Suzanne Geist
Suzanne Geist | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 25th district | |
| In office January 4, 2017 – April 6, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kathy Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Bosn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Suzanne Henderson November 21, 1961 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Nebraska, Lincoln (BA) |
Suzanne Geist (née Henderson; born November 21, 1961) is an American politician who served as a member of the state legislature in the U.S. state of Nebraska from 2017 until her resignation in 2023.[1] She graduated from Pine Bluff High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1980. Afterwards, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and broadcasting in 1984.[2]
In 2016, Geist was elected to represent the 25th Nebraska legislative district, which encompasses the northeast quarter of Lancaster County including the city of Waverly and the eastern portions of the city of Lincoln.[3]
Geist was a candidate in the 2023 Lincoln, Nebraska mayoral election.[4] One day after the primary election, she announced that she would resign as a state senator the subsequent day in order to focus her attention on the mayor's race.[1] She proceeded to lose the general election on May 2, 2023.[5]
Anti-abortion advocacy
[edit]Geist co-sponsored a ban of abortion without exception for rape or incest in 2022 in the Nebraska Legislature.[6][7] In 2022, she was the sponsor of a bill that would restrict medical abortion, including prohibiting delivery by mail and establishing misdemeanor criminal offenses for doctors violating the provisions.[8] Neither of these bills passed within the legislature.
Nebraska's current law banning a subset of abortion procedures referred to in the law as "dismemberment abortion" was sponsored and prioritized by Geist in the 2020 legislative session.[9]
Geist attended "Statesmen Academy" training from the Family Policy Foundation, an anti-abortion group which trains politicians to participate in American culture war.[10]
Electoral history
[edit]2016
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Suzanne Geist | 4,004 | 36.05% | |
| Democratic | Jim Gordon | 3,592 | 32.34% | |
| Republican | Les Spry | 1,696 | 15.27% | |
| Republican | Dale Michels | 1,441 | 12.97% | |
| Independent | David Tagart | 351 | 3.16% | |
| Total votes | 11,106 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Suzanne Geist | 12,899 | 55.61% | |
| Democratic | Jim Gordon | 10,258 | 44.23% | |
| Total votes | 23,194 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Suzanne Geist (incumbent) | 10,407 | 71.34% | |
| Democratic | Stephany Pleasant | 4,151 | 28.45% | |
| Total votes | 14,588 | 100.00% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Suzanne Geist (incumbent) | 16,443 | 66.53% | |
| Democratic | Stephany Pleasant | 8,207 | 33.21% | |
| Total votes | 24,716 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2023
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Leirion Gaylor Baird (incumbent) | 29,216 | 49.80% | |
| Republican | Suzanne Geist | 19,377 | 33.03% | |
| Republican | Stan Parker | 10,071 | 17.17% | |
| Turnout | 58,664 | 33.38% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Leirion Gaylor Baird (incumbent) | 44,496 | 54.65% | |
| Republican | Suzanne Geist | 36,727 | 45.11% | |
| Turnout | 81,415 | 46.11% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Aaron Sanderford (April 5, 2023). "State Sen. Suzanne Geist resigns from Nebraska Legislature to run full-time for Lincoln mayor". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Suzanne Geist's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Legislative District 25 LB 703 - (2011)" (PDF). Nebraska Legislature.
- ^ "State Sen. Suzanne Geist announces GOP bid for Lincoln mayor".
- ^ https://www.lancaster.ne.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18472/Lincoln-General-Election-Day-1010?bidId= [bare URL]
- ^ Scheffler, Aaron. "Senator Albrecht Updates Constituents On Sponsored, Co-Sponsored Bills During Second Session Of 107th Nebraska Legislature". Wayne Daily News.
- ^ Hammel, Paul (April 6, 2022). "'Trigger' abortion bill fails by two votes to overcome eight-hour filibuster". Nebraska Examiner.
- ^ "LB1086 - Adopt the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act". Nebraska Legislature.
- ^ "LB814 - Prohibit dismemberment abortion". Nebraska Legislature.
- ^ Rabey, Steve (August 2, 2023). "Two little-known groups are training conservative legislators and school board members". Baptist New Global.
- ^ "Primary Election Results: May 10, 2016". Lancaster County Election Commissioner.
- ^ "General Election Results: November 8, 2016". Lancaster County Election Commissioner.
- ^ "OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS: Primary Election May 12, 2020". Lancaster County Election Commissioner.
- ^ "Lancaster County Nebraska Official Final Results: November 3, 2020 General Election". Lancaster County Election Commissioner.
- ^ "Summary Results Report - Updated April 7th: OFFICIAL Final Results". Lancaster County Election Commissioner.
- ^ "Summary Results Report - Monday, May 8th: City of Lincoln General Election OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS". Lancaster County Election Commissioner. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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- 1961 births
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Living people
- Politicians from Lincoln, Nebraska
- Politicians from Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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