Mark Cohen: Few resources, proud accomplishments

The election results were not what we wanted in our race, but I am so proud of what we achieved with so few resources:

I was the only independent in our race. We received nearly double the signatures required and had one of the lowest rejection rates. We obtained roughly 1,000 more signatures in NE-03 than my friend, Dan Osborn, gathered. And we did it with no PAC money of any kind. Our campaign was the first independent U.S. House campaign in NE-03 the Nebraska Farmers Union PAC endorsed. We built a broad coalition, gaining endorsements from people and organizations that don’t always see eye to eye. We held brainstorming sessions on data centers and on agricultural issues. The Grand Island Independent published my op-ed on “Labels.” We elevated the discussion and proposed bold ideas. Adrian Smith received about 9 percentage points less of the vote than he received two years ago. The Democrat received about the same percentage as the Democrat two years ago despite the tariffs, the war, and the price of diesel, which I believe demonstrates that the Democratic Party will not be able to offer a viable candidate in NE-03 anytime soon. I hope the results indicate that Nebraskans are becoming more willing to vote based on a candidate’s qualifications and views rather than based on party affiliation.

This campaign has been the experience of a lifetime for me. I am grateful to the many volunteers who sacrificed their time and to every person who donated even a single dollar to our campaign. I am humbled by the trust you placed in me. Many of you have become friends, and I of course want to stay in touch with all of you.

I ran because I believe in the values our country is supposed to stand for – liberty, equality, due process, free speech, and freedom of religion, to name a few. You’ve heard me say it during this campaign – your voice is a powerful weapon. I urge you to continue to use your voice to stand up for what you believe is right.

As for my future political plans, if any, it’s far too early to say. I want to decompress and reflect on the past fifteen months. I want to get back in shape and begin teaching karate again. I will keep an open mind about an independent U.S. House race in two years or an independent U.S. Senate race in four years. I continue to believe the two-party system divides and distracts us, and that it is not capable of bringing the systemic change I believe we need to survive and prosper as a nation.

During the campaign my Democratic opponent and some of her supporters repeatedly asserted I am not a “real Nebraskan.” So, in closing, I will channel my inner John F. Kennedy and say, “Ich bin ein Nebraskan.”

By Mark Cohen , Lemoyne

Mark Cohen: Few resources, proud accomplishments

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