Nebraska Voter Guide 2026

Jim Pillen is Nebraska's incumbent governor and the Republican nominee for re-election in 2026, winning his May primary with about 76% of the vote. A veterinarian, hog producer, and former University of Nebraska regent from Columbus, his first term has emphasized property-tax relief, agriculture, water policy, and conservative budgeting.

Priorities: Deliver property-tax relief and conservative budgeting · Support Nebraska agriculture and water resources · Grow the state workforce and rural economy

Lynne Walz is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska governor, a former state senator from Fremont, former school board member, teacher, and realtor. She won the May 2026 Democratic primary with about 91% of the vote and is running a bipartisan-toned campaign focused on good-paying jobs, public schools, and lowering everyday costs for Nebraska families.

Priorities: Create and attract good-paying jobs · Support public schools and teachers · Lower the cost of food, health care, and child care

Rick Beard is the Legal Marijuana NOW Party nominee for Nebraska governor, a former farmer, former wine shop owner, and longtime marijuana-legalization activist who takes no PAC or party money. His platform centers on a state-operated cannabis business to fund property-tax relief, removing corporate money from Nebraska politics, and upholding voter-approved initiatives like medical cannabis and minimum-wage increases

Priorities: Legalize and tax cannabis through a state-run business to fund property-tax relief · Get corporate and PAC money out of Nebraska politics · Uphold voter-approved initiatives on medical cannabis, wages, and sick leave

Pete Ricketts is Nebraska's incumbent U.S. senator and the Republican nominee seeking his first full six-year term in 2026. A former two-term Nebraska governor and businessman, he was appointed to the Senate in 2023 and won the 2024 special election. His campaign emphasizes conservative fiscal policy, agriculture, border security, and Nebraska's low-tax business climate.

Priorities: Advance conservative fiscal and regulatory policy · Support Nebraska agriculture, trade, and rural communities · Strengthen border security and public safety

Dan Osborn is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, an industrial mechanic, Navy veteran, and former local union president who led the 2021 Kellogg's strike in Omaha. After a closer-than-expected 2024 run, he qualified for the 2026 ballot by petition in June 2026. His Nebraska Fairness Plan emphasizes anti-corruption reform, a congressional stock-trading ban, and working-class economic priorities.

Priorities: End dark money and ban congressional stock trading · Represent working-class Nebraskans over party leadership · Lower costs for families, farmers, and small businesses

Cindy Burbank is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Nebraska and a former pharmacy technician. She won the May 2026 Democratic primary with the state party's endorsement and has publicly said she intends to withdraw from the general election to consolidate support behind independent Dan Osborn, though she remained on the ballot as of early July 2026.

Priorities: Consolidate support behind an independent challenge to Pete Ricketts · Protect health care access and affordability · Support working Nebraskans and rural communities

Mike Marvin of Omaha is the Legal Marijuana NOW Party nominee for U.S. Senate in Nebraska and former executive director of the NAPE/AFSCME public-employees union. A labor leader with five decades of organizing for working families, he won the party's May 2026 primary and has signaled support for independent candidate Dan Osborn. His platform centers on marijuana legalization and workers' rights.

Priorities: Legalize marijuana in Nebraska and nationally · Champion public employees and working families · Bring five decades of labor organizing experience to federal policy

Mike Hilgers is Nebraska's incumbent attorney general and the Republican nominee for re-election in 2026, advancing unopposed from the May primary. A former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature and business founder, his office has emphasized consumer protection, public safety, opioid enforcement, and litigation defending Nebraska law.

Priorities: Strengthen public safety and law enforcement partnerships · Protect consumers and pursue fraud enforcement · Defend Nebraska laws and constitutional authority

Jocelyn Brasher is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska attorney general and a former assistant Nebraska attorney general who spent five years in the office's Consumer Protection Bureau. If elected she would be the first woman to serve as Nebraska attorney general. Her campaign emphasizes consumer protection, fraud enforcement, and an office focused on Nebraskans rather than national politics.

Priorities: Protect Nebraskans from fraud, scams, and unfair business practices · Refocus the office on consumer protection over national litigation · Support public safety and accountable law enforcement

Scott Petersen is the Republican nominee for Nebraska secretary of state, an Omaha businessman who won the Republican nomination over two-term incumbent Bob Evnen in May 2026. His campaign emphasizes election security, auditable election systems, ballot chain-of-custody rules, and modernizing state business services.

Priorities: Tighten election security, audits, and ballot chain of custody · Restore voter confidence with transparent, verifiable results · Modernize business filings and state services

Sarah Slattery is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska secretary of state, a professional chef and small-business owner from Plattsmouth who serves on the Plattsmouth Bridge Commission and Library Board. If elected she would be Nebraska's first female secretary of state. Her campaign emphasizes defending Nebraska's existing election system, voter access, and practical service for businesses.

Priorities: Defend Nebraska's secure, accessible election system · Protect voter access, including mail voting options · Support small businesses through efficient state services

Joey Spellerberg is Nebraska's incumbent state treasurer and the Republican nominee for a first full term in 2026. The former mayor of Fremont, he was appointed treasurer in November 2025 after Tom Briese resigned, and has emphasized returning unclaimed property, sound management of state funds, and college-savings programs.

Priorities: Return unclaimed property to Nebraskans · Manage state funds conservatively and transparently · Strengthen college-savings and financial programs

Daniel Ebers is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska state treasurer, a hotel manager from Lincoln who was the party's 2024 nominee for U.S. House and a past county treasurer candidate. He advanced unopposed from the May 2026 Democratic primary, and his campaign emphasizes accountable management of state funds.

Priorities: Provide accountable, transparent management of state funds · Improve customer service in the treasurer's office · Offer a Democratic alternative for statewide fiscal office

Mike Foley is Nebraska's incumbent auditor of public accounts and the Republican nominee in 2026, advancing unopposed with no general-election challenger filed. A former lieutenant governor and state senator, he has served multiple nonconsecutive terms as auditor, with a record focused on uncovering misspending in state agencies and local governments.

Priorities: Audit state agencies and local governments for misspending · Increase transparency of public funds · Protect taxpayers through independent oversight