Nebraska voters to elect party representatives

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Voters in Nebraska will head to the polls on Tuesday to nominate party representatives for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the state legislature.

Prominent incumbents in the state will be vying for their first full term or leaving their seats all together. Here are some of the most competitive primary races in the Cornhusker State.

U.S. Senate

Incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., is running for his first full term after he was appointed to fill Ben Sasse’s seat in 2023. Ricketts is set to face off against three Republican candidates for the state’s nomination.

Ricketts was endorsed by President Donald Trump in April 2025, who appeared to offer the endorsement to avoid a potentially complex midterm election against popular labor leader Dan Osborn, a Democrat.

“Pete is one of the strongest Senators in the Country on Border Security, whereas his potential Opponent, Dan Osborn, is a Radical Left Open Border Extremist, who will put our Country, and Safety, LAST,” Trump wrote on social media.

Even still, Republicans Eric Mortimore, Todd Knobel, Mac Stevens and Debb Axtell Schultz have mounted challenges to Ricketts’ nomination. According to recent Federal Elections Commission filings, Ricketts has raised more than $4.8 million for his campaign.

Schultz, who withdrew from a mayoral race in Grand Island, joined the race to challenge Ricketts. She previously ran for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.

Stevens, a nutritionist, criticized Ricketts and called for a renewed focus on removing cancer-causing agents from foods and American diets.

“The polls are clear that Pete Ricketts is out of touch and disengaged with what really matters in Nebraska,” Stevens said.

Two Democrats are seeking the nomination against Ricketts. William Forbes and Cindy Burbank are seeking the party’s nomination. Dan Osborn has yet to gather enough signatures for the ballot. He could still run as an independent candidate if he gathers enough signatures by July 2.

Osborn has raised more than $3.8 million, according to the most recent FEC filings, making him the second-highest earning candidate in the U.S. Senate race in Nebraska. He has advocated for banning congressional stock trading, implementing a middle class tax cut and overturning campaign finance laws made after the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC.

“This has allowed money to flood our elections and politics, giving wealthy donors, corporations, and other special interest groups infinitely more power over everyday people like you and me,”

U.S. House

District 2

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., announced he will not run for reelection in the state’s second congressional district. His announcement launched a slew of candidates from both parties vying for his seat.

Brinker Harding, a member of the Omaha City Council, is the sole Republican running for Bacon’s seat. Harding has advocated for lowering taxes and reducing the national debt.

“I will fight to cut your taxes, bring down gas and grocery prices, lower interest rates, create good-paying jobs and ensure America is the global leader in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence,” Harding wrote.

Eighth Democrats will be on the ballot for the party’s nomination in Nebraska’s second congressional district. State Sen. John Cavanaugh, small business owner Denise Powell and district court clerk Crystal Rhoades are among the candidates vying for a party nomination.

Cavanaugh said he would seek to restore Affordable Care Act tax credits, ban congressional stock trading and reverse cuts to Medicaid.

“I’m running to stand up to MAGA Republicans’ chaos and corruption,” Cavanaugh told Ballotpedia. “Donald Trump is the most corrupt President in American history and, in Congress, I’ll hold him and his cronies accountable for their actions.”

With Bacon leaving an open seat in the second district, the Cook Political Report ranks Nebraska’s second congressional district as competitive, leaving room for a Democrat to flip the traditionally Republican race.

Governor

Incumbent Jim Pillen is seeking a second term in the Nebraska governor’s mansion. He will face off against a crowded field of Republicans seeking to unseat him.

Trump endorsed Pillen for governor in November 2025. He highlighted Pillen’s past career as a veterinarian and football player in Nebraska.

“Now, as governor, Jim has a Proven Record of Success!” Trump wrote on social media. “HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

Republicans John Walz, Jacy Todd and Sal Holguin also are seeking the nomination.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats Lynne Walz and Larry Marvin are seeking the party’s nomination for governor.

A recent survey, commissioned by Walz revealed Pillen’s popularity supposedly dwindling among Nebraska voters. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, found Pillen only five points ahead of Walz in a general election.

Pillen’s campaign refuted the poll, saying it was inaccurate and did not reflect their internal data.

“Our elected leaders need to lead with honesty and integrity, not looking to line the pockets of themselves and their buddies,” Walz wrote.

Nebraska voters will also head to the polls to elect candidates in the state senate, the only unicameral state legislative body in the country. Twenty-four of the chambers’ 49 seats are up for election in 2026.

The state legislative chamber has a Republican supermajority of 33-14 with two independent candidates.

Voters will head to the polls to elect party representatives in all of these races on Tuesday. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain time.