Danner defeats Kleine for county attorney

Makayla Danner defeated incumbent Don Kleine on Tuesday to become the next Douglas County attorney. The result concludes a 20-year tenure for Kleine, who has held the position since the mid-2000s.

Danner described the win as a return to her roots. She noted that she grew up in North Omaha and attended Burke School before receiving a full scholarship to Creighton University. As a first-generation college graduate, she stated she moved back to the area to serve the community that raised her.

The new county attorney said her approach to the office will focus on serving all residents. She credited her family for teaching her to value diverse perspectives. Danner has five children, and she said their differing viewpoints help her understand the wider world.

During the campaign, Danner prioritized door-to-door outreach. She said those conversations kept her optimistic about the election night results. She acknowledged that she could not visit every household but felt her message connected with the voters she did reach.

The victory ended a local superstition tied to Danner's campaign headquarters. The space had previously been used by two other candidates who lost their respective races. Danner said she did not let that history affect her strategy and is pleased to have broken the cycle.

Danner's win was part of a larger shift in Douglas County politics. Mark Martinez also defeated incumbent Aaron Hanson in the race for county sheriff. Both victories marked major Democratic upsets in the Tuesday election.