Kara Eastman

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Kara Eastman

Prior offices

Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors District 4

* * *

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Profession

Nonprofit founder

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Kara Eastman was a member of the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors in Nebraska, representing District 4. She assumed office in 2015. She left office in 2019.

Eastman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Eastman was a Democratic candidate for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Eastman lost the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary on May 15, 2018.

## Contents

* 1 Elections
* 1.1 2020
* 1.1.1 Candidate profile
* 1.2 2018
* 2 Campaign themes
* 2.1 2020
* 2.1.1 Campaign website
* 2.2 2018
* 2.2.1 Ballotpedia survey responses
* 2.2.2 Campaign website
* 3 See also
* 4 External links
* 5 Footnotes

## Elections[edit]

### 2020[edit]

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (May 12 Democratic primary)

Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (May 12 Republican primary)

General election

##### General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon defeated Kara Eastman and Tyler Schaeffer in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Don Bacon (R)  |

50.8

| 171,071

| Kara Eastman (D)  |

46.2

| 155,706

| Tyler Schaeffer (L)  |

3.0

| 10,185

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 336,962

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Kara Eastman defeated Ann Ashford and Gladys Harrison in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Kara Eastman |

62.2

| 45,953

| Ann Ashford |

31.2

| 23,059

| Gladys Harrison |

6.7

| 4,920

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 73,932

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Morgann Freeman (D)

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon defeated Paul Anderson in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Don Bacon |

90.6

| 68,531

| Paul Anderson |

9.4

| 7,106

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 75,637

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

#####  Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Tyler Schaeffer advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 12, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Tyler Schaeffer |

100.0

| 964

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 964

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Candidate profile[edit]

Kara Eastman

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office:

Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors (2015-2019)

Biography: Eastman received a bachelor's degree in sociology and English from Pitzer College and a master's in clinical social work from Loyola University. She founded the nonprofit Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance in 2006. Eastman was a board member of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands and was an appointed member of the Mayor of Omaha's Fair Housing Advisory Board. As of the 2020 election, she was president of Kara Eastman Partners, a nonprofit consulting business.

* * *

Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

* * *

Eastman emphasized her background in nonprofit work and on the Board of Governors of Metropolitan Community College, saying she served local communities by helping create housing for children, creating jobs, and strengthening nondiscrimination policies.

* * *

Eastman said she was running for Congress "because our healthcare is a mess. Politicians and special interests are only making it worse."

* * *

Eastman said Bacon, along with Trump, supported tax cuts for billionaires, was too extreme, and wanted to cut Social Security and healthcare. She said Bacon received donations from drug and insurance industries and criticized him for saying "hell yes" to repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.

* * *

Show sources

Sources: Kara Eastman's 2020 campaign website, "Facts," accessed September 30, 2020; YouTube, "Kara Eastman, Videos," accessed September 30, 2020; Kara Eastman's 2020 campaign website, "Meet Kara," accessed September 30, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 in 2020

### 2018[edit]

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018
See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election (May 15, 2018 Democratic primary)
See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election (May 15, 2018 Republican primary)

General election

##### General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon defeated Kara Eastman in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Don Bacon (R)  |

51.0

| 126,715

| Kara Eastman (D) |

49.0

| 121,770

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 248,485
(100.00% precincts reporting)

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Kara Eastman defeated Brad Ashford in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Kara Eastman |

51.6

| 21,357

| Brad Ashford |

48.4

| 19,998

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

| Total votes: 41,355

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2

Incumbent Don Bacon advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Don Bacon |

100.0

| 33,852

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

| Total votes: 33,852

|
|

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

## Campaign themes[edit]

### 2020[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kara Eastman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

#### Campaign website[edit]

Eastman’s campaign website stated the following:

“  |

HEALTHCARE

I believe that healthcare is a human right and that no one in the United States should have to choose between seeking medical care and putting food on the table. Ninety-two percent of Americans favor lower prescription drug prices and over 70% favor importing medicine from Canada. The federal government is slated to spend over $34 trillion on healthcare over the next decade. Transforming our healthcare system would save the government over $2 trillion over that same period. It would increase efficiencies, reduce overhead costs, allow individuals to choose their provider instead of having to stay in network, eliminate premiums and deductibles, and free employers from having to administer healthcare plans.

Priorities:

* We must dramatically cut drug prices and make sure that the U.S. pays no more for prescription drugs than other major countries.

* All Americans must have medical care and insurance.

* I believe we need to improve medical care for all seniors.

