Thread by @asanderford

Tonight at 6, join @3NewsNowOmaha’s @jonnykip21 as he hosts our #Omaha mayoral debate. Watch it live on KMTV or follow along on our Facebook page.

You can also stream it live on 3newsnow.com.

I’ll be working today near Fremont, covering the gubernatorial campaign announcement of @CWHerbster.

He joins NU Regent @jim_pillen in the race, as well as likely candidate @SenBLindstrom.

We will have a story at 5 and 10 p.m. for @3NewsNowOmaha.

A look inside the venue.

Here’s a statement from the @NebraskaDems about Republican @CWHerbster announcing his 2022 gubernatorial bid.

I see @chrisbakershow is here. A few people posed for pictures with him.

Crowd filing in. Event kicks off at 3:45p.

We're expecting @CWHerbster to be joined on stage by @KellyannePolls, who we understand might be doing some polling work for the campaign.

It's not clear whether @CLewandowski_ will be here. He's helping the Herbster campaign as a consultant or another similar advisory role.

A little musical deal here before things get started. Playing “Country Roads.”

Here’s how the crowd has filled in. The campaign texted a lot of Trump supporters, asking if they’d be interested in coming. Herbster was a top ag adviser to the 2020 Trump campaign. He also was a VIP at the DC rally the president participated in Jan. 6, before the Capitol riots.

At least two Republicans @3NewsNowOmaha spoke to before the campaign kickoff told us this support for Trump was key to their interest in @CWHerbster.

That's the lane he's pursuing, the Trumpiest Nebraska Republican running for governor. One told us she's undecided but likes him

We might get a couple questions with the candidate after his kickoff speech. What would you like to know?

Ballpark estimate 110-135 people here, including campaign folks and media.

Here’s @CWHerbster with @KellyannePolls. About to start.

Former Nebraska treasurer Loralee Byrd gave the invocation. If you remember the name, you're not alone.

Brandon K., introduced as an employee of Herbster's: recognizing electeds here: Jim Warren of Sarpy Board, Aimee Melton of Omaha City Council, Pat McPherson, former State Board of Ed member, and Mike Kennedy, Millard Board of Ed.

Brandon K.: He's talking about Herbster Angus and Conklin and Charles building brands.

Anna Cooper: Charles is hard at work at becoming the next governor of Nebraska. As long as I've known Charles, his mission has been to help people build better lives for themselves. My oldest sister Judy, was Charles' wife. In 1992, they purchased Conklin. Judy died in 2017.

Anna Cooper: We miss her a lot, and she's with us, and we never stop talking about it. They've asked me to say something personal about Charles. Since Judy's passing, I have helped Charles with several aspects of his business. I'm Conklin's COO.

Anna Cooper: I've seen a man with a passion to help people, to see who they are, through his companies, through his philanthropy and his mentorship.

Anna Cooper: "He's a person who wants to make a difference for Nebraska." Charles will bring extraordinary commitment to the people of Nebraska. He will focus on the issues Nebraskans face. I've seen how his servant heart has helped so many people.

Rob Marsh is next, introduced as a farmer, rancher, school board member and Herbster friend.

Marsh: We are very excited for everyone here and all of Nebraskans to get to know Charles Herbster. He inspires us and he's going to do that for all Nebraska.

Marsh: He donates to cancer research. A few others, FFA chapters, women's health orgs, college scholarships. He cares for children. I think he will be passionate about education. I think he will be an education governor. I think that's really important.

Marsh: He's also passionate about ag.

Marsh: Herbster supports Nebraska agriculture because he lives it.

A lot of talk about true conservatives.

And career politicians.

Now @KellyannePolls is up. Conway: I know a little bit about successful businessmen and political outsiders. You need him to have this job so you can keep your jobs.

Conway: We don't want young families leaving the state because it's unaffordable. "Charles knows all kinds of bull." I can't think of any better description for a governor. I know what's in his head. In his head is the tax burden, the increasing unaffordablility of living here.

Conway: He cares about public safety. He wants to make sure small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed. I also know what's in his heart. Unconditional love and generosity to Nebraskans.

Conway: "He does believe in making and keeping the good life great for all Nebraskans."

Conway: Herbster has chosen as his running mate, Theresa Thibodeaux, former Douglas County GOP head and sister of @MeltonforOmaha.

(They did this to make me have to learn to live tweet that last name on deadline.)

Thibodeaux: Charles will be the next governor of Nebraska, and the reason is because Charles believes in Nebraskans. He knows how hard you work. He has experienced it himself. He signs both sides of the paycheck. There are some pretty big issues we need to tackle in our state.

Thibodeaux: Obviously, taxes. Too many taxes. We are losing children and seniors because people are being taxed too much. We need an entire overhaul of our tax system. You need a bold governor to do that. And you need a tough negotiator.

Thibodeaux: Get one who can negotiate toughly and speak to everyone. Get one who can make sure there are no senators on his team voting present, not voting.

Been corrected. It's Thibodeau.

Thibodeau: We both definitely share a deep love for the unborn.

Thibodeau: We need to be able to stand up to government overreach and push back. (Talking about Biden admin pressure on issues like abortion. Don't know what specific thing she's discussing.)

Now they're playing an ad.

Former Rep. Lee Terry is featured in the ad, along with a bunch of folks around the state. There's Mike Kennedy. Theresa Thibodeau, etc.

Herbster is up next.

He walks up to Lee Greenwood played by the guitarist. Crowd singing.

Herbster: Ladies, you've got Women for Herbster. Has everybody seen your shirts? This is so great.

What do you think of my selection for the next lieutenant gov? (Crowd applauds.)

Herbster: I'm not a politician. I'm a farmer. I'm a cattle breeder. I wanted to ride in on a bull. Wondered what you can do to get attention. Purchased three horses this weekend. That might have been a challenge. (Door is too low.)

Herbster: When I live in Falls City, I'm at the farm. What can I do to tell a story of what my accomplishments were over the years. Thought about a milking contest we had on our farm in 1998.

Herbster is talking about a hand-milking contest with an ag broadcaster that he won.

Herbster: I had the chance to be with President Donald Trump from the time he walked down the escalator. Been a friend of mine since 2005. Asked us to come in early 2016. Laid out the strategy of how to go through rural America. That is all of you.

Herbster: That is what elected, in my opinion, the greatest president of my lifetime.

Herbster: Says he's not going to hide that he loves the Lord. Says he's a born-again Christian.

Herbster: At the age of 16, Kellyanne Conway was the blueberry princess of the state of New Jersey. At the age of 20, won the world blueberry packing contest. (No way to independently verify this right now. Going too fast.)

Herbster: You already saw a sampling of how we will fight for the best Nebraska tax wise, immigration, all the things that are important to all of us.

Herbster: Why are you running for governor? You can have tons of people ask this question. None of them fit my heart. First of all, I love this state. I am a businessman. I don't have to do this. And most of my friends think I've absolutely lost my mind.

Herbster: I really believe with the team we've put together, I really believe we can do this.

Herbster: I'm not afraid of loss. I can bounce back. They're gonna go after me for speeding tickets. I know what the research is. I can tell you in the 80s, that's the one time we didn't live in Falls City. Lived in Link 1982-92. The Conklin fam got old in their age.

Herbster: Had an incredibly successful company that dropped down. What most people don't know is Judy Herbster went to work, waited tables at the Cornhusker Hotel for eight years. Went to work at auto sales so we could survive. I know what it is not to be able to pay your bills.

Herbster: I know what it is to have a wife who worked two jobs while I was trying to attempt to buy the Conklin company, not because I wanted the company but to help the people who could.

Herbster: I know what it is to pay your land taxes late. Many times it was really, really late. Many times I paid the 14 percent interest. I have no children. I have no wife. I have no family. I'm the ideal person to leave Nebraska and move to Florida or Tennessee and save money.

Herbster: I said listen, if it's the difference between disloyal to President Donald J. Trump or becoming the governor of Nebraska, I will not be disloyal to the 45th President of the United States.

Herbster: You might not agree. But you're always going to know where I'm at. I'm not leaving the state. I'm not trying to save money on my taxes.

Herbster: This whole race ... it's not about us. We know this is gonna be difficult. We know this is gonna be tough. We believe in the people in Nebraska more than all of that. It's not about us. It's about a purpose and a mission.

Herbster: When I realized what's happened in Washington in the last 80 days and I read and see on the TV that they want us to eat four pounds of meat a year, they don't know what the hell is going on.

Herbster: If I have to spend every dime I have I will fight the overreach of the federal government. Governors are going to have two jobs. 1, to lead the state. And governors are the last line of defense between freedom and lack of freedom coming out of Washington, D.C.

Herbster: It's about the mission, making this state greater than it is right now. Right now you have young people going to school here and leaving the state. We have to find a way to create jobs to keep more of those people here.

Herbster: You also have people leaving the state to find a better tax base. There's no reason you can't do that here. We need to revise the entire tax system in Nebraska. "That means everything is on the table."

Herbster: I'm pretty good at negotiating. I read the Art of the Deal (Trump's book). We need you to canvass the entire state. My FFA project all the time I was in high school and college was raising pigs.

Herbster: Joni Ernst (of Iowa) isn't the only person who knows how to castrate a pig.

(I think that's it. Headed to an interview.) Thanks for following along.

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