The Nebraska Democratic Party Central Committee on Saturday censured State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, culminating a months-long push to hold him accountable for his vote that allowed passage last year of a 12-week abortion ban and limits on gender-arming care.
The resolution publicly reprimanded McDonnell, saying the new law “has adversely affected the reproductive rights of Nebraskans and the rights of transgender individuals in the state.”
Several people said the resolution was about more than McDonnell and was part of an effort to ensure that 2 of the party’s key constituencies – women and LGBTQ – are supported when their rights are under attack.
One person who identified as nonbinary and was assigned female at birth expressed concerns that news coverage and public reaction to the censure measure would put more trans kids at risk of experiencing public backlash and blowback.
They said they didn’t support censure because it would give McDonnell a platform for his positions and could put “a bigger target on our backs” in a state that is already predominantly conservative.”
A handful of others also argued against the censure resolution because it might harm the party’s reputation with swing voters in the 2nd Congressional District, where Democrats have a chance to win a congressional seat and a presidential electoral vote.