Charles Herbster
Republican | Nebraska
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Charles Herbster
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Attended University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, N/A
WORK & MILITARY
Conklin Company, Inc., President and CEO, 1977-Present
Carico Farms, Inc., President and CEO, 1972-Present
Herbster Angus Farms, Inc., President and CEO, 1972-Present
Agri-Solutions, Inc., President and CEO
North American Breeders, Inc., President and CEO
Judy's Dream, Inc., President and CEO
AFFILIATIONS
Republican Party, Member and donor, Multiple pro-life organizations
Donor and supporter, National Day of Prayer, Principal donor and supporter
Falls City High School Scholarship Fund, Donor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None.
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Governor of Nebraska. Left race early due to spouse's health., 2014
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (5)
American Conservative Union PAC
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee
*Donald Trump
Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom
*Pete Ricketts
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
President Donald J. Trump, Nebraska State Trooper Association, Governor Kristi Noem, Lt. Governor Mike Foley, Presidential Advisor Kellyanne Conway, President of Citizens United David Bossie, Donald J. Trump, Jr., Concerned Women of America, other organizations and individuals.
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (35)
Adrian Smith (2020)
Ben Hansen (2018)
Charlie Janssen (2014)
Concerned Americans for Freedom & Opportunity PAC (2018)
Deb Fischer (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE*
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only to save the life of the mother.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
No abortion provider should receive any taxpayer funds whatsoever.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
The Fourteenth Amendment does not trump the First Amendment. Religious liberty is the first guarantee in our Bill of Rights.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
If you mean closing and denying entry to a building, there are certainly circumstances related to immediate imminent danger. However, no state should ever deny the right of people to assemble and worship. I refer you to Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in My Name,…”
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
1) Isolate economically, politically and militarily nation-states that produce, harbor, sponsor or export Islamic terrorism. 2) Form bilateral and multilateral alliances with nation-states that are threatened by neighboring Islamic states what produce, harbor, sponsor or export Islamic terrorism. 3) End the Visa Lottery program. 4) Intensify scrutiny of individuals who travel to our out of nation-states that produce, harbor, sponsor or export Islamic terrorism.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
I support Israel as a great and strong ally of the United States. ________________________________________
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations means medical inoculations of drugs that have been thoroughly tested and that pass the FDA definition of vaccine. Entities may require inoculations if to do otherwise would present a clear danger to others. There are Supreme Court cases that support this approach. However, there should always be remedies for those who may have religious objections to such inoculations, and those remedies cannot be onerous or punitive.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Nebraska has the highest overall tax burden in the region. All aspects of Nebraska’s tax code should be on the table. Property tax increases should be paused, corporate income taxes should be sharply reduced if not eliminated and the personal income tax rates should be reduced and flattened.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
First, there is much to be gained from gaining efficiencies within the state government. Bringing all state agencies back inside their legislatively mandated missions will save millions. Cracking down on Medicaid fraud and putting a work requirement in place for welfare benefits will also reduce spending. Cracking down on illegal immigration will put money back in the pockets of Nebraskans. Every department and agency in the state government should be able to justify its budget each year. If the Governor and the members of the Unicameral will not bend to special interests, considerable savings will be realized.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
No. The state has an obligation to provide educational outcomes in the K12 system. However, educational decisions after high school should be made by the individual. The free market will work to that end. The less government interference in the lives of people the better. ________________________________________
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Build the wall.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
No one has the right to emigrate to the United States. Chain migration must end. The Visa Lottery must end. Only individuals who can support themselves, who have the requisite language and work skills to contribute to the nation should be allowed to emigrate here. We should always have an open door for true refugees. That has always been our tradition.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I believe in the market and school choice options allow the market to work. Breaking the government monopoly on education is necessary in these times. The money should follow the student.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Disagree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
I do not agree that we should redirect funds away from law enforcement. However, we need to find the resources to enhance our mental health and community programs. ________________________________________
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment speaks for itself on this matter. The RIGHT to KEEP and BEAR ARMS shall not be abridged.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Guns don’t kill—people do.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The first, and most important, purpose of government is to protect its citizens. Government should be limited to only those actions that are approved of by those being governed. Government should provide the public goods and services that a free market economy cannot or will not provide. Government should remediate negative externalities such as pollution. Government should guarantee fair and free markets. Government should provide a sound financial system. In the end, government should interfere in the lives of its citizens to least extent possible.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Christian. Conservative. Republican.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Information is available at the campaign website--charleswherbsterfornebraska.com
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
Nebraska needs leadership, and I am a leader. Nebraska needs a new vision so that we might make the Great Life great again. I have that vision. Nebraska needs to regain its economic footing, and my business background gives me the skills and abilities to lead those efforts. Tax reform. Education reform. A new business model for economic development. Let us get these initiatives done and Nebraska will remain the best place in America to raise a family.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
It is clear that our Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by Judeo-Christian teachings and values. Our nation was established so that free individuals could say what they wanted, do what they wanted and practice the religion they wanted. Yes, Judeo-Christian values established the framework of morality for our system of government.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support such policies.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
The institution of marriage is as defined above. I support that definition. Unfortunately, “the government” has changed the definition of what “marriage” means. The Bible is clear on this subject, so secular rationalizations do not change the inerrant word.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT is a threat to America and the American experience. It has no place in our society or education system other than to show what illogical and uninformed scholarship looks like.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in God, the Father, Jesus is the Son of God who redeemed me by dying on the Cross and in the Holy Spirit, who pervades my being and provides me the moral compass by which I guide my life.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Valid photo ID should be required for all in-person voting.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Voter photo ID required. Shorten the early voting windows. No unattended ballot drop boxes. All absentee requests must have a legitimate reason for the absentee ballot. Signature verification on all ballots. Random hand count audits of at least 10% precincts in the state.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, racism is not a threat to national security. This is the land of equal opportunity, and every single person should be allowed to achieve to their own potential without the government getting in the way. We should live in a color-blind society.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
I am a conservative, and I believe that we have an obligation to do all we can to ensure clean air, clean water and fertile land upon which we can produce the food to feed ourselves and the rest of the world. Conservation allows us to strike the balance between preserving our habitat with making sure we remain a productive nation.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Disagree
