Rural-urban divide shows in Nebraska vote to approve Medicaid expansion

[Omaha Steve]

Henry J. Cordes / World-Herald staff writer 1 hr ago

Yes, there was an urban-rural divide in the vote to approve Medicaid expansion. And there's no doubt Democrats were far more supportive than Republicans.

But dig into the numbers behind the 53 percent victory for Initiative 427 and it isn't so simple. Some figures offering insight into Tuesday's vote:

>> Rural Nebraska indeed went strongly against the measure, as only eight of the state's 93 counties supported it. It passed in Douglas and Lancaster Counties with more than 60 percent of the vote. Sarpy County was solidly in favor with nearly 54 percent. It also passed in Dakota, Thurston and Burt, contiguous counties in northeast Nebraska, as well as Scotts Bluff and Dawes in the Panhandle.

>> Ten rural counties went against the measure by more than two-to-one margins — nine of them clustered in Sand Hills ranch country.

FULL story: https://www.omaha.com/livewellnebraska/rural-urban-divide-shows-in-nebraska-vote-to-approve-medicaid/article_f29089d8-82ae-5d3c-b713-30cd4215cdd7.html