Omaha World-Herald:

LINCOLN — Candidates for Nebraska’s officially nonpartisan Legislature won’t have a “D” or an “R” behind their names when they appear on the May 13 primary ballot.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t have the Democratic or Republican Party behind them on the campaign trail.

Both parties are helping candidates for the Legislature, and prominent officeholders are lending their assistance to the would-be state senators.

Gov. Dave Heineman endorsed at least four legislative candidates. Attorney General Jon Bruning, a fellow Republican, has been stumping for a handful, too. And State Sen. Tom White of Omaha, a Democrat, has been making campaign contributions to other legislative candidates.

Some lament the prominent role political parties are playing in recruiting and supporting legislative candidates this year.

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