The district consisted of ten counties in the southwestern portion of the state—Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Perkins, and Red Willow counties—and included the cities of McCook, Imperial, and Alma.
[11][12][13] The three candidates agreed that water, which the McCook Gazette called "arguably the hottest topic in Southwest Nebraska", and property taxes were among the most salient issues for the 44th District.
Hughes called attention to his career as a farmer, and stated that his experience on the school board and in various commodity organizations had given him communication and relationship-building skills that would be useful in the legislature.
Stroup also emphasized his farming background, and argued that his experience operating a business would make him an effective legislator.
[15] As in the primary election, Hughes and Stroup campaigned largely on their experience and personal qualities rather than on their political differences.
The two also differed on how to fund maintenance and construction of roads and bridges: Stroup supported an increase in the state's fuel tax; Hughes favored policies that he said would lead to economic growth, which in turn would produce higher sales- and income-tax revenues.
[16] Hughes maintained that his twelve years of school-board experience had left him with leadership qualities that would make him a more effective legislator.
Stroup cited his 35 years of farming, ranching, and business experience, and declared that he was willing to consider issues on their merits rather than basing his votes chiefly on party positions.