Lynne Walz

Lynne Walz is the Democratic nominee for governor of Nebraska, running on a ticket with Ben Steffen. A former teacher and realtor from Fremont, she served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2025, including as Education Committee chair, and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. Her campaign emphasizes targeted property-tax relief for working families, public schools, affordability and economic growth.[1][2][3]

Walz grew up on her family's small hog farm outside Fremont, Nebraska, and graduated from Arlington High School in 1981.[1][3] She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Midland Lutheran College in 1994.[1][3] She worked as a teacher at Fremont Public Schools and Archbishop Bergan High School and as a caregiver and nonprofit professional supporting people with developmental disabilities, and she is a realtor.[1][3]

Before entering the Legislature, Walz served on the Fremont Bergan school board, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce board and as president of the Fremont Board of Realtors.[1][3] She was first elected to the Legislature in 2016, defeating incumbent David Schnoor to represent District 15, which includes Fremont, and was re-elected in 2020; she was term-limited in 2025.[1] In 2021 she won election as chair of the Education Committee over incumbent Mike Groene by a 25–23 vote.[1]

In 2018 Walz was chosen as the running mate of state Sen. Bob Krist, and the Democratic ticket lost the general election to Gov. Pete Ricketts with about 41% of the vote.[1][3] She formed an exploratory committee for governor in November 2025 and won the May 12, 2026 Democratic primary over Larry Marvin.[1][3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.