LINCOLN- The Common Ground Committee, a nonprofit group that awards each member of Congress and all state governors a score based on their attempts at bipartisanship, weighed in this month on Nebraska's all-GOP slate of top elected officials. The measurements Common Ground uses to build these scores include the number of bipartisan bills cosponsored, their rhetoric when speaking with or about political opponents, how many visits they make to their districts to discuss policy with political opponents, and whether or not they are a member of any bipartisan working groups. A politician's voting record, however, is not counted in the score.

Rep. Don Bacon, who largely represents the Omaha area, scored the highest of Nebraska's officials, with 104 out of 110 possible points. Scoring lowest this year was Sen. Pete Ricketts, who received zero points, the same score he received last year as governor. Sen. Deb Fischer scored 32 points, the same number that former Sen. Ben Sasse received last year before leaving Congress to lead the University of Florida. Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents the largely rural 3rd Congressional District, scored 22 points, while Rep. Mike Flood took in seven points.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen also scored seven points. Bacon, the highest awarded, is trying to amplify his bipartisan credentials as the United States gears up for the 2024 general election, saying that he would continue to reach across the aisle "without sacrificing our personal beliefs to make life better." Rep. Bacon has, in the past, criticized his likely opponent State Sen. Tony Vargas for, among other things, participating in a protest and supporting abortion rights, but Common Ground only removes points from a politician if they name a political opponent in an attack.

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