About John

John S. McCollister is a State Senator representing District 20 in Nebraska.  He is in his second term and is term-limited in 2022.  During his tenure, he’s taken a number of unconventional political stands:

- 1 of 14 Republicans who voted to repeal the Death Penalty.
-Introduced legislation effectively bringing wind energy to Nebraska. Received environmental awards, was endorsed by the Sierra Club.
-Introduced legislation to end partisan gerrymandering.
-Voted to expand Medicaid.
-Vocal supporter of inmate rights.
-Voted against voter ID laws.
-Named as his priority bill, a measure to grant driver’s licenses to DACA recipients.
-Introduced legislation to to help low-income families transition out of poverty more effectively.

McCollister grew up in Omaha.  He attended Westside High School and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Business Administration. 

His father John Y. McCollister was in the United States House of Representatives from 1971-1977.  John Y. was a staunch Republican and was even friends with Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon.  

Before serving in the legislature, John S. had a 35 year career with McCollister & Co-a three generation family business that manufactured lubricants for large commercial, industrial and private label customers.  In 2006, they sold the family business.

From 1979 to 2008, McCollister served as a publically-elected member of the Metropolitan Utilities District Board of Directors, which provides natural gas and water to the Omaha area.  In early 2009 McCollister was named executive director of the Platte Institute for Economic Research –a nonprofit organization. He held that position for nearly four years.  

In 2014 John was elected to the Nebraska Legislature and immediately gained attention for his independent voice. 

In August of 2018, he made international headlines when he composed a viral tweet denouncing members of his own party for their continued silence to Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric.

McCollister has been married to Deborah Way for 48 years. They have three children: Lauren, Daniel and Jeffrey, and two grandsons, Andrew and David.