Douglas County, Nebraska

State Board of Education District 8

2 candidates are tracked for State Board of Education District 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Lou Ann Goding and Sherrye Hutcherson. Candidate information follows official Douglas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Lou Ann Goding and Sherrye Hutcherson are running for the open, nonpartisan Nebraska State Board of Education District 8 seat; sitting member Deborah Neary did not file for reelection, per the Nebraska Secretary of State's certified candidate list. This district covers only part of the county; the seat appears only on ballots inside the district.

What this office does

State board of education member. A state board of education sets statewide academic standards, approves graduation requirements and teacher-licensing rules, adopts the state's school accountability system and, in many states, hires the state superintendent. Members represent districts drawn across the state. Local school boards still run the schools day to day. A regional superintendent of schools handles teacher certification, school safety inspections and other state-mandated services for the school districts in a multi-county region.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Nebraska › Douglas County › State Board of Education District 8

Lou Ann Goding

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Wants more rigorous academic standards and higher student proficiency in math and reading
Wants schools to be physically safe, with access to school psychologists and appropriate security staffing
Wants career and technical education, apprenticeship access, and financial literacy programs for students

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Lou Ann Goding, a lifelong Nebraskan, is a former Board President of Omaha Public Schools, Nebraska's largest school district, per her campaign site. During her tenure on the OPS board she led efforts on school security measures, including buzz in visitor systems, on-site security staff, and moving school psychologists into school buildings, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Sherrye Hutcherson

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Increasing literacy and graduation rates
Addressing the teacher shortage
Expanding career and technical education

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hutcherson worked more than 20 years in corporate America, including for Union Pacific, Omaha Public Power District and Bellevue University, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotUniversity of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for State Board of Education District 8 in 2026?

When is the State Board of Education District 8 election in Nebraska?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Nebraska are on the Nebraska election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Douglas County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Douglas County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Nebraska election office, or see the full Douglas County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Douglas County ballot

21 tracked races in Douglas County, Nebraska. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 4 Nebraska Legislature District 4 Nebraska Legislature District 6 See all 21 Douglas County races

Candidate profiles

Lou Ann Goding, full profile Sherrye Hutcherson, full profile Official Nebraska election office