Julie Slama

Julie Slama
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 1st district
In office
January 9, 2019 – January 8, 2025
Preceded byDan Watermeier
Succeeded byRobert Hallstrom
Personal details
Born (1996-05-02) May 2, 1996 (age 28)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
(m. 2021)​
Children1
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln (JD)

Julie Slama (born May 2, 1996) is an American politician who served in the Nebraska Legislature representing the 1st district from 2019 to 2025.

Early life

Julie Slama was born on May 2, 1996.[1] She graduated from Auburn High School in 2014.[2] She graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2018, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2022. During her time at Yale she was the director of operations for Yale Daily News.[3][1]

Slama was an alternate delegate to the 2014 United States Senate Youth Program.[4] During the 2018 gubernatorial election she worked as the press secretary for Pete Ricketts's gubernatorial campaign.[3]

Nebraska Legislature

Elections

Dan Watermeier, a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 1st district, was elected to the Nebraska Public Service Commission in 2018 and thus vacated his seat. Slama applied for the position and was appointed to the seat by Ricketts.[5][3] She was the youngest member of the legislature's 2019 session and the third-youngest person to serve in the state legislature.[6][7]

Slama announced her campaign for the 2020 election on July 10, 2019, and placed first in the primary against Janet Palmtag and Dennis Schaardt. She defeated Palmtag, who had the endorsement of former Governor Dave Heineman and U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry.[8][9][10] Jessica Flanagain was her campaign manager.[11] She defeated Palmtag in the general election.[12]

Slama declined to file for re-election on February 15, 2024, and will retire at the end of her tenure. She initially sought a second term.[13]

Tenure

During Slama's tenure in the state legislature she has served on the Judiciary,[14] Natural Resources, Reference, and Executive Board committees.[1] In 2021, she sought the position of vice-chair of the Executive Board committee, but lost to Senator Tony Vargas.[15]

Slama was named legislator of the year by the Young Republicans and placed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019.[16][17] In 2022, Slama accused Charles Herbster of reaching up into her skirt at an event hosted by the Douglas County Republican Party in 2019.[18] Both filed lawsuits against each other, but later dropped them.[19]

Political positions

Slama proposed legislation to require students in 8th and 11th grade to pass the American Civics Test.[20][21] She proposed legislation to expand the castle doctrine to include occupied vehicles.[22] She supported an attempt to call a special legislative session to pass legislation to prohibit vaccine requirements by businesses, governmental entities, and schools.[23] She opposed expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to people with felony drug convictions.[24] She proposed anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions legislation.[25]

Slama opposes abortion in all cases, including when the life of the mother is at risk.[26] She proposed a heartbeat bill in 2022.[27] She proposed a motion to censure Senator Machaela Cavanaugh for stating that legislation prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender children was akin to genocide, but Speaker John Arch declined to have it go forward.[28]

Slama proposed a constitutional amendment to require voter ID in order to vote.[29] She proposed legislation to alter Nebraska's selection of presidential electors by switching to having them selected through winner-take-all.[30] She proposed a constitutional amendment to make the state legislature partisan.[31]

Personal life

Slama converted to Catholicism.[32] Her twin sister, Emily, was appointed by Ricketts to the Sarpy County Election Commission in October 2021.[33] She married former state senator Andrew La Grone on December 18, 2021.[1] Slama and La Grone have a son.[34]

Electoral history

2020 Nebraska Legislature 1st district primary[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Julie Slama (incumbent) 6,553 60.47%
Nonpartisan Janet Palmtag 2,244 20.71%
Nonpartisan Dennis Schaardt 1,954 18.03%
Nonpartisan Write-ins 86 0.79%
Total votes 10,837 100.00%
2020 Nebraska Legislature 1st district election[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Julie Slama (incumbent) 12,033 68.14%
Nonpartisan Janet Palmtag 5,627 31.86%
Total votes 17,660 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Sen. Julie Slama". Nebraska Legislature. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ricketts chooses Peru woman to replace Watermeier in Legislature". Lincoln Journal Star. December 26, 2018. p. A10. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Ricketts picks press secretary to fill vacant seat in Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. December 27, 2018. p. 11. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "2 area students chosen for U.S. Senate Youth". Omaha World-Herald. January 26, 2014. p. 18. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "24 apply for two legislative vacancies". Omaha World-Herald. December 8, 2018. p. 13. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "By The Numbers". Lincoln Journal Star. January 6, 2019. p. A8. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "A learning experience". Lincoln Journal Star. March 31, 2019. p. B1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Republican leaders are divided in legislative race". Lincoln Journal Star. June 29, 2019. p. A4. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ricketts appointee Slama seeking to keep her seat". Lincoln Journal Star. July 11, 2019. p. A5. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election May 12, 2020" (PDF). Secretary of State of Nebraska. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "Heineman newest name in gubernatorial chatter". Fremont Tribune. April 14, 2021. p. B4. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Official Results of Nebraska General Election November 3, 2020" (PDF). Secretary of State of Nebraska. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Sanderford, Aaron (February 15, 2024). "State Sen. Slama decides against re-election bid at the last moment". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "Revenue Committee revamped". Lincoln Journal Star. January 10, 2019. p. A8. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Walz unseats Groene as Nebraska chair of Education Committee". Fremont Tribune. January 9, 2021. p. A5. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Slama named Young Republican legislator of year". Lincoln Journal Star. January 10, 2019. p. A8. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Forbes puts Sen. Slama on its 30 under 30 list". Lincoln Journal Star. December 4, 2019. p. B2. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Report on Herbster sparks bipartisan condemnation". Columbus Telegram. April 16, 2022. p. A5. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Herbster, Slama drop dueling lawsuits". Lincoln Journal Star. October 29, 2022. p. A1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Americanism in schools". Lincoln Journal Star. January 18, 2019. p. A5. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "American civics bill hits a roadblock". Lincoln Journal Star. February 21, 2019. p. A10. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Bill seek to expand 'Castle Doctrine' law". Lincoln Journal Star. January 13, 2021. p. B1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Calling for special session". Lincoln Journal Star. October 20, 2021. p. A6. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Bill to expand food stamp eligibility for drug felons dies in Nebraska Legislature". Fremont Tribune. April 13, 2022. p. A6. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Ban on government contracts with firms boycotting Israel heard". Nebraska Public Media. February 10, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Candidates respond to abortion survey". Lincoln Journal Star. April 15, 2020. p. B1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "'Heartbeat' abortion ban bill sets up legislative fight". Lincoln Journal Star. January 6, 2022. p. A3. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Nebraska state senator proposes censuring filibustering colleague". WOWT. March 15, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023.
  29. ^ "Slama proposes voter ID requirement". Lincoln Journal Star. January 8, 2021. p. A3. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Split-vote system under fire". Lincoln Journal Star. February 18, 2021. p. A1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Senator seeks partisan Legislature". Lincoln Journal Star. January 21, 2022. p. B1. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "There is hope: Meet the young Catholic lawmaker who went viral as a champion for life". Catholic News Agency. April 29, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023.
  33. ^ "Ricketts appoints Slama's sister to election post". Lincoln Journal Star. October 3, 2021. p. D2. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Swanson, Dan (December 26, 2023). "Sen. Slama is new mom, chairman of commerce committee". News Channel Nebraska.