U.S. House · Nebraska's 3rd District
David J. Else
CandidateLegal Marijuana Now
- Race
- U.S. House · Nebraska's 3rd District
- Result
- Adrian Smith, projected winner
- Opponents
- Adrian Smith (R); Becky Lynn Stille (D); Macey Budke (Nebraska Working People Party); Mark Cohen (Nonpartisan)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did2 statements · 0 votes
promised her I would fight for health care insurance for all until the day I die
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 3
2026-11-03
| Adrian Smith R | incumbent |
| Becky Lynn Stille D | challenger |
| David J. Else Legal Marijuana Now | challenger |
| Macey Budke Nebraska Working People Party | challenger |
| Mark Cohen Nonpartisan | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
promised her I would fight for health care insurance for all until the day I die
In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide, said he ran for Congress in 2022 to protect ACA health insurance, promised to fight for health care insurance for all, and wants to add dental insurance to the ACA.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Like this war and his trade wars that cause inflation to skyrocket up and grain prices for us farmers that have tanked because of Trump.
In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide, said President Trump's trade wars have raised inflation and lowered grain prices for farmers.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
David J. Else, a farmer from Overton who has lived there his entire life, ran for the Legal Marijuana Now Party and lost the November 3, 2026 election for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District to Adrian Smith. He had run for the seat before, including as the Democratic nominee in 2022.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Else lives in Overton, Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Examiner, and Nebraska Public Media reports he has lived and farmed there his entire life.[3][4] The Nebraska Examiner's voter guide says he was a dairy farmer for 22 years and is a grain farmer and rancher with a cow/calf operation, and BallotReady lists his professional experience as farmer.[6][7]
Else was the Democratic nominee for this seat in 2022, losing to Rep. Adrian Smith, who received 78.3% of the vote; Nebraska Public Media reports he also ran for the seat in 2024.[3][8][4] He won the Legal Marijuana NOW Party primary in May 2026.[2][3] He received 2.9% of the vote to Adrian Smith's 71%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]
In their own words
Priorities
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
“I think Congress needs to grow a spine and tell Trump “no” on a lot of things.”[5]
In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide
- Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
“On immigration, I would like to make it easier for immigrants to get a work visa, then a pathway to U.S. citizenship if they are not criminals and are hardworking people.”[5]
In the Nebraska Examiner's 2026 voter guide
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/david-j-else
Compare all 5 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.U.S. House Nebraska's 3rd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 2.United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.Nonpartisan Cohen submits signatures seeking Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District ballot · WOWT / Nebraska Examiner · 2026-07-31 News report
- 4.3rd Congressional District voter guide: Meet the Nebraskans running · Nebraska Public Media · 2026-10-01 News report
- 5.2026 primary voter guide: U.S. House, District 3 · Nebraska Examiner News report
- 6.U.S. House, 3rd Congressional District (2026 Primary Voter Guide) · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-10-19 News report
- 7.David J. Else · BallotReady Reference
- 8.Adrian Smith (Nebraska) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference