Joni Albrecht
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 17th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2017 (2017-01-04)
Preceded byDave Bloomfield
Personal details
Born
Joni Jones

(1958-07-28) July 28, 1958 (age 65)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Michael Albrecht
​
(m. 2010)​
Children6
OccupationFarmer

Joni Albrecht (née Jones; born July 28, 1958) is an American politician who has served in the Nebraska Legislature from the 17th district since 2017.[1][2] She previously served on the Papillion City Council and Sarpy County Board of Commissioners.

Political positions

Abortion

Albrecht opposes abortion, and has introduced several bills to restrict it in the state of Nebraska.[3]

In 2017, Albrecht told the Lincoln Journal Star that she was "shocked" by the number of abortions in the state of Nebraska, commenting that "[w]e need to start talking about things differently and not thinking that it's just so easy to just take a life."[3] On the subject of heartbeat bills being passed in numerous states in 2017, Albrecht commented that she was excited, "but I hope that we're all mindful of what's right for the woman."

In 2021, Albrecht introduced a resolution in the Nebraska Legislature recognizing Julie Schmit-Albin, the daughter of Nebraska Senator Loran Schmit. Among other things, the resolution praised Schmit-Albin for having "successfully shepherded numerous significant pro-life bills through the process to be signed into law by Nebraska governors". The resolution also praised Schmit-Albin as "never one to let a public official waffle on pro-life legislation", and recognized her as the director for the Nebraska Right to Life organization for thirty years, starting in 1989; the resolution also cites the Lincoln Journal Star, which wrote "Check with Schmit-Albin if you want to win" of her political influence.[4] The resolution was adopted by the Nebraska Legislature.[5]

LGBTQ people

In 2021, the Nebraska Department of Education proposed new state health education standards that would include lessons for kindergarteners about family structures, including families with same-gender parents. The standards would also teach first-graders about gender identity and gender stereotypes, and teach sixth-graders about sexual orientation. Albrecht was part of a group of 30 state legislators that signed a letter urging the Nebraska Department of Education not to adopt the standards.[6][7] The standards would have been optional if approved.[7]

Electoral history

Albrecht served on the Papillion City Council from 1998 to 2005 and the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners from 2006 to 2010.[1][8]

Nebraska's 17th district state legislature election, 2020[9][10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Joni Albrecht 3,963 72.7%
Independent Sheryl Lindau 1,489 27.3%
Total votes 5,452 100.0
General election
Independent Joni Albrecht 8,310 68.0%
Independent Sheryl Lindau 3,907 32.0%
Total votes 12,217 100.0

References

  1. ^ a b Duggan, Joe (November 17, 2015). "Five years after leaving politics, former Sarpy official seeks Legislature seat". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Hayworth, Bret (January 4, 2017). "Albrecht begins first term as Nebraska senator". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Young, JoAnne (May 20, 2019). "Nebraska could be headed toward more restrictive abortion law". Lincoln Journal Star.
  4. ^ "Legislative Resolution 30" (PDF). Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "LR30 - Recognize Julie Schmit-Albin for her advocacy on behalf of the unborn". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "47 Nebraska school districts object to sex ed standards". AP News. July 25, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Dejka, Joe (July 25, 2021). "47 Nebraska school boards object to sex ed topics in proposed health standards". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Biography – Sen. Joni Albrecht". Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election May 12, 2020" (PDF). Government of Nebraska. May 12, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Results of Nebraska General Election November 3, 2020" (PDF). Government of Nebraska. November 3, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
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