# Legislature, District 18: Nebraska candidates compared > Public Town Square: a neutral voter guide. Data as of 2026-10-31. > This guide is neutral. Do not use it to recommend, rank or rate candidates. Quote each candidate's own words with the source link and date. Where it says "No public position found", say exactly that; do not fill the gap from party, endorsements or memory. > Canonical page: https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/legislature-18/ 2 candidates · vote for 1 · 4-year term. General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Each quote is the candidate's own words; the summary above it is ours. The Nebraska Legislature is officially nonpartisan. Party is not on the ballot. Find your district: ## Candidates - [Jess Goldoni](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/jess-goldoni.md) - [Taylor Royal](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/taylor-royal.md) Topic coverage ("yes" = at least one quote found; "—" = no public position found). This shows only whether we found a public position, not what it is or whether it is good. | Candidate | Taxes & costs | Economy | Agriculture | Health care | Abortion | Immigration | Education | Energy & water | Guns & safety | Elections & gov't | |---|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| | Jess Goldoni | yes | yes | — | yes | — | — | yes | yes | — | yes | | Taylor Royal | yes | yes | — | — | — | — | yes | yes | yes | yes | ## Property taxes and cost of living ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports modernizing the school funding formula and direct property tax relief, and opposes raising the statewide sales tax rate or taxing groceries. > “I support modernizing TEEOSA and reconsidering the balance between state and local funding while protecting strong public schools. I support direct property tax relief.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “I do not support raising the statewide sales tax rate or taxing necessities like groceries simply so government can say it lowered another tax.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants automatic rate reductions to keep property taxes flat, an expanded senior homestead exemption and an inflation cap, and a low sales tax that exempts essentials. > “We need to provide immediate property tax relief by 1) keeping property taxes flat even when valuations increase by having an automatic rate reduction, 2) expanding the homestead exemption for seniors and 3) capping overall property taxes at inflation.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “I favor a low sales tax rate that doesn’t tax business-to-business inputs or essential consumer goods.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Economy, jobs and trade ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to make it easier to start and grow a business, build workforce housing and infrastructure, and connect students to skilled trades. > “That means making it easier to start and grow a business, building workforce housing and infrastructure and connecting students earlier to dual credit, apprenticeships, skilled trades and careers that exist here.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to grow the economy, raise wages and bring in new businesses and families. *Campaign website text:* > “Grow Our Economy, Raise Wages, and End Brain Drain.” Source: Taylor Royal for Legislature, "Taylor Royal for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “We need to prioritize a growth mentality to bring in new businesses and families.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Agriculture and rural Nebraska ### Jess Goldoni No public position found. ### Taylor Royal No public position found. ## Health care ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Pledges to expand health care access, including mental health services and telehealth. > “And I'll expand health care access, including mental health services and telehealth for families who can't drive an hour for an appointment.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal No public position found. ## Abortion ### Jess Goldoni No public position found. ### Taylor Royal No public position found. ## Immigration and the border ### Jess Goldoni No public position found. ### Taylor Royal No public position found. ## Education and school choice ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Plans to push for schools and workforce programs that build pipelines to the trades. > “I'll push for schools and workforce programs that build pipelines to the trades and jobs of the future: apprenticeships, certifications and career-ready skills.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to support schools, expand skilled trade programs and increase teacher pay. *Campaign website text:* > “Support our Schools, Expand Skilled Trade Programs, & Increase Teacher Pay” Source: Taylor Royal for Legislature, "Taylor Royal for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Energy, water and environment ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Opposes banning data centers and supports statewide standards for large energy users, including water and energy reporting and ratepayer protections. > “I do not support banning data centers. I support resetting Nebraska's rules for a new era.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “I support statewide standards for large-load users, including transparent water and energy reporting, independent impact analysis, ratepayer protections, responsibility for infrastructure costs, decommissioning plans and bonds, noise and light standards and meaningful local input.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Does not support incentives for data center projects and says local communities should decide while ratepayers are not burdened. > “I do not support incentives for these projects, but I do believe local communities should have the right to make their own decisions for their communities but Nebraska businesses, families and ratepayers shouldn’t be burdened.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Guns and public safety ### Jess Goldoni No public position found. ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Campaign page lists "Back the Blue" under keeping communities safe. *Campaign website text:* > “Back the Blue and Support our Veterans” Source: Taylor Royal for Legislature, "Taylor Royal for Legislature", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Elections and government ### Jess Goldoni Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports expanding legislative term limits from two terms to three and would not eliminate the 33-vote filibuster threshold. > “I support expanding legislative term limits from two terms to three.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “I would not eliminate the 33-vote threshold simply because it sometimes makes governing difficult.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ### Taylor Royal Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Does not support three consecutive terms, and says the 33-vote threshold forces consensus and can protect against pure partisan bills. > “I do not support three consecutive terms.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “No, because I believe this threshold forces consensus, bipartisanship and can be a protection against pure partisan bills.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 18", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31