Nebraska State Fair politics moving away from debates

GRAND ISLAND — The Nebraska State Fair started Aug. 22 with Gov. Jim Pillen and retiring U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., talking from the Earl May Fair Square Stage about their love of the fair.

Pillen said the fair gets “better and better each year.” Bacon called it “such a treat” to be there. Pillen said it’s important to appreciate “who we are as Nebraskans.” Bacon said he enjoys how the fair celebrates agriculture.

While the stock shows and food are the main attractions at the fair — which is older than the state itself, the state’s political parties and politicians still engage in politics there, as Republican and Democratic Party leaders view it as a great way to connect with Nebraskans.

“For many people, the fair may be their only face-to-face interaction with the party outside of campaign season,” a Nebraska GOP spokesperson said. “It’s a chance to listen, to build relationships, and to remind folks that the Republican Party is part of the Nebraska tradition, just like the fair itself.”


https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/31/nebraska-state-fair-politics-moving-away-from-debates/