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Governor of Nebraska

Statewide — all of Nebraska

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

  • Incumbent Gov. Jim Pillen (R) is seeking a second term. He won the May 12, 2026 Republican primary with 75.4% of the vote.[1][10]
  • Former state Sen. Lynne Walz won the Democratic primary with 91.5%. Rick Beard is the Legal Marijuana NOW nominee.[1][10]
  • Former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom, who lost the 2022 Republican primary to Pillen, filed as a nonpartisan candidate but was not qualified: the Secretary of State's office validated 3,358 of 5,765 signatures submitted, and more than 4,000 valid signatures were required. On September 1 he filed instead as the nominee of the America First Party, which the Nebraska Supreme Court had cleared to become an official party the week before. The Secretary of State's final general-election candidate list (September 11) includes the Pillen, Walz, Beard and Lindstrom tickets.[4][5][2][10]
  • Pillen has said he will not debate; Walz and Beard said they would, and Lindstrom said he would welcome a debate.[3]

On the ballot · 4 candidates

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Jim Pillen
    —
  • Lynne Walz
    In their own words[12]
    “We need to focus on building housing, creating power capacity and addressing child care costs, to name a few, that our private sector has identified barriers to growing our state.”

    In her response to the Nebraska Examiner 2026 voter guide (Priorities question)

  • Brett Lindstrom
    In their own words[13]
    “Nebraska should support locally driven housing solutions for workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, first responders, young families, and retirees.”

    In the Workforce Housing & Community Development plan on his campaign site

  • Rick Beard
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Jim Pillen
    —
  • Lynne Walz
    —
  • Brett Lindstrom
    In their own words[12]
    “We don’t need to raise taxes to generate revenue; we need to grow Nebraska’s economy, population, businesses and tax base.”

    In his response to the Nebraska Examiner 2026 voter guide (Budget question)

  • Rick Beard
    Supports[6][12]

    Said he would raise income taxes by one or two points on top earners and stop giving corporations tax breaks.

Increase police funding and staffing

  • Jim Pillen
    —
  • Lynne Walz
    In their own words[7]
    “We need strong schools, vibrant community spaces, strong main streets, and continued investments for police officers and firefighters to keep us safe.”

    On her campaign website

  • Brett Lindstrom
    —
  • Rick Beard
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Jim Pillen
    —
  • Lynne Walz
    In their own words[7]
    “Nebraskans have had their voices heard on key issues, like medical marijuana, paid sick leave, minimum wage, school vouchers, and more. When the voters speak, our job as representatives is to listen.”

    On her campaign website

  • Brett Lindstrom
    —
  • Rick Beard
    —

Research notes & limits

The Nebraska Secretary of State's Final Statewide General Candidate List (dated September 11, 2026) lists exactly four Governor/Lt. Governor tickets: Pillen/Kelly (Republican), Walz/Steffen (Democratic), Beard/Barnes (Legal Marijuana NOW) and Lindstrom/Picard (America First); this matches the guide, so Lindstrom is on the ballot as America First. Ballotpedia was unreachable (bot challenge). Pillen's campaign site pages appear partly dated (2022-era issues page); a school-choice position drawn from that page was removed as too vague to map to the issue. Walz's legislative votes (she left the Legislature in January 2025) and Lindstrom's legislative record were not reviewed; our state-legislature snapshot covers only 2026 sessions. Pillen has declined interview/debate requests per news reports. Running mates are listed in each candidate's ballot note.

Sources · 26

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.2026 Nebraska gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  2. 2.Brett Lindstrom · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  3. 3.Who else is willing to debate in Nebraska this midterm cycle? · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-08-11 News report
  4. 4.Lindstrom turns in signatures, releases 'Nebraska Doctrine' for nonpartisan governor bid · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-08-03 News report
  5. 5.Brett Lindstrom refiles for Nebraska governor as America First Party candidate · WOWT · 2026-09-01 News report
  6. 6.Beard talks priorities, pivot from Nebraska primary election to Nov. 3 faceoff · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-27 News report
  7. 7.Priorities · Lynne Walz for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Re-Elect Jim Pillen for Governor · Pillen campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.LB574 — Let Them Grow Act and Preborn Child Protection Act (2023) · Nebraska Legislature · 2023-05-22 Official record
  10. 10.Final Statewide General Candidate List, November 3, 2026 General Election · Nebraska Secretary of State · 2026-09-11 Official record
  11. 11.LB574 (2023) slip law, approved by the Governor May 22, 2023 · Nebraska Legislature · 2023-05-22 Official record
  12. 12.Nebraska Governor | Voter Guide: 2026 General Election · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-10-19 News report
  13. 13.The Nebraska Doctrine (full text) · Lindstrom for Nebraska · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  14. 14.Jim Pillen · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  15. 15.Re-Elect Jim Pillen for Governor · Pillen campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  16. 16.LB574 — Let Them Grow Act and Preborn Child Protection Act (2023) · Nebraska Legislature · 2023-05-22 Official record
  17. 17.LB574 (2023) slip law, approved by the Governor May 22, 2023 · Nebraska Legislature · 2023-05-22 Official record
  18. 18.About Governor Jim Pillen · Office of the Governor of Nebraska · 2026-10-19 Official record
  19. 19.Lynne Walz · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  20. 20.Priorities · Lynne Walz for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  21. 21.Lynne Walz · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  22. 22.Brett Lindstrom · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  23. 23.Lindstrom turns in signatures, releases 'Nebraska Doctrine' for nonpartisan governor bid · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-08-03 News report
  24. 24.Brett Lindstrom refiles for Nebraska governor as America First Party candidate · WOWT · 2026-09-01 News report
  25. 25.Beard talks priorities, pivot from Nebraska primary election to Nov. 3 faceoff · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-27 News report
  26. 26.2026 Nebraska gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference