# Legislature, District 42: 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-42/ 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 - [Mike Jacobson](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/mike-jacobson.md), incumbent - [Shaylee S. Scranton](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/shaylee-s-scranton.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 | |---|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| | Mike Jacobson | yes | yes | yes | yes | — | — | — | yes | — | yes | | Shaylee S. Scranton | — | yes | — | yes | — | — | yes | yes | — | yes | ## Property taxes and cost of living ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says property taxes are too high, that shifting costs does not fix it, and wants spending controls and a broader tax base. > “Property taxes are too high, but shifting costs from one taxpayer to another does not fix the problem. We need to control spending, look for efficiencies, and grow the economy so the tax base is broader.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton No public position found. ## Economy, jobs and trade ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to keep state spending in check and support policies that attract investment and create jobs. > “I also want to keep state spending in check and support policies that help Nebraska communities attract investment and create good jobs.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants less state spending on economic development, saying it should not be centralized or state-guided. > “There needs to be less state spending on ‘economic development,’ as economic development should not be centralized and guided by the state in the first place.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Agriculture and rural Nebraska ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says state policy must continue to support agriculture and energy while letting communities grow. > “Agriculture and energy remain central to our local economy, and state policy must continue to support those industries while allowing communities to grow and adapt to changing economic conditions.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 42", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton No public position found. ## Health care ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says rural hospitals need a stable path to keep serving communities and that recruiting providers is a major challenge. > “Rural Nebraskans need dependable access to hospitals, emergency care and health professionals close to home. Recruiting and retaining providers is a major challenge, and rural hospitals need a stable path to continue serving their communities.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants everyone to have affordable, accessible health care and local or transport options for rural Nebraskans. > “We must ensure everyone in our state has the opportunity to access affordable, accessible, and effective healthcare.” Source: Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska, "Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “Traveling to receive care in rural Nebraska can be a challenge, and I will work to find a solution—whether that’s increasing the ability of our small towns to offer local options, or finding practical ways to help transport those in need.” Source: Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska, "Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Abortion ### Mike Jacobson No public position found. ### Shaylee S. Scranton No public position found. ## Immigration and the border ### Mike Jacobson No public position found. ### Shaylee S. Scranton No public position found. ## Education and school choice ### Mike Jacobson No public position found. ### Shaylee S. Scranton Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says she will make sure rural public schools have the resources they need. > “I will make sure rural public schools have the resources they need to continue forming well-rounded citizens.” Source: Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska, "Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Energy, water and environment ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports clear, consistent state rules for future data centers and says taxpayers and ratepayers should not pay a project's costs. > “Taxpayers and ratepayers should not be left paying costs that belong to a project. I support clear, consistent state rules for future data centers, including clarity about tax incentives, while honoring agreements already in place.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants hyperscale data center development halted and says she will help Sandhills residents protect the region from large energy infrastructure. > “Hyperscale data center development needs to be halted immediately.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “Due to increased demand for energy, largely from growth in AI, these precious hills are under threat of being developed for the infrastructure demanded. I will ensure Sandhillers have the support they need to keep their unique home safe from big industry.” Source: Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska, "Shaylee Scranton for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Guns and public safety ### Mike Jacobson No public position found. ### Shaylee S. Scranton No public position found. ## Elections and government ### Mike Jacobson Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says voter-approved laws should be respected and implemented so they are workable and fiscally sustainable. > “Voter-approved laws should be respected. The Legislature’s role is to implement them while ensuring they are workable, consistent with existing law and fiscally sustainable.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 42", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Shaylee S. Scranton Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says lawmakers should respect the will of the people but may use caution about the funding motivations behind initiatives, and that officials should not take out-of-state campaign contributions. > “It’s important for lawmakers to respect the will of the people. That being said, I don’t think exercising caution is unwarranted when evaluating the funding motivations behind initiatives — though that’s true of any laws being enacted.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 42", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “Honesty, integrity, and humility should be core values of any elected official. They should not take campaign contributions from out-of-state influences.” Source: The North Platte Bulletin, "Election: Scranton challenges Jacobson for Legislature", · News article · published 2026-10-25 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy