Brad Ashford endorses Lindstrom, Blood in governor primaries

Former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, who served Nebraskans as both a Republican and a Democrat, endorsed one candidate from each party Friday in Nebraska’s governor’s race.

Ashford said he would like to see State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha win the Republican primary for governor, and Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue represent the Democrats.

In an interview Friday, he said he was impressed with Lindstrom when he got to know him about eight years ago. Ashford said he’s been pleased with Lindstrom's approach in the Legislature.

“He is a doer, someone who has not been particularly political, a worker,” Ashford said.

Blood, he said, has done a strong job in the Legislature and as a Democrat running for governor trying to “carve out a lane for centrist solutions” in our polarized politics.

“I think they are both doers,” Ashford said. “They both would be good governors because they’re problem solvers.”

Asked why he was endorsing in both primaries, and not just picking one candidate, Ashford said he’s trying to encourage a new attitude in politics about getting things done.

Ashford, the last Democrat to represent Nebraska in Congress, said much the same thing in 2020, when he endorsed incumbent Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., over fellow Democrat Kara Eastman, who beat him in the 2018 Democratic primary. Bacon has said his polling showed Ashford’s endorsement helped.

“We don’t need to call each other names and fight over everything,” Ashford said. “We just need to talk and address the issues.”

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