The Ballot Brief
Nebraska › Douglas County › Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska sample ballot 2026

Omaha voters (Douglas County, Nebraska) see U.S. Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State plus 9 Douglas County races on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Your U.S. House district and any precinct-level races depend on your street address.

On every Omaha ballot

Assessor/Register of DeedsDakotah Smith (D)

Dakotah Smith

Democratic

Dakotah Smith brings 10 years of residential and commercial real estate brokerage experience to his run for assessor, per his campaign site. He says that background will help him ensure property assessments are handled fairly and transparently.

AttorneyDonald W. Kleine (R) · Makayla Danner (D)

Donald W. Kleine

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Prioritizing prosecution of violent crime while expanding diversion programs for addiction and mental illness
  • Continuing the office's problem-solving courts for people dealing with addiction

Per the campaign site.

About Donald W. Kleine

Don Kleine has served as Douglas County Attorney since 2006, per his campaign site. He previously served as chief of the Nebraska Attorney General's criminal bureau and as chief deputy to former Douglas County Attorney Jim Jansen, per the same source. His office established Nebraska's first problem-solving courts, per his campaign site.

Makayla Danner

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Prioritizing prosecution of violent offenders while expanding diversion programming for appropriate nonviolent offenders
  • Supporting expanded drug courts and mental-health diversion

Per the campaign site.

About Makayla Danner

Makayla Danner has worked more than 20 years as a City of Omaha prosecutor focused on child abuse, neglect and youth crime cases, per the Nebraska Examiner. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, per her campaign site, which also lists an endorsement from Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr.

EngineerTodd Pfitzer (R)

Todd Pfitzer

Republican

Top priorities

  • Storm-water management and green infrastructure improvements
  • ADA implementation and pedestrian and bicycle accommodations

Per the campaign site.

About Todd Pfitzer

Todd Pfitzer's campaign describes engineering and infrastructure priorities including green infrastructure and storm-water management, ADA implementation, and pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, per his campaign site.

SheriffAaron Hanson (R) · Mark Martinez (D)

Aaron Hanson

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Addressing repeat violent offenders through specialized units
  • Addressing mental health and homelessness issues
  • Traffic safety enforcement

Per the campaign site.

About Aaron Hanson

Hanson was elected in 2022 as Douglas County's 31st Sheriff after 29 years of law enforcement service, including 26 years with the Omaha Police Department in roles such as K9 Unit Handler and Gang Unit Sergeant, per his campaign site. Before being elected Sheriff, he served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and as President of the Omaha Police Officers Association, per his campaign site.

Mark Martinez

Democratic

Mark Martinez served as U.S. Marshal for the District of Nebraska from 2010 to 2018, per the Nebraska Examiner. He previously spent 25 years with the Omaha Police Department, reaching the rank of deputy chief, before his marshal service, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

TreasurerTony Vargas (D)

Tony Vargas

Democratic

Tony Vargas served in the Nebraska Legislature, including eight years on the Appropriations Committee, per his campaign site. He says he passed the state's first long-term fiscal-planning legislation and worked to strengthen public schools and expand access to health care as a senator.

By address

These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.

Find your districts by address
Clerk of the District CourtJustin T. Wayne (D)

Justin T. Wayne

Democratic

Justin T. Wayne is the Democratic nominee for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court, unopposed on the November 2026 ballot, per the Douglas County Election Commission. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Commissioner - District 2Whitney Hansen (D)

Whitney Hansen

Democratic

Whitney Hansen is the Democratic nominee for Douglas County Commissioner, District 2, unopposed on the November 2026 ballot, per the Douglas County Election Commission. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Commissioner - District 4P.J. Morgan (R)

P.J. Morgan

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Controlling county spending and government transparency
  • Supporting farmers, ranchers and small businesses

Per the campaign site.

About P.J. Morgan

Morgan is an Omaha business and community leader of more than 30 years who has served in the Nebraska Legislature, as Mayor of Omaha, and on the Douglas County Board of Commissioners since 2010, per his campaign site. He is a member of the Omaha Business Hall of Fame and has served on the boards of the Salvation Army, United Way and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, per his campaign site.

Commissioner - District 6Tim Donahue (R) · John McCann (D)

Tim Donahue

Republican

Tim Donahue is the Republican nominee for Douglas County Commissioner, District 6, on the November 2026 ballot, per the Douglas County Election Commission. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

John McCann

Democratic

John McCann is the Democratic nominee for Douglas County Commissioner, District 6, on the November 2026 ballot, per the Douglas County Election Commission. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Full candidate profiles, priorities and campaign sites are on the Douglas County page.

Statewide races

U.S. SenatePete Ricketts (R) · Dan Osborn (I) · Mike Marvin (Legal Marijuana NOW) · Robin Richards (Nebraska Working People Party) · Chuck Conboy (America First Party)
Pete Ricketts

Pete Ricketts

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Advance conservative fiscal and regulatory policy
  • Support Nebraska agriculture, trade, and rural communities
  • Strengthen border security and public safety
About Pete Ricketts

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.

Key voting record
  • Voted yes on the 2025 Republican tax-and-spending package, which passed the Senate 51-50. Supported
  • Voted yes on expanded federal detention requirements for certain immigration-related offenses. Supported
Dan Osborn

Dan Osborn

I

Top priorities

  • End dark money and ban congressional stock trading
  • Represent working-class Nebraskans over party leadership
  • Lower costs for families, farmers, and small businesses
About Dan Osborn

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.

Mike Marvin

Mike Marvin

Legal Marijuana NOW

Top priorities

  • Legalize marijuana in Nebraska and nationally
  • Champion public employees and working families
  • Bring five decades of labor organizing experience to federal policy
About Mike Marvin

Mike Marvin suspended his U.S. Senate campaign on August 21, 2026, citing a worsening health condition, and endorsed nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn; because Nebraska's deadline to withdraw from the general-election ballot passed on August 3, his name is still printed on the November 3 ballot, per the Nebraska Examiner and the Secretary of State's office. Marvin of Omaha is the Legal Marijuana NOW Party nominee, a bus driver in Omaha for 26 years and former executive director of the NAPE/AFSCME public-employees union, with five decades of organizing for working families. His platform centered on marijuana legalization and workers' rights.

Robin Richards

Nebraska Working People Party

Robin Richards of Ralston is the chair of the Nebraska Working People Party and filed as its U.S. Senate candidate on September 1, 2026, the deadline for a newly recognized party to place candidates on the general-election ballot. The Nebraska Supreme Court cleared the party for recognition on August 26 and the Secretary of State certified it the same day; his office confirmed valid signatures for the party's filings. Her ballot status is reported by the Nebraska Examiner and is not yet on a certified Secretary of State list. No campaign website was found as of September 12, 2026.

Chuck Conboy

America First Party

Chuck Conboy of Papillion filed as the America First Party's U.S. Senate candidate on September 1, 2026, the deadline for a newly recognized party to place candidates on the general-election ballot. The Nebraska Supreme Court cleared the party for recognition on August 26 and the Secretary of State certified it the same day; his office confirmed valid signatures for the party's five filings. His ballot status is reported by Nebraska Public Media and the Nebraska Examiner and is not yet on a certified Secretary of State list. No campaign website was found as of September 12, 2026.

GovernorJim Pillen (R) · Lynne Walz (D) · Rick Beard (Legal Marijuana NOW) · Brett Lindstrom (America First)

Jim Pillen

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Deliver property-tax relief and conservative budgeting
  • Support Nebraska agriculture and water resources
  • Grow the state workforce and rural economy
About Jim Pillen

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.

Lynne Walz

Lynne Walz

Democrat

Top priorities

  • Create and attract good-paying jobs
  • Support public schools and teachers
  • Lower the cost of food, health care, and child care
About Lynne Walz

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.

Rick Beard

Rick Beard

Legal Marijuana NOW

Top 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
About Rick Beard

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.

Brett Lindstrom

America First

Brett Lindstrom is the America First Party nominee for Nebraska governor, running with running mate Michael Picard of Omaha, a Navy veteran and director of a youth volleyball club, per the Nebraska Examiner. A former Nebraska state senator, Lindstrom filed with the Secretary of State on September 1, 2026 to appear on the November ballot on the America First line, per the Nebraska Examiner. His campaign describes a fiscal-policy platform it calls the "Nebraska Doctrine," per the Nebraska Examiner. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Attorney GeneralMike Hilgers (R) · Jocelyn Brasher (D)
Mike Hilgers

Mike Hilgers

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Strengthen public safety and law enforcement partnerships
  • Protect consumers and pursue fraud enforcement
  • Defend Nebraska laws and constitutional authority
About Mike Hilgers

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.

Jocelyn Brasher

Jocelyn Brasher

Democrat

Top 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
About Jocelyn Brasher

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.

Secretary of StateScott Petersen (R) · Sarah Slattery (D) · Paul Rumbaugh (Nebraska Working People) · Bob Krist (America First)

Scott Petersen

Republican

Top priorities

  • Tighten election security, audits, and ballot chain of custody
  • Restore voter confidence with transparent, verifiable results
  • Modernize business filings and state services
About Scott Petersen

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.

Sarah Slattery

Sarah Slattery

Democrat

Top priorities

  • Defend Nebraska's secure, accessible election system
  • Protect voter access, including mail voting options
  • Support small businesses through efficient state services
About Sarah Slattery

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.

Paul Rumbaugh

Nebraska Working People

Paul Rumbaugh, of Omaha, is the Nebraska Working People Party nominee for Nebraska secretary of state, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.

Bob Krist

America First

Bob Krist, of Omaha, is the America First Party nominee for Nebraska secretary of state and a former Nebraska state senator, per the Nebraska Examiner. He was appointed to the Legislature as a Republican in 2009, was the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor, and rejoined the Republican Party in 2022 before filing with the America First Party for this race on September 1, 2026, per the Nebraska Examiner. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

TreasurerJoey Spellerberg (R) · Daniel Ebers (D)
Joey Spellerberg

Joey Spellerberg

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Return unclaimed property to Nebraskans
  • Manage state funds conservatively and transparently
  • Strengthen college-savings and financial programs
About Joey Spellerberg

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.

Daniel Ebers

Democrat

Top priorities

  • Provide accountable, transparent management of state funds
  • Improve customer service in the treasurer's office
  • Offer a Democratic alternative for statewide fiscal office
About Daniel Ebers

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.

AuditorMike Foley (R) · John Knight (America First)
Mike Foley

Mike Foley

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Audit state agencies and local governments for misspending
  • Increase transparency of public funds
  • Protect taxpayers through independent oversight
About Mike Foley

Mike Foley is Nebraska's incumbent auditor of public accounts and the Republican nominee for re-election in 2026. 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.

John Knight

America First

John Knight, of Clay Center, is the America First Party nominee for Nebraska auditor of public accounts, per the Secretary of State's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.

Nebraska voters also decide 1 statewide ballot measure.

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more

City boundaries and ZIP codes from the U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Gazetteer, 2020 ZCTA relationships). Candidate fields follow official election office filings; confirm with the Nebraska election office before voting.