GOP Endorses Wilmot over Fellow Republican Williams for Regent

A candidate for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents is celebrating her endorsement by the state Republican Party over her opponent, a state senator who’s also a Republican.

University of Nebraska Board of Regents races are officially nonpartisan, with candidates’ party affiliations not listed on the ballot. But Kathy Wilmot, a Republican running from central and western Nebraska, received an endorsement from Nebraska’s Republican Party.

Wilmot, a former state Board of Education member from Beaver City, is running against state Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, a registered Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. Wilmot said she wants to underscore the differences between them:

“I felt it was important for Republicans to know, even though there’s two Republicans in the race, there’s quite a difference between the two,” Wilmot said.

Wilmot faulted Williams for not signing a letter last March protesting a proposal to teaching Nebraska students about gender identity and sexual orientation. She also said he had only a modest approval rating from the American Conservative Union. Two years ago, that group gave Williams a 60 percent approval rating.

Williams said he’s disappointed in state party’s endorsement, which he also sought. The vote took place after populist insurgents took control of the state party from establishment conservatives in July.

“The change in the Republican Party has left many of us Republicans feeling unwanted by this new group,” Williams said.

Williams pointed to things like his support of tax cuts, his opposition to abortion and his endorsement by conservatives including Repubican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen as evidence of his conservative credentials. However, current Gov. Pete Ricketts contributed $10,000 to Wilmot’s campaign.