State Dems plan first Kerrey Nelson Gala

OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska Democratic Party to hold inaugural Kerrey Nelson Gala on Friday, Oct. 14 in Omaha.

The keynote speaker at the event will be U.S. Rep. Grace Meng of New York, who is serving her fifth term in the House.

Several Democratic candidates and officials will also be in attendance giving speeches, including gubernatorial candidate Sen. Carol Blood, CD1 candidate Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks and CD2 candidate Sen. Tony Vargas and Sen. Ben Nelson, a McCook native and former Nebraska governor.

The State Party will present an award to Seth Rich’s parents in his memory, along with other awards to party leaders.

Each year, the Nebraska Democratic Party celebrates elected officials, candidates, party leaders and grassroots volunteers that build our party. For about two decades, the annual event was called the Morrison Exon fundraiser, in honor of Gov. Frank Morrison and Sen. Jim Exon.

In 2022, the NDP decided it was time to honor two of our current party titans -- Sen. Bob Kerrey and Sen. Ben Nelson -- and re-named the annual event the Kerrey Nelson Gala.