Machaela Cavanaugh will be our speaker June 19 and her talk is entitled "Reflections on My Years as a State Representative."
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh represents Legislative District 6, Omaha, in the Nebraska Legislature, where she serves on the Appropriations and the Performance Audit Committee. Notably, she made history in 2019 as the first lawmaker to breastfeed her newborn on the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral. Her policy agenda prioritizes funding and services for developmentally disabled individuals, support for human rights including LGBTQ and women’s reproductive rights, childcare and child welfare enhancements, and family leave policies. Senator Cavanaugh led efforts to investigate and end the privatization of child welfare in Eastern Nebraska and continues to advocate for improvements in this area.
In 2023, Senator Cavanaugh supported the LGBTQ+ community with an 80-day filibuster in opposition to Legislative Bill 574 prohibiting gender-affirming care for trans youth. The filibuster’s aim was to slow down and stop LB 574, a bill prohibiting gender affirming care for trans youth.
With nearly 20 years of experience in community engagement and public affairs, Senator Cavanaugh has served in various roles including at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Opera Omaha, and the American Province of the Servants of Mary. Her interest in policy was sparked during her time as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Ben Nelson in Washington D.C.
Senator Cavanaugh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is actively involved in organizations such as the Don’t Legislate Hate PAC, Women Who Run, Inclusive Communities, and the Preschool Advisory Committee at Morning Star Preschool.
Senator Cavanaugh resides in the Peony Park Neighborhood with her husband Nick Brotzel and their children, Della, Harriet, and Barrett. She is the daughter of former U.S. Congressman John Cavanaugh and is dedicated to serving her constituents and advancing progressive policies.
