A mother’s concern spurred her into politics. There was not only a concern for her young son, but for the welfare of all Nebraska’s children.

At the time, Omaha Public Schools were revising their sex education curriculum.

“There was a lot of opposition at school board meetings. Sometimes violent. There were fist fights,” said State Sen. Megan Hunt.

The sex education curriculum hadn’t been updated since 1971. Since then, Nebraska has seen the AIDS epidemic, record-breaking STI rates, and a rise in LGBTQIA+ suicides.

“We needed age-appropriate, medically accurate, research-based, comprehensive sex education. This was the same education their grandparents had gotten,” Sen. Hunt expresses.

Once the state legislature seat opened up, the sixth-generation Nebraskan spoke to her neighbors and various others to see if she could garner community support.

She ran in 2018, representing District 8, which includes the neighborhoods of Benson, Dundee, Keystone, and Happy Hollow, and won by a landslide.

“I found a progressive victory in a conservative community intoxicating,” she said.

Born and raised in Blair, Neb., Hunt began attending Dana College her senior year of high school as a Presidential Scholar. After graduating in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Communications and German, she pursued her master’s degree in Political Communication from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and coached the Blair High School Forensics Team for four years.

As a young entrepreneur, Hunt founded Hello Holiday a, “community-facing boutique and e-commerce company supporting independent fashion designers, best known for its ‘Girls Support Girls’ messaging and fundraising collaborations with local nonprofit organizations.”

She is also founder and vice president of Safe Space Nebraska, a 501(c)3 nonprofit working to end harassment and assault in nightlife establishments. Hunt is a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance and has served on the boards of the Charles Drew Health Center, Friends of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Friends of the Nebraska AIDS Project, and Omaha Area Youth Orchestras.

Today, Sen. Hunt is the owner of Five Nine Shop and Project, a paper goods store, gallery, and studio in Benson, named in honor of the birthdate she shares with her son, Ash, who is also a young entrepreneur.

Hunt – who is up for reelection – is passionate about reproductive justice and gender equality, as well as reducing the brain drain in the Midwest. “It’s exhausting for young people to fight for a cause, go to political rallies, support bills that don’t result in any policy change. They don’t want to live here. We need to change that,” she urged.

In the political arena, she is proud of her progress, working with senators from across the state to tackle food stamp reform, ban the harmful practice of conversion therapy, and improve affordable housing in Nebraska.

“In order to get things done, you need buy-in by conservatives. Get the trust of people who are ideologically different than me. Build relationships and successful partnerships,” she explained.

Since taking office, Sen. Hunt has introduced a total of 70 bills and cosponsored 281 bills, 69 of which were passed with the support of the 49-member Legislature and signed by the governor. Original legislation she has written – from city board appointments, tenants’ rights, and grants for creative arts districts, to more controversial subjects like nonconsensual pornography and sex trafficking – has been amended into other passed bills.

In 2020, Hunt passed her priority bill allowing collegiate student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness rights, restoring their right to earn a wage for their talent and skills like any other student.

In 2021, her priority bill was signed into law ensuring caregivers, who need to leave work to care for a family member with a serious health condition are able to receive unemployment benefits until a more permanent solution could be found, bringing direct relief to Nebraskans during the pandemic. 

In acknowledgment of her legislative accomplishments, Hunt was awarded the David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Leadership Award, Council on State Government’s 20 Under 40 Award, and its Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development Fellowship, among others.

In addition, Hunt was selected to participate in the 2022 CSG Henry Toll Fellowship, the nation’s premier leadership development program for state government officials, bringing together 48 individuals representing 32 states from several sectors of state government.

To Hunt, perhaps her greatest personal achievement has been perseverance.

“I’m prone to depression. I have struggled with it in my life,” admitted Hunt.

In politics – despite her stamina, determination, and rather thick skin – it can be easy to get disillusioned. “I went in bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” Hunt is always hoping to truly make a difference and build a better life for all constituents.

Instead, she was disappointed to find it was more political strategizing than altruistic, and even just a career rung for some.

“It’s very difficult to go into an arena with so much possibility in terms of bringing what kind of future you want into being. We debate the same old issues, such as can immigrants get a driver’s license, can women get health care or should we have health care. It’s like we’re stuck in the past. It’s a place where you can make a difference. It’s very frustrating to me,” she said.

However, Hunt sees a solution: “We need to elect different people, people who don’t just play senator, dress up like a senator, but [someone who will] actually be a leader.”

Undaunted, she still believes in the importance politics play as an institution maker. “It creates norms in our culture. It keeps us able to be kind, educated, housed, safe. We don’t have to agree. We need advocates and activists. Both sides are important. If you want change, get engaged. Instead of complaining, decide to do something.”

As to healing the great political divide, awash in disinformation – “I have this idea that people see that the government is working…We need more effort from the government to show that. Bring them closer to the people that represent them. Build trust in the government, not mistrust in the opposite side. We agree more than we disagree. It’s not as interesting to report, [like] the fighting, cheering your team, but that’s not the job of the government,” she said.

While Hunt is open to running for higher office, she also believes politics doesn’t define her. She reminds that this is all temporary. “Being a senator isn’t the only thing about me or the most interesting thing about me. I’d like to own a home someday. Have an apartment in another country. Travel. Have more kids. Keep starting and running businesses. I follow opportunities where they take me or else, I get tunnel vision. My eyes are open. I am sensitive to which doors are opening for me and decide which ones to walk through.”

For now, she has the privilege of the pulpit. “I take it very seriously. It’s a waste not to use this platform as aggressively as I can,” she said.

Hunt is running for reelection for Douglas County’s eighth district this November. “My record speaks for itself. If they like that, great, if not, no problem. That’s democracy. I don’t take it on a personal level. But I believe I am one of the more accessible senators. People feel heard and listened to. I’m proud of that reputation for doing that.”

To learn more about Megan Hunt and her platform visit: www.meganfornebraska.com.