race for Nebraska governor
Incumbent Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen of Columbus, a Republican, is running for reelection against challengers Lynne Walz of Fremont for the Democratic Party, Rick Beard of Omaha for the Legal Marijuana NOW Party and Brett Lindstrom of Omaha for the America First Party. Lindstrom, a former lifelong Republican, switched to nonpartisan in early 2026 before launching a nonpartisan petition bid in the summer. That fell short, and Lindstrom re-registered with the new political party.
Running mates: Pillen again selected incumbent Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly of Lincoln; Walz selected Ben Steffