Preston Love Jr.
{{Short description|American politician and activist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Preston Love Jr.
| image = Preston Love Jr., 2020.jpg
| caption = Love in 2020
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1942}}
| birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Martha
| father = Preston Love
| relatives = Laura Love (half-sister)
| education = University of Nebraska–Lincoln (BS)
Bellevue University (MPS)
| website = {{URL|love4senate.com|Official website}}
}}
Preston Love Jr.{{cite web |url=https://www.omahamagazine.com/2019/09/26/301101/preston-love-jr-isnt-through-yet |title=Preston Love Jr. Isn't Through Yet |date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=December 2, 2020 |first=J.D. |last=Avant |work=Omaha Magazine}} (born 1942){{cite web |url=https://northomahahistory.com/2023/04/15/a-biography-of-preston-love-jr/comment-page-1/ |title=A Biography of Preston Love, Jr. |access-date=September 7, 2024 |first=Adam |last=Sasse |work=North Omaha History|date=April 15, 2023 }} is an American politician, professor, author and activist[https://archives.nebraska.edu/agents/people/4693 "Love, Preston, Jr."] Nebraska Archives Online. Retrieved April 2, 2023. who served as Jesse Jackson's campaign manager during the 1984 Democratic primaries.
Love is the first black person in Nebraska to receive the support of a major political party for United States Senate. He was endorsed by the Nebraska Democratic Party for the 2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska to challenge incumbent Senator Ben Sasse. He was the Democratic candidate in the 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska, where he lost to incumbent senator Pete Ricketts in the general election.
Early life and education
Preston Love Jr. was born in the early 1940s to Betty and Preston Love. He graduated from Omaha Technical High School, where he was a member of the football team, in 1960.{{Cite news |date=April 1, 2023 |title=Nebraska Hall of Fame welcomes 18 new inductees |work=News Channel Nebraska |url=https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/48660568/nebraska-hall-of-fame-welcomes-18-new-inductees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402180349/https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/48660568/nebraska-hall-of-fame-welcomes-18-new-inductees |archive-date=April 2, 2023}} The musician Laura Love is his younger half-sister.
Love graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and Bellevue University with a Master of Professional Studies degree. He played for Nebraska Cornhuskers football and was drafted into the Detroit Lions. Love played one season with the 1965 Lincoln Comets of the Pro Football League of America.[https://www.profootballarchives.com/1965pflalin.html "1965 Lincoln Comets"], Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 2, 2023. Love worked as a junior executive in IBM{{Cite news |date=April 5, 2016 |title=After Preston Love Jr. hit bottom, he got restored in the Lord |work=Omaha World-Herald |url=https://omaha.com/lifestyles/after-preston-love-jr-hit-bottom-he-got-restored-in-the-lord/article_e587b8fd-1487-5c1f-813b-e3f19f402fc2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918012359/https://omaha.com/lifestyles/after-preston-love-jr-hit-bottom-he-got-restored-in-the-lord/article_e587b8fd-1487-5c1f-813b-e3f19f402fc2.html |archive-date=September 18, 2020}} and established the first retail computer store in Atlanta, Georgia.{{Cite news |date=March 10, 2020 |title=MLK Day speaker Preston Love rescheduled at Hastings College |work=Hastings College |url=https://www.hastings.edu/news/mlk-day-speaker-preston-love-rescheduled-at-hastings-college/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402141643/https://www.hastings.edu/news/mlk-day-speaker-preston-love-rescheduled-at-hastings-college/ |archive-date=April 2, 2023}}
Love was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Career
Love is the founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization in Omaha called the Institute for Urban Development.(Jul 18, 2021) [https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/black-votes-matter-tour-teaches-students-about-black-history "Black Votes Matter Tour teaches students about Black history,"] KMTV. Retrieved April 2, 2023. In 2021, Love launched an effort to promote the history of African Americans in Omaha focused on facilitating tours in North Omaha.[https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/es/news/news-articles/tours-of-north-omaha-reflect-on-areas-history/ "Tours of North Omaha Reflect on History, Look Toward Future,"] Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
Love worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha.{{Cite news |title=About Preston Love, Jr. |work=4Urban |url=https://4urban.org/about-preston |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402180834/https://4urban.org/about-preston |archive-date=April 2, 2023}} He is a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald and a contributor to the Fine Lines Journal.[https://www.jeserie.org/program-lecturers/preston-love-jr "Lecturers: Preston Love, Jr."], Jefferson Educational Society. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
=Politics=
Love served as vice-president of the NAACP chapter in Omaha, Nebraska. He worked for Harold Washington during Chicago's 1983 mayoral election. During the 1984 Democratic primaries Love was selected by Jesse Jackson to serve as Jackson's presidential campaign manager. Love worked as Andrew Young's chauffeur before his election as mayor and Young appointed Love as commissioner of planning for Atlanta.{{Cite news |date=February 26, 2021 |title=Once Upon a Time in Omaha: A Prodigal Son Returns to Reactivate his Hometown |work=North Omaha Information Support Everyone |url=https://www.noiseomaha.com/profiles/2021/2/10/once-upon-a-time-in-omaha-prodigal-son-returns-to-reactivate-his-hometown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402143832/https://www.noiseomaha.com/profiles/2021/2/10/once-upon-a-time-in-omaha-prodigal-son-returns-to-reactivate-his-hometown |archive-date=April 2, 2023}}{{Cite news |title=Preston Love Jr. |work=Humanities Nebraska |url=https://humanitiesnebraska.org/speaker/preston-love-jr/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403031444/https://humanitiesnebraska.org/speaker/preston-love-jr/ |archive-date=April 3, 2023}}
In 1990, Love formed an organization to recommend the addition of the contributions of black Nebraskans to the Nebraska Blue Book.{{Cite news |date=August 16, 1990 |title=Blue Book likely to include deeds of blacks |page=24 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59494984/the-lincoln-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918013122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59494984/the-lincoln-star/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1992, Love ran for a seat on the Metropolitan Utilities District board, but later withdrew to recover from his addictions.{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1992 |title=Recounts leave results the same in four races |page=24 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495722/lincoln-journal-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918014243/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495722/lincoln-journal-star/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=August 16, 1992 |title=MUD candidate treated for cocaine addiction |page=44 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495848/lincoln-journal-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918014421/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495848/lincoln-journal-star/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1992 |title=Candidate leaves Omaha campaign |page=27 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495851/the-lincoln-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918014546/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59495851/the-lincoln-star/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} Love later became second associate chair in the Nebraska Democratic Party.{{Cite news |title=Elected Officials |work=Nebraska Democratic Party |url=https://nebraskademocrats.org/elected-officers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403031251/https://nebraskademocrats.org/elected-officers/ |archive-date=April 3, 2023}} Love supported freeing Edward Poindexter, who he knew as a child, from his life-sentence.
Chris Janicek won the Democratic senatorial nomination for the 2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska. However, during the campaign, he sent out sexually inappropriate text messages to staffers, causing the Nebraska Democratic Party to withdraw its support from him.{{Cite news |date=June 16, 2020 |title=Nebraska Democrat Urged to Quit Senate Race Over Sexual Texts to Aide |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/politics/chris-janicek-nebraska-senate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918014949/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/politics/chris-janicek-nebraska-senate.html |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Nebraska Democratic Party attempted to replace Janicek with Alisha Shelton, but Janicek refused to drop out preventing the replacement. Love later announced his intention to run a write-in senatorial campaign and received the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party, making him the first black person to receive the support of a major party for United States Senate in Nebraska.{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Preston Love Jr. announces write-in candidacy against Sen. Ben Sasse |work=Omaha World-Herald |url=https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/preston-love-jr-announces-write-in-candidacy-against-sen-ben-sasse/article_aa4ec90c-f11b-56e5-be6b-a30eaa5517f7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918015154/https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/preston-love-jr-announces-write-in-candidacy-against-sen-ben-sasse/article_aa4ec90c-f11b-56e5-be6b-a30eaa5517f7.html |archive-date=September 18, 2020}}{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Nebraska Democrats announce Preston Love Jr. as write-in candidate for Senate |work=WOWT |url=https://www.wowt.com/2020/09/10/nebraska-democrats-announce-preston-love-jr-as-write-in-candidate-for-senate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918015608/https://www.wowt.com/2020/09/10/nebraska-democrats-announce-preston-love-jr-as-write-in-candidate-for-senate/ |archive-date=September 18, 2020}}{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Nebraska Democrats name third pick to replace Senate nominee |work=WJAG |url=https://norfolkdailynews.com/wjag/news/nebraska-democrats-name-third-pick-to-replace-senate-nominee/article_31ac9b62-f3bc-11ea-9d53-9f76e9f2c766.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200918015705/https://norfolkdailynews.com/wjag/news/nebraska-democrats-name-third-pick-to-replace-senate-nominee/article_31ac9b62-f3bc-11ea-9d53-9f76e9f2c766.html |archive-date=September 18, 2020}}
Love was the Democratic candidate in the 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska. He ran unopposed in the primary and faced incumbent senator Pete Ricketts in the general election.https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/sos.nebraska.gov/files/doc/elections/2024/Statewide_Candidate_List.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}} He lost the race to Ricketts by over 25 percentage points.{{cite web |url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf |title=Official Results |website=Nebraska Secretary of State|access-date=2024-12-03}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska{{cite web|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2020/2020-General-Canvass-Book.pdf|title=Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers - General Election - November 3, 2020|website=Nebraska Secretary of State|accessdate=29 March 2025}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Ben Sasse (incumbent)
|votes = 583,507
|percentage = 62.74
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Janicek
|votes = 227,191
|percentage = 24.43
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Preston Love Jr. (write-in)
|votes = 58,411
|percentage = 6.28
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Gene Siadek
|votes = 55,115
|percentage = 5.93
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 5,788
|percentage = 0.62
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 930,012
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{election box hold with party link no change
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska{{cite web|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Primary%20Canvass%20Book.pdf|title=The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers Official Report - Primary Election - May 14, 2024|website=Nebraska Secretary of State|accessdate=29 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf|title=The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers Official Report - General Election - November 5, 2024|website=Nebraska Secretary of State|accessdate=29 March 2025}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Preston Love Jr.
|votes = 85,114
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 85,114
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Pete Ricketts (incumbent)
|votes = 585,103
|percentage = 62.58
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Preston Love Jr.
|votes = 349,902
|percentage = 37.42
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 935,005
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{election box hold with party link no change
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
Awards and recognition
Love has been recognized for numerous accomplishments in Nebraska. His awards include:
- (2023) Inductee, Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.(April 1, 2023) [https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/48660568/nebraska-hall-of-fame-welcomes-18-new-inductees "Nebraska Hall of Fame welcomes 18 new inductees,"] News Nebraska Channel. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- (2022) Inductee, Northeast Community College Alumni Hall of Fame(November 5, 2021) [https://northeast.edu/news/article/4823-love-timm-inducted-into-northeasts-alumni-hall-of-success "Love, Timm inducted into Northeast's alumni hall of success,"] Northeast Community College. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- (2022) Namesake, Nebraska Democratic Party Annual Preston Love, Jr. Volunteer Award(October 28, 2022) [https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/our-inaugural-kerrey-nelson-gala-was-a-huge-success/ "Our Inaugural Nelson Gala was a Huge Success!"], Nebraska Democratic Party. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- (2021) Frank LaMere Hall of Fame Award, Nebraska Democratic Party(November 19, 2021) [https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/dressing-down-and-more-nebdems-news/ "Dressing Down and more — #NebDems News"], Nebraska Democratic Party. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
Bibliography
- Wisdom's Foresight: From Cataracts to Pandemic Vaccines (2021) {{ISBN|978-1734587968}}
- Your Bridge to History with Portia Love, illustrations by Regina Jeanpierre (2019) {{ISBN|978-0996446495}}
- A Clear Vision: From Cataracts to Pandemic Vaccines (2020) {{ISBN|978-1734587944}}
- The Jackson Papers: Post 1965 Voting Rights Act, Pre-Obama Era: The Jesse Jackson Run for President (2018) {{ISBN|978-0996446488}}
- Economic Cataracts Volume 1. (2015) {{ISBN|978-0996446419}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- [https://love4senate.com/ Preston Love for U.S. Senate] campaign website
{{CongLinks|votesmart=195893|fec=S4NE00223}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=David Domina}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Nebraska
(Class 2)|years=2020 (endorsed), 2024|alongside=Chris Janicek (2020, disavowed)}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Love, Preston, Jr}}
Category:20th-century African-American people
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:African-American people in Nebraska politics
Category:Bellevue University alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States Senate elections
Category:Politicians from Omaha, Nebraska
Category:University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni
Category:African-American candidates for the United States Senate
Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States Senate elections