James penned this op-ed in the Omaha World-Herald reflecting on the legacy of his father Jim Leuschen, who was integral to the Omaha community, and how his passing 28 years ago inspired James to pursue a career in public service.

Key excerpts: 

“February 10th is a rough anniversary for my family.  When I was 18 years old, a senior at Central, my dad passed away in a car accident.  It was the worst day of my life, but it changed my outlook and helped make me the man I am today… Growing up, it seemed like my dad Jim Leuschen was involved in everything around town.  A public relations executive, he was on community boards, received awards from governors, was president of the Arbor Day Foundation, the Press Club, the Nebraska Public Relations Society, and involved in River City Roundup during its heyday.  He was even riding home from a nonprofit board obligation the night he died.”

“As a kid, I didn’t fully grasp what his dedication to this community really meant.  But as this community rallied around us as we grieved his loss, I heard stories from all over about how important his leadership was to the people around him, to this community, and to the state of Nebraska.  It was clear that my dad made a difference during his life.  His example is what pushed me into a life of public service.”

“Twenty years ago, I took Nebraska values with me to Washington, working in senior staff roles on Capitol Hill as an economic policy expert.  That means I was in the room for every major legislative effort since we elected President Obama - from the Affordable Care Act, to the Child Tax Credit, to helping former Congressman Brad Ashford get the V.A. outpatient clinic built here.”

“That’s how Congress members are supposed to work - making their communities better and delivering for the people who sent them there.  But I witnessed how Congress has devolved from a place where people worked on solutions to a place where influencer Congress members are more interested in social media likes, cable news hits, and building their brands.”

“I’m running for Congress because Donald Trump is making it harder for Nebraska families to build a good life.  I’ll reverse Trump’s tariffs and health care cuts that are driving up costs.  I’ll hold him accountable for the chaos he’s sowing throughout the economy, so that economic decisions like buying a home or starting a business make sense again.”

“Omaha has benefited from visionary leadership, but the economic strength we inherited isn’t guaranteed.  While we are struggling to retain and recruit talent, which the Omaha Chamber cites as our primary economic challenge, coming home to raise our kids here was the best choice my wife and I ever made.  Our legacy will be how we meet this moment.  I watched our current delegation fail to pull its weight as Omaha lost business investment to peer cities in industries like advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure.  I am the only candidate in this race with the experience to get to Washington and go after these investments on day one.”

“I’ll also bring the Nebraska values my dad instilled in me to build consensus and fight like hell so my kids – and yours – know we did everything we could to make this community better for them.”