Amidst re-election campaigns, two University of Nebraska regents are making significant expenditures on advertisements opposing a state ballot measure aimed at protecting abortion access, as reported by The Lincoln Journal Star.
Regents Rob Schafer and Jim Scheer, both Republicans, have contributed funds for commercials allegedly created by the Nebraska Family Alliance, a group that advocates against abortion rights. The commercials, which aired in mid-October, concluded with the disclaimer “Paid for by Schafer for Board of Regents.” A subsequent set of related antiabortion commercials was attributed to Scheer’s campaign.
These commercials surfaced just weeks before voters are scheduled to decide on two abortion-related ballot measures, one of which seeks to safeguard access to the procedure—a stance that Schafer and Scheer oppose—while the other aims to impose restrictions.
Although the exact amount spent by the two regents on the advertisements is unknown, the newspaper mentioned that Scheer, a former state legislator running unopposed, recently received a contribution exceeding $1.5 million and has allocated over $900,000 towards TV ads.
Neither regent provided a statement to The Lincoln Journal Star. However, former regent Chuck Hassebrook, who served on the university’s board from 1995 until 2012, remarked that it was unprecedented for members to utilize their campaigns to delve into broader cultural issues.
Nebraska is among a handful of states where university boards are elected. The current governor, Jim Pillen, a Republican, previously served as a regent from 2013 until his resignation in early 2023 following his victory in the gubernatorial race.