans deserve a Governor and Lt. Governor who will stand up for kids, for parents, for teachers, for public schools, and for taxpayers. Bob Krist and Lynne Walz will be that team. Healthcare Ricketts has also said “no” to healthcare coverage for 90,000 Nebraskans who currently do without healthcare or end up in the emergency room, costing all Nebraskans higher insurance premiums to pay for the uncompensated care. He also has reduced access to vital healthcare services like cancer screening for women who receive care through Title X services. Ricketts has also reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates, forcing the closure of more than thirty nursing homes and threatening the ability of rural hospitals to keep their doors open. Ricketts also opposed pre-natal care to non-documented pregnant women and has scaled back services provided to our special needs community. This pattern of neglect will change under a Krist-Walz administration. Senator Walz was the sponsor of the legislation to provide additional mental healthcare services to our students. Senator Krist voted for it. A Krist-Walz administration will say “yes” to healthcare coverage for 90,000 Nebraskans through Medicaid expansion. They also support Title X healthcare services and will fight to adequately fund these programs. Krist-Walz will also be strong advocates for our rural health system and understand the need to ensure its financial stability. Bob Krist — the proud father of a special needs daughter — understands first-hand the importance the programs servicing our special needs community and will be their strong advocate as their governor. The difference between the Ricketts administration and a Krist-Walz administration is as clear as night and day: Ricketts offers a pattern of neglect while Krist-Walz offers an aggressive policy agenda to address the healthcare needs of all Nebraskans. Higher Education It is very easy for politicians to pay lip service to higher education, wear red on fall Saturdays, and then fail to deliver on any promises to protect our state colleges and universities, but over the last four years, we have seen even worse than that. Gov. Ricketts has singled out the University of Nebraska system for disproportionate cuts in the state budget, abdicating his responsibility as Governor while he pushed for policies that would line his own pockets. He has funded organizations that advocated for deep cuts in spending on higher education as well as tuition hikes, and he has followed through on that philosophy as Governor. As state senators, Bob Krist and Lynne Walz fought against deep cuts to university programs, and as Governor and Lt. Governor, they will continue to make sure that our colleges and universities are the pride of our state. From our world-class University of Nebraska Medical Center to the University of Nebraska campuses in Lincoln, Omaha, and Kearney, to our state colleges in Chadron, Peru, and Wayne, to our community colleges all across the state, Bob and Lynne are committed to affordable and accessible higher education in Nebraska. There is no better investment that we can make in the future of our state than investing in education. Bob Krist and Lynne Walz are committed to providing a full investment in higher education, and their administration will reverse the course that the Ricketts administration has set through their cuts. Jobs and Economic Development In 2001 Pete Rickets, as COO at Ameritrade laid off 600 employees and that year was given a bonus of $150,000. In 2003, he fired 400 employees and received a bonus of $277,000. And when Ameritrade merged with T.D. Waterhouse, the agreement stated that up to 1,500 employees would be laid off while Pete Ricketts would receive a bonus of 7 million dollars. Old news? When ConAgra moved its corporate headquarters from Omaha to Chicago, the silence you heard from the governor’s office was deafening. And when Cabela’s was forced to merge with Brass Pro Shop, and as a result abandon its headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska and leaving hundreds unemployed, crickets were much louder than Ricketts. Unfortunately, Pete Ricketts has been so focused on pushing policies that would benefit himself and his billionaire friends that he doesn’t seem to care about average Nebraskans and small businesses. Bob Krist and Lynne Walz understand the importance of a job, not only to an individual but to the family that job supports. And as small businesspersons, they understand first-hand how government can help, or hurt, job creation. They understand that key to a good job begins with a good education, from K-12 to our community colleges and universities, to apprenticeships and other job-training programs. Education leads to innovation and entrepreneurial activity, which will help create new start-ups and small businesses that will help Nebraska’s economy grow. In addition, they know first-hand that government regulations need to be streamlined to promote job growth, and that targeted incentives for job creation have a role to play in our new economy, particularly among small entrepreneurs. The Krist-Walz administration understands the need to expand rural broadband, complete our four-lane state-highway system, and invest in our University research programs. Krist-Walz also understands that individuals and businesses measure more than tax incentives when deciding where to locate, or where they want to work. Quality of life measured by such factors as quality of local schools, diversity, entertainment, outdoor activities, transportation, and social acceptance are factors that are important in deciding economic growth. #MeToo For far too long, women have encountered obstacles in their daily lives, both personally and professionally. In 2017, the #MeToo and #TimesUp Movements empowered survivors of sexual violence, harassment, and workplace inequity like nothing else has. Senators Krist and Walz have said that as a result of these encouraging movements, we now have an even greater responsibility to turn our collective outrage and awareness into action. They believe that everyone deserves to earn a living or go to school without the impediments of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination. Instead of focusing only on the individuals who perpetrate these offenses, however, we must also talk about the culture in which they exist. The Krist-Walz administration will place a priority on ensuring that the culture within each state agency ensures all employees feel safe, respected, and comfortable speaking up without fear of retribution. They believe that changing the culture of disparity and misconduct in the workplace starts at the top. Unlike the current administration which ignores warning signs and statements, Krist and Walz will carefully assess all potential appointees — whether that person might lead our state’s law enforcement agency or become a Supreme Court Judge. Senator Krist’s 10 years in the Legislature shows a strong record of supporting bills relating to wage discrimination, paid family and medical leave, protections for nursing mothers, and affirmative consent. As governor, he will continue this support through advocating for the passage of laws for gender parity issues such as equal pay and equal work environments as well as increased opportunities, particularly for women in low-wage industries and women of color. Special Needs Lynne Walz started her career working as a Direct Care Staffer for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Retardation. During her stay, she was part of an effort to help provide residential services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Through hard work, she quickly moved up to the position of Residential Manager. In this position, she began supervising residential care facilities that provide some of the most crucial services to those who need it most. She later transitioned to Bethphage, now known as Mosaic, an organization dedicated to the needs of people with disabilities. As the Executive Director in Fremont and Columbus, Senator Walz oversaw residential and day service programs. On the other hand, Governor Pete Ricketts has taken an adversarial role toward the special needs community. The most blatant example is when he vetoed $17 million of funding for health care providers, including those addressing the needs of those with developmental disabilities. Both Krist and Walz voted to override the Governor’s veto. Bob and Lynne understand that access to vital services must be provided consistently and efficiently for all individuals. Our schools and communities must be looking to provide differentiated education and job-training opportunities to help individuals learn and succeed. Policies to encourage financial independence and planning must be prioritized so that individuals with special needs and their families can have the means to get the care they need both now and in the future. Senator Walz introduced legislation to require the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to provide services to persons with developmental disabilities. Senator Krist co-sponsored legislation (which is now a law) that allows individuals with disabilities to create tax-free savings accounts to set aside money for education, housing, assistive technology and other needs. Krist also co-sponsored legislation that passed that requires insurance companies to provide health care services to kids with autism. When it comes to addressing the special needs community, two very different paths and two very different set of priorities are pursued by Governor Ricketts and the Krist-Walz team. The choice is clear.[9] |
” |
| —Krist for Nebraska[10] | ||
2014
Krist's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[11]
Advocacy
- Excerpt: "Advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves: Senator Krist believes in making sure that everyone is brought to the table - not just those with the loudest voices - and he believes his record speaks for itself."
Justice
- Excerpt: "Senator Krist believes in integrity in the justice system - not justice served based on geography, cultural background, ethnicity, etc. Uniform justice throughout Nebraska is what he strives for."
Immigration
- Excerpt: "Senator Krist believes in maintaining an immigration policy that yields to the needs and concerns of those who immigrate legally and those who are here but of a non-legal status."
Fiscally Responsible Policy
- Excerpt: "Senator Krist believes in efficient government: but also ensuring the commitment to helping those who need it most."
Dedication To Service
- Excerpt: "From his tenure in the USAF to his time at the Madonna School for Students of Exceptional Needs, he believes that it is both a privilege and an honor to serve."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Nebraska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 106th Legislature, 2nd session from January 3 to April 18.
- Holland Children's Movement: 2018 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry: 2018 Legislative Voting Record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 105th Legislature, 1st session from January 4 to May 23.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 2nd session from January 6 to April 20.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 1st session from January 7 to May 29.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 2nd session from January 8 to April 17.[12]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 1st session from January 9 to June 5.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 102nd Legislature, 2nd session from January 4 to April 18.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 102nd Legislature, 1st session from January 5 to June 8.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Krist and his wife, Peggy, have two children.[5]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Robert + Krist + Nebraska + Senate"
See also
- Nebraska State Senate
- Legislature Committees
- Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
- Nebraska state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Facebook page
- Campaign contributions via OpenSecrets
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Omaha.com, "Nebraska State Sen. Bob Krist to leave GOP, try to challenge Ricketts as third-party candidate," July 17, 2017
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, "Omaha Sen. Bob Krist announces his independent run for governor," September 13, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News, "Nebraska Governor Hopeful Krist Joins Democratic Party," February 12, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results: General Election - November 4, 2014," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Krist for Nebraska, "Issues," accessed September 20, 2018
- ↑ voteforbobkrist.com, "Platform," accessed March 14, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "2014 Legislative Session," accessed June 27, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Nebraska State Senate District 10 September 2009–2019 |
Succeeded by Wendy DeBoer |
