Third Congressional District candidate profile: David Else

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Democrat David Else is running against Daniel Ebers in the Nebraska Primary Election to represent the Third Congressional District. The winner will face a Republican in the General Election in November, either incumbent Adrian Smith, John Walz or Robert McCuiston.

We sent questionnaires to each candidate in the race. Responses from candidates are posted verbatim and not edited for spelling, grammar, or content.

David Else

Political Party: Democrat

District: 3

Website: https://www.facebook.com/DaveElseforCongress/

1. Please provide a brief overview of your background and what drives you to seek this office.

I was first asked to run for Congress in 2020. I didn’t get switched from Independent to Democrat in time to run in 2020. I switched from a life time

Republican. The reason I switched party lines was mostly for healthcare reasons. So many people with cancer and other pre existing conditions would die without ACA healthcare. Also the trade wars Trump had going was destroying our ag prices. So I wanted to help save us farmers. And to tell Trump the trade war isn’t working. In fact it also caused some of this inflation. Trump said right before the election in 2020 he was putting his tariff tax against China off for a year. So people could get their Christmas gifts bought cheaper that year. So a year later it was passed down to the American consumers. That is also when inflation started to rise. That is some of the reasons I want to run for Congress again. And We won the primary in 2022, so I want to work for my constituents. And I say We won, because I am nothing without the people of Nebraska.

2. What would be your top three priorities if (re)elected?

My top 3 priorities would be to get Dental and Vision added to ACA. To make it so China can’t cancel contracts with our Ag products just to buy cheaper from Brazil and Argentina. Raise Social Security by 400 Dollars a month more, so their income can keep up with inflation.

3. How do you plan to advocate for federal support for Nebraska’s agriculture industry?

I plan on getting grants to help our youth so they can use that for the down payment on a farm. We need younger farmers like now. Most farmers are my age or older. It is impossible for a young lady or guy to get started in farming. When 160 acres of land with a pivot on it sells for 1.6 million dollars.

4. What strategies do you propose to enhance the economy?

To enhance our economy I would like to get more factories in smaller towns. Rural Nebraska is the heart of this State with the Ag industry helping with most of our jobs. Like I told Ricketts when his Dad bought the pie factory in Eustis and moved it to Lincoln. Some of the ones who worked there were farmers wives. They can’t pick up a farm and move it to Lincoln. That is what I told Ricketts when he said we offered them a job if they moved to Lincoln.

5. What reforms need to be made to border security and immigration, if any? How do these issues directly impact Nebraskans?

As far as the border issue we need immigrants here in Nebraska to work at our packing plants. They also work at feedlots feeding cattle. They work at dairy farms and even at Pillen’s hog farms. We all would starve without them. I know how hard they work seems I owned a dairy farm for 22 years. Also worked at a packing plant. But like I told Ricketts in Lexington town hall meeting. Why don’t we move factories back from China to Mexico. Then they would have work down there. All they want to do is feed their families. He said he agreed but only back to America. I said well he just said we have a labor shortage in America. Besides Mexico is our number one corn buyers, why not trade with them. Save on freight cost too.

6. What is your stance on U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza? Do you support funding for these conflicts or sanctions against Russia?

I support helping the Ukraine stop Russia. Like several of our exchange students have told me from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany. Putin needs to be stopped before he is the next Hitler.

7. How would you balance being mindful of taxpayer spending and also providing critical services like infrastructure, social security and more to Nebraskans?

I would raise the cap on wealthy people making over 165,000 a year that they don’t have to pay into social security. If they would pay into social security over that cap. We could pay the poorest of people more social security. Build more factories in smaller towns. More smaller packing plants so the top 4 packing plants can’t control the meat prices in the stores. Price gouging the consumers. And paying us farmers and ranchers a fair price on the other end.

8. Many Americans are frustrated and distrustful of our leadership in Washington. How can you work to help rebuild trust between Government and the American people?

And last but for sure not least. When I get to Washington I will work for what is best for this Country. Not just strictly voting party lines. If a Republican Democrat or Independent has a good plan to help all Americans. I am voting for it. We need to stop the childish bickering in Washington. Being a life time farmer. Who has faced many health issues over the years with our children and wife who had a bad horse accident who nearly lost her life. And many farm crisis. I feel I can help balance the budget and it will ne a walk in the park to me after all of our health issues. Giving our daughter a kidney, then my wife gave her a kidney 3 years later at UNMC after she rejected my kidney. We met so many struggling parents who were being good parents being there with their sick child. And lost everything because of no healthcare. This was before ACA. So I want to help save ACA.

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