Lincoln Journal Star Endorses Independent Jim Jenkins in Nebraska Senate Race

The Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska’s second-largest newspaper, has endorsed independent candidate Jim Jenkins in that state’s U.S. Senate race.

In endorsing the wealthy Callaway rancher and businessman in his uphill battle against Republican Ben Sasse and Democratic nominee Dave Domina, the Journal Star maintained that “a handful of sensible independents” could help end the hyper-partisan gridlock that has paralyzed the Beltway for most of the past decade.

There’s an old saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

It seems to the Journal Star editorial board that the saying applies to sending traditional partisan politicians to Washington.

Imagine the U.S. Senate with a handful of sensible independents to tip the balance in favor of workable solutions. It’s not as unthinkable as it might seem.

Jenkins, who bills himself as a fiscal conservative, is one of five candidates vying for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Mike Johanns. In addition to Jenkins, Sasse and Domina, accountant Todd Watson, an independent, and the Tax Wall Street Party’s Dan Buhrdorf, a longtime antiwar activist from Lincoln who has been quietly canvassing the state as a write-in candidate, are also running.