Bob Krist

Krist is an Omaha native who served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel.[1] He flew in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and held assignments with Strategic Air Command, including the Looking Glass airborne command post mission at Offutt Air Force Base, and he was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame in 2014.[1][2] His other professional experience includes working as the Air Force's active-duty adviser to Gov. Ben Nelson, as a contract manager and as chief pilot with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Ballotpedia lists a degree from the University of Saint Thomas.[2]

Republican Gov. Dave Heineman appointed Krist to represent District 10 in the Nebraska Legislature in 2009, and voters elected him to a full term in 2010 and re-elected him in 2014.[1][3] He served on the Government, Judiciary, General Affairs and Urban Affairs committees, and his fellow senators elected him chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board.[1] Krist later became an independent, and in 2018 he was the Democratic nominee for governor, with Lynne Walz as his running mate, losing to Gov. Pete Ricketts with 41.0% of the vote.[1][2]

Krist and his wife, Peggy, live in Omaha, where they raised two children.[1] He selected the America First Party for his Secretary of State run, describing himself on his campaign site as a nonpartisan voter who believes Nebraska voters deserve more choices.[1][3]