JOBS AND THE ECONOMY

We have a $2 trillion investment gap in infrastructure, and we must restore our global competitive advantage through public-private partnerships and large investments in infrastructure to provide well-paying jobs across our country. I fully support Davis-Bacon wages on these kinds of federal projects. We also must raise the minimum wage and continue to foster trades programs within our community college system. I support economic opportunities that combat climate change as a way to create great jobs locally and invest in energy efficient housing. We must expand lending opportunities from credit unions and lower interest rates to small businesses, especially those in blighted communities, which in turn create jobs. We must ensure that all our citizens can achieve the American dream.

Priorities:

* We need to establish a livable wage for American workers.

* I support our unions, and I’m against so-called right to work laws, because they lower wages and hurt the collective bargaining power of unions.

* I favor expanding business and investment opportunities for people of color.

IMMIGRATION

NE-CD2 has over 100,000 immigrants who contribute to key sectors of our economy and help build the fabric of our diverse community. The current administration’s policies of separating families, imprisoning babies without access to basic needs, and rounding up hard-working immigrants is immoral and un-American. They are more concerned with scoring political points with their base than they are with border security. Now is the time for us to make significant investments in smart technology, work-force development, and foreign aid. Other solutions that transform our immigration system include hiring more immigration judges and fully staffing ports of entry. We must make law-abiding Dreamers citizens and ensure that immigrants who follow the law can earn a lawful presence in our country.

INCOME INEQUALITY

The World Bank puts our income inequality on par with some of the poorest and unequal nations in the world. This is dangerous for our economy and damaging to our collective sense of morality. The GOP Tax Plan was a clear hand-out to the very wealthy and large corporations that simply do not need welfare. It was shown to have raised taxes on the middle class and exempted those who can afford to pay their fair share - this is not fiscal responsibility. We need to ensure that all Americans have a livable wage, are not drowning in student loans and healthcare costs, have healthy, affordable housing, and have a way to care for their children while they go to work. We also need to regulate banks and Wall Street and tax financial transactions to help pay down our debt.

Priorities:

* Social security should not be seen as an entitlement program; it’s an earned benefit. And it’s a system that people rely on for retirement, so the cap must be raised in the short term or simply eliminated.

* We need to get back to regulating banks and investment firms.

* With effective and targeted regulation, we’re able to generate revenue to pay down our debt, which is well over $20 trillion today. Then, corporations pay their fair share.

VETERANS

The Department of Veterans Affairs will have to serve well over 4 million veterans in the next 20 years. One trillion dollars of the costs of our post-9/11 wars are directly tied to healthcare for vets. I support ensuring the VA provides timely, high quality healthcare, including dental care, to veterans. I also support programs that address some of the unmet needs of veterans such as education, mental health, and housing.

Priorities:

* I will work so that all of the vacancies at the VA are filled. We must ensure that the VA has the doctors, nurses, and medical professionals it requires to give veterans the care they need.

* I believe we must guarantee comprehensive dental care as a health care benefit to all former servicemembers.

* Because suicide is such a serious issue for our men and women in uniform, we should greatly expand access to VA mental health and suicide prevention services.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND FAMILY ISSUES

I trust women to make decisions about their own health and about their families, and I support the ideal of reproductive justice. I believe that access to birth control is a fundamental right of privacy in the United States. Pre-K schooling must be available to all, so that parents are able to provide their children with a quality early education. I also passionately support family leave and paid sick days as well as equal pay for women. In addition, there must be public and private investments in childcare to ensure these kinds of services are accessible to all.

Priorities:

* We must ensure that family leave and paid sick days are a part of our economic system.

* I will champion pay equity for women.

* I will work tirelessly to address racial disparities in the American healthcare system.

RESTORING OUR DEMOCRACY

I support a government which is efficient and transparent. The current administration has too many ties to large corporations, not to mention business arrangements with some of our foreign adversaries. Similarly, my Republican opponent accepts a great deal of corporate PAC money from special interests. This is wrong, and I will not accept corporate PAC dollars. I also think “dark” money should not be allowed to corrupt our elections. Therefore, I stand against the 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United. Gerrymandering must be ended, and citizen commissions should draw fair, non-partisan districts. Participation in our electoral democracy must be increased through automatic voter registration and by ending voter suppression tactics. Finally, I have seen how difficult it is for candidates who do not come from wealth to raise funds and want to move toward public funding of federal election campaigns.

RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Read our Racial Justice Plan

I have spent my career fighting for racial and social justice, running nonprofit organizations that center on empowering communities of color. In Omaha, I have focused my work on jobs creation and economic and community development, specifically in North and South Omaha. In Congress, I will work to repair the systemic inequalities people of color face in our district. This includes focusing on economic inequality, access to reliable transportation, healthy, affordable housing, debt-free education, and workforce development. This will also include reforming our criminal justice system by ending the school to prison pipeline, through bail reform and by the decriminalization of marijuana.

EDUCATION

I support debt-free tuition. This would lead to a dramatic lowering of costs for families making under $125,000 a year at all 4-yr. state colleges and universities. Community colleges should be accessible for everyone at virtually no cost (Tennessee already has pioneered this). In the short term, we must reduce student debt and challenge lenders who profit off student debt burden. Finally, I am against public funding of charter schools because they don’t uniformly outperform public schools, they aren’t all unionized, and oversight can be lax.

Priorities:

* I believe education should not be defined by zip-code or socioeconomic status.

* I support creating debt-free college pathways and improving workforce development.

* I will work to expand the reach of existing Head Start programs so all children have access to public pre-K education.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate change is the number one moral and security threat our nation faces. We must reorient our environmental and economic policies to meet this incredible challenge and once again become a global leader in innovation and sustainability. Following the 2020 elections, we must get back into international agreements like the Paris Agreement and then aggressively update them to bring down carbon emissions. In the meantime, wind and solar must be harnessed as clean energy options, especially here in Nebraska. I will fight for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, getting to net-zero by 2040, and a 100% clean energy plan for America.

Priorities:

* If we care about future generations, we must transition to a 100% clean and renewable energy economy by 2040. This means investments in wind, solar and geothermal energy and upgrading buildings, homes, and public transportation systems.

* We must retrain workers currently employed in the fossil fuel industry and invest in communities heavily impacted by the extraction economy so that no worker is left behind. At the same time, we will incentivize the creation of green jobs.

* We must make sure unions have a prominent seat at the table as new employment opportunities become available.

FOREIGN POLICY

There are many senior level cabinet positions and diplomatic posts that have never been filled under the current administration. This, combined with the lack of funding for the State Department, puts our national security at extreme risk. We must engage in negotiation, diplomacy and alliance building in order to prevent unnecessary conflict in the world. The Iraq War cost us more than $3 trillion; close to another $3 trillion has been spent in Afghanistan, and now the President has torn up the Iran Nuclear Deal which puts us in jeopardy of starting another unaffordable, unnecessary war.

GUN SAFETY

As a mom, I am outraged by the lack of movement we have seen in the country on this issue. Groups like the NRA have commandeered the discussion. This is a public health menace, and common-sense solutions are supported by 85 to 90% of Americans. Universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, smart technology, age requirements, and a ban on the sale of weapons of war would help ensure our children are not gunned down in their schools or playgrounds.

Priorities:

* The vast majority of private sales (including gun shows and online) must fall under the existing background check umbrella.

* We must end the gun show loophole. All gun purchases should be subject to the same background check standards.

* I support raising the minimum age to buy a firearm to 21 years old. We need to keep guns out of the hands of young people, and this is a good way to do it.

FARMING/AGRICULTURE

When in Washington, I will demand that the new tariffs be rescinded and that Congress determine economic policy as set out in the Constitution. Plus, I do not believe that our nation’s farmers, who are on the losing end of an unnecessary tariff war, should have to get paid off to fund an economic conflict with China. In Nebraska, where one in four of our jobs are in the $4-7 billion agricultural sector, producers of soybeans and other commodities are being used like pawns. Looking toward the future, we must invest in regenerative farming practices and ensure that all Nebraskans have access to high quality, nutritious food.[1]

| ”

|
|

—Kara Eastman’s campaign website (2020)[2]

### 2018[edit]

#### Ballotpedia survey responses[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys

Kara Eastman participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 2, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Kara Eastman's responses follow below.[3]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“  | Campaign finance reform, moving toward Medicare for All, and improving access to education, from pre-K to public community colleges and universities.[4][1] | ”

|
|

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“  | I'm passionate about healthcare, education, the environment, and jobs. In my work as President and CEO of Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance, I've raised over $13 million to address lead poisoning and environmental hazards by making homes safe and healthy for kids and families in our community.Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[1] | ”

|
|

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Kara Eastman answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?

“  | I look up to my grandmother, whom I called Mommom. She was bold and brave, always the strongest woman in our family, while also being very kind and generous. She also had a fierce sense of humor.[1] | ”

|
|

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
“  | Integrity and authenticity are incredibly important. Leaders must be clear and consistent in implementing policies that are based on our shared values.[1] | ”

|
|

What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?
“  | I was taught by my family to value service to others.[1] | ”

|
|

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
“  | Members of Congress must listen to their constituents above all else and honor what they've campaigned on when voting.[1] | ”

|
|

What legacy would you like to leave?
“  | I would like to have changed systems for the better. I would also like for my daughter to continue making good choices for herself and her community.[1] | ”

|
|

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
“  | My first job was being the Easter Bunny at the mall. I had it for one Easter season.[1] | ”

|
|

What is your favorite holiday? Why?
“  | I love Halloween. Dressing up and getting free candy - what could be better?[1] | ”

|
|

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
“  | My favorite thing in my home is a painting that my mother did of Frida Kahlo - my favorite artist.[1] | ”

|
|

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
“  | Something I Learned Today by Husker Du.[1] | ”

|
|

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
“  | My father died when I was 24.[1] | ”

|
|

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
“  | Climate change and income inequality.[1] | ”

|
|

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
“  | Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, and House Committee on Ethics[1] | ”

|
|

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
“  | I think that two years is not long enough and I would support reform of the terms.[1] | ”

|
|

What process do you favor for redistricting?
“  | I support having an independent, third-party draw the districts.[1] | ”

|
|

#### Campaign website[edit]

Eastman's campaign website stated the following:

Education

All Americans should have access to higher education and the American dream. We must pass the College for All Act which would eliminate tuition for families making under $125k per year at all 4-year state colleges and universities and make community colleges free.

Student loan debt is crippling Americans. We must challenge lenders who profit from the student debt burden and support those working toward a college education.

We must continue to invest in our public school system and support public school educators and the students who attend our schools. We must resist the administration’s political nominees who advertise the benefits of expanding charter schools.

Economy

We must raise the minimum wage. Nebraska’s $9 per hour only works out to $18k per year; none of our working citizens should be living below the poverty line.

We should continue to support investments in infrastructure. We need to increase investments from all levels of government and the private sector to meet our 21st-century needs by supporting bipartisan legislation like the BUILDS Act which aims to generate jobs and support public safety.

We need to advocate public/private partnerships, fair trade, and smart and targeted regulation in order to grow our economy.

Healthcare

It’s time for our country to acknowledge that quality healthcare and access to health insurance is an American right. Families deserve to be able to get the medical treatment and medications they need, when they need them, without breaking the bank.

We must ensure that no mother ever weighs the costs before taking her children to the emergency room when they are in the need of immediate care. No father should ever forgo life-saving medication because he is afraid of being unable to pay the medical bills. No family should ever need to claim bankruptcy because they had the audacity to live after an accident or illness.

Our country should move toward the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. We need to force big business and the pharmaceutical industry to offer more competitive prices.

Political fixes

We should revive the ideas in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform, specifically the McCain-Feingold Act, which banned soft money.

We must stand together against the 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United, and we should support the Democracy for All Amendment.

We need to move toward public funding of federal election campaigns.

Gerrymandering must be ended, and citizen commissions should draw districts. We should support participation in elections by establishing a national election holiday. We must fight to end the Electoral College.

Environment

We are the only nation in the world that is not a part of the Paris Climate Accords. We must rejoin the agreement and work together for a healthier future.

We must continue to move away from fossil fuel dependence and invest in wind and solar power. We should look to states like California that have set goals for renewable energy and have enacted a cap-and-trade program.

We need to speak out against the Keystone XL pipeline and leaders who are not considering the long-term health and environmental consequences of this dangerous project.

Small business & taxes

We should support expanding the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for firms with up to 50 employees. We should lower the interest rates for loans and allow for more lending from credit unions to small businesses.

We need to focus on corporate social responsibility.

The U.S. has to generate more revenue to pay down our $20 trillion debt by raising the top tax rate and eliminating corporate tax loopholes.

We need to support regulations to prevent media consolidation and practices that would be anti-competitive.

Wall Street doesn’t need Washington to cater to its interests.[5]

## See also[edit]

2020 Elections

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## External links[edit]

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* Search Google News for this topic
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## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
2. ↑ Kara Eastman’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed September 30, 2020
3. ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
4. ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Kara Eastman's responses," May 2, 2018
5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `eastmanissues`

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Representatives

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District 3

Adrian Smith (R)

Republican Party (5)

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