Sen. John Fredrickson (D-Omaha): first gay man elected to the Nebraska state legislature

Nebraska State Senator John Fredrickson was first elected in 2022 by a margin of only 82 votes. He is the first openly gay man to be elected to the Nebraska state legislature. We discuss Nebraska's unicameral non-partisan legislature and its term limits. We also talk about John's youth, how he and his husband adopted their son, and his journey into politics. 

This conversation was recorded in Chicago at the Council of State Governments Convention in December 2025.

This is part of a series on the first gay men elected to state legislators around the country. To listen to the episode with Glen Maxey, the first elected to the Texas state legislature, click here. 

Upcoming episodes will include the first gay man elected to South Dakota's state legislature and to Iowa's state legislature.