# Macey Budke, candidate for U.S. House, District 3 (Nebraska) > 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/macey-budke/ - Race: [U.S. House, District 3](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/us-house-3.md) - Party on the ballot: Nebraska Working People - City: North Platte - On the ballot as: Macey Budke - Campaign website: ## Topic coverage - Property taxes and cost of living: quote found - Economy, jobs and trade: quote found - Agriculture and rural Nebraska: quote found - Health care: quote found - Abortion: quote found - Immigration and the border: quote found - Education and school choice: quote found - Energy, water and environment: quote found - Guns and public safety: quote found - Elections and government: quote found ## Property taxes and cost of living Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says working and middle-class families should not carry a disproportionate burden while those with greater resources benefit from preferential treatment or loopholes. > “The tax system should be fair and reflect ability to pay. Working and middle-class families should not carry a disproportionate burden while those with substantially greater resources benefit from preferential treatment or loopholes.” Source: iVoterGuide, "Macey Budke, Candidate Profile (U.S. Rep., Dist. 3)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Economy, jobs and trade Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says economic policy should be judged by whether people can afford to live, work and raise families in their communities. > “Economic policy should be judged by whether people can afford to live, work, raise families and remain in their communities — not only by national growth statistics.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Agriculture and rural Nebraska Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports policies that protect family farms and ranches, promote fair and competitive markets and expand responsible trade opportunities. *Campaign website text:* > “She supports practical agricultural policies that protect family farms and ranches, promote fair and competitive markets, expand responsible trade opportunities, and give producers a stronger voice in the policies that affect their land, livelihoods, and future.” Source: Budke for Congress, "Issues", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “Our agricultural sector, across rural America, should not become collateral in these broad, spread-out trade disputes, because we get hit the hardest” Source: Nebraska Public Media, "3rd Congressional District voter guide: Meet the Nebraskans running", · News article · published 2026-10-01 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Health care Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants stable rural hospitals, EMS and behavioral health services, and supports a public coverage option alongside private insurance. > “Rural communities need stable hospitals, EMS, behavioral health services and a workforce strong enough to keep care close to home.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “I support universal access with choice. People should have a public coverage option available to them while keeping the ability to choose private insurance.” Source: iVoterGuide, "Macey Budke, Candidate Profile (U.S. Rep., Dist. 3)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Abortion Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says abortion decisions should be made by the patient with their medical provider and that government should not substitute political judgment. > “Abortion decisions should be made by the patient in consultation with their medical provider, based on the patient’s health, circumstances, and medical standards of care. Government should not substitute political judgment for individualized medical decision-making.” Source: iVoterGuide, "Macey Budke, Candidate Profile (U.S. Rep., Dist. 3)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Immigration and the border Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Does not support the president's broad deportation approach and says people who pose a genuine public safety threat should be prioritized for removal through due process. > “I do not support President Trump’s broad deportation approach. People who pose a genuine public safety threat should be prioritized for removal through due process, but indiscriminate raids, family separation and treating entire communities as suspects are neither responsible nor effective.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Education and school choice Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports policies to strengthen rural schools, teacher recruitment and retention and career and technical education, and wants reliable funding and stronger special education support. *Campaign website text:* > “She supports practical education policies that strengthen rural schools, improve teacher recruitment and retention, expand career and technical education, and ensure students in every part of Nebraska have access to meaningful opportunity.” Source: Budke for Congress, "Issues", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “Schools need reliable funding, stronger special education support and better tools to recruit and retain teachers.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Energy, water and environment Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports a diversified energy mix including nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, storage and stronger transmission. > “There is no single source that should carry the entire load. A reliable grid needs a diversified energy mix that includes nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, storage, and stronger transmission.” Source: iVoterGuide, "Macey Budke, Candidate Profile (U.S. Rep., Dist. 3)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Guns and public safety Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports lawful gun ownership with background checks, trafficking enforcement, safe storage and narrow red-flag laws; supports moving marijuana to Schedule III. > “The Second Amendment protects lawful gun ownership, and public safety measures should respect that right. I support thorough background checks, stronger enforcement against illegal trafficking and prohibited purchasers, responsible firearm storage, and narrowly tailored red-flag laws with strong due-process protections.” Source: iVoterGuide, "Macey Budke, Candidate Profile (U.S. Rep., Dist. 3)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 > “I support reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ## Elections and government Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports making Election Day a federal holiday, early and mail voting options, paper ballots and routine post-election audits. > “I support making Election Day a federal holiday, maintaining meaningful early and mail voting options, using voter-verifiable paper ballots and conducting routine post-election audits.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 General Election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy