Hallstrom takes on new role at Capitol

Above: Sen. Bob Hallstrom proudly displays his catch of the day during a fishing trip at Milford Lake in Kansas.

If you ask Syracuse Sen. Bob Hallstrom what he enjoys doing in his free time, he offers the usual list — fishing, traveling, golfing — but somewhat reluctantly adds another: singing.

You won’t catch him warbling around the Capitol anytime soon, however, as the freshman senator says he keeps singing in public reserved for church.

“Singing along with someone sounds better,” Hallstrom laughed.

If you want to catch Hallstrom singing outside of church, your best bet would be to hitch a ride during his morning drive to Lincoln. He’s had ample opportunity to practice singing in the car during his regular commute between Syracuse and Lincoln for decades.

Since becoming an attorney in 1981, he has been a partner at Brandt, Horan, Hallstrom, and Stilmock in Syracuse. In that role, Hallstrom represented a variety of organizations at the Capitol as a registered lobbyist.

Hallstrom’s interest in the Legislature dates back to his childhood, however, when he helped his father campaign for a seat in the Unicameral. His father’s bid was unsuccessful, but Hallstrom maintained a connection to the Legislature through his lobbying career.

Additionally, he said, his law partner, William “Bill” Brandt, served as a state senator in the 1960s, which inspired Hallstrom to consider running for the Legislature himself one day. When former state Sen. Julie Slama announced she would not seek reelection for the District 1 seat, the timing felt right.

“I had kind of had it in the back of my mind all along,” Hallstrom said. “I was encouraged by a number of people who I respect who thought I would be able to be a pretty good state senator, and I hope I can prove them right.”

Campaigning in 2024 was significantly different from his childhood experience, Hallstrom said, primarily due to technological advancements that offer targeted voter data, helping candidates connect with specific demographics and anticipate voter behavior.

“[My father and I] literally went to every door,” Hallstrom said. “You didn’t know whether people were registered, what their party affiliation was or how frequently they voted.”

Even with the advantage of targeted technology, Hallstrom still knocked a lot of doors during his own campaign. He averaged 12,000 to 14,000 steps per day talking with voters, he said, which helped him lose 30 pounds as an added bonus to winning the election.

With the campaign now concluded and his first session as a senator underway, Hallstrom said he hopes to apply the insights gained throughout his career and from lawmakers he has known over the years.

“I’ve taken bits and pieces from so many legislators with regard to collegiality, process [and] respect for the institution that hopefully will help me be a well-rounded legislator,” Hallstrom said.