With Senate elections coming up, both parties’ hopes play into major long term congressional strategies. While Republicans seek to gain a majority, Democrats look to hold on to theirs. As the days get closer to November, the races across the 50 states continue to tighten, and Neb.’s is no exception.

This November, Democrat Dave Domina faces off against Republican and Tea Party conservative Ben Sasse. Also running, are In

dependents Jim Jenkins, Todd Watson, Dan Buhrdorf and Dennis Macek. Even with the large number of Independents running, Sasse and Domina are the favored candidates and are at the opposite ends of most of the issues that people will be looking at during these elections.

On abortion, Sasse pledges to defend the sanctity of life at all stages, while Domina maintains that abortion should be accessible yet rare. Both Domina and Sasse agree that Washington needs to cut its spending and balance the budget, but only Sasse supports reforming entitlement programs. Sasse supports traditional marriage, while Domina wants the government to recognize the tax br

eaks marriage provides without getting involved in the private matters of it.

Taxes have been a huge issue in Nebraskan politics, Domina and Sasse are on the polar opposites in terms of policy. Domina supports the rich paying their “fair share” while Sasse supports a fair tax that is standard across the board. Domina also opposes running the Keystone XL Pipeline through Neb., while Sasse feels that utilizing Neb.’s own shale deposits could help lead to energy independence.

Domina seeks to maintain a sizable Washington presence in the states, while working to remove bad laws. Sasse on the other hand says that Washington is the author of bad laws and that removing its presence in the states is the way to reform government. Sasse also supports the Second Amendment, while Domina is quoted as saying “all constitutional rights have restrictions.”

After the temperamental roll out of the Affordable Care Act last fall, politicians have scrambled to find the right footing on the increasing unpopularity of the law. Domina says there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out, Sasse supports the repealing of the law, and replacement with a market system that is allowed to compete across state lines.

Sasse wants to reform Social Security and entitlement programs, so as to prevent them fro

m being bankrupted by federal spending. Domina however wants to retain the existing system and the stipulations that go with it.

Although Sasse has made it quite clear that he wishes to transform from a welfare society to an opportunity society, Domina has take no concrete stance on extensive welfare reform.

Lastly, Domina favors a somewhat isolationist view in foreign affairs, while Sasse feels that when threatened United States power projection must be shown. All in all, the two favored candidates in the 2014 Nebraska Senatorial Elections come from the opposite side of the aisle and carry with them uniquely different views, and it will be up to the people of Nebraska to decide who best represents them.