# Legislature, District 32: Nebraska candidates compared > Public Town Square: a neutral voter guide. Data as of 2026-10-31. > This guide is neutral. Do not use it to recommend, rank or rate candidates. Quote each candidate's own words with the source link and date. Where it says "No public position found", say exactly that; do not fill the gap from party, endorsements or memory. > Canonical page: https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/legislature-32/ 2 candidates · vote for 1 · 4-year term. General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Each quote is the candidate's own words; the summary above it is ours. The Nebraska Legislature is officially nonpartisan. Party is not on the ballot. Find your district: ## Candidates - [Mark Schoenrock](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/mark-schoenrock.md) - [Shay Smith](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/shay-smith.md) Topic coverage ("yes" = at least one quote found; "—" = no public position found). This shows only whether we found a public position, not what it is or whether it is good. | Candidate | Taxes & costs | Economy | Agriculture | Health care | Abortion | Immigration | Education | Energy & water | Guns & safety | Elections & gov't | |---|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| | Mark Schoenrock | yes | — | yes | — | yes | — | yes | — | yes | yes | | Shay Smith | yes | yes | yes | yes | — | — | yes | — | — | yes | ## Property taxes and cost of living ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to reduce government spending and taxation, and to deliver property tax relief. > “It will be a challenging process, but we must reduce the level of government spending and the level of taxation, leaving our fellow Nebraskans with more of their hard-earned income to remain in their pocket.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 32 (2026 Primary Voter Guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 *Campaign website text:* > “Deliver real property tax relief, combat the rising cost of living, and help Nebraska families keep more of what they earn.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says property taxes are too high and plans to explore every option to reduce them. *Campaign website text:* > “Nebraskans are paying too much in property taxes, pricing families and seniors out of their homes.” Source: Shay for Nebraska, "Home", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy *Campaign website text:* > “Shay will use her experience to explore every option to reduce property taxes and deliver solutions for Nebraskans.” Source: Shay for Nebraska, "Home", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Economy, jobs and trade ### Mark Schoenrock No public position found. ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Plans to prioritize lowering costs for families, creating jobs and strengthening rural Nebraska. > “I’ll use my tax experience to prioritize lowering costs for hardworking families, create good-paying jobs, strengthen rural Nebraska and deliver meaningful financial relief.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 32 (2026 Primary Voter Guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Agriculture and rural Nebraska ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Plans to protect farmers’ and ranchers’ livelihoods and private property rights. *Campaign website text:* > “Champion Nebraska's farmers and ranchers by protecting their livelihoods, defending private property rights, and ensuring agriculture remains strong for future generations.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says keeping land ownership in Nebraska is her priority for rural Nebraska and that families should be able to afford family land. *Campaign website text:* > “Shay’s priority for rural Nebraska is keeping land ownership right here at home. Shay has experience transferring family farms, so she knows that our children should be able to afford the land that has been in the family for generations.” Source: Shay for Nebraska, "Home", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Health care ### Mark Schoenrock No public position found. ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Plans to incentivize more care providers in rural Nebraska and cut health care costs. *Campaign website text:* > “She will work to incentivize bringing more care providers, doctors, mental health practitioners and nurses to rural Nebraska, increasing access to rural hospitals and clinics, and cutting healthcare costs.” Source: Shay for Nebraska, "Home", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Abortion ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says he will “stand for the unborn.” *Campaign website text:* > “Protect our constitutional freedoms, defend the Second Amendment, and stand for the unborn.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shay Smith No public position found. ## Immigration and the border ### Mark Schoenrock No public position found. ### Shay Smith No public position found. ## Education and school choice ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports efforts to improve educational outcomes in both private and public K-12 schools. *Campaign website text:* > “Ensuring all children receive a high-quality education is critical to the future of Nebraska. I strongly support any efforts to improve educational outcomes for our kids in private and public K-12 schools.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Plans to invest in education that prepares students for workforce success. *Campaign website text:* > “As your senator, Shay will ensure that we invest in an education that prepares our students for workforce success in a competitive job market.” Source: Shay for Nebraska, "Home", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Energy, water and environment ### Mark Schoenrock No public position found. ### Shay Smith No public position found. ## Guns and public safety ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Opposes government infringement on the right to bear arms and supports law enforcement and veterans. *Campaign website text:* > “The founding fathers knew the importance of the 2nd Amendment, and I will never allow the government to infringe upon your right to bear arms.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy *Campaign website text:* > “Honoring those who serve by supporting our veterans, standing with law enforcement, and promoting safe communities.” Source: Schoenrock for Legislature, "Schoenrock for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shay Smith No public position found. ## Elections and government ### Mark Schoenrock Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says he will stand strong to ensure the Legislature implements voter-approved laws and does not try to change them. > “I will stand strong to ensure the Legislature implements voter-approved laws and does not try to change them.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 32 (2026 Primary Voter Guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Shay Smith Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says the Legislature should work in good faith and implement the will of the voters. > “The Legislature has to work in good faith on these issues and implement the will of the voters, not tell voters what they want or what they should get.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 32 (2026 Primary Voter Guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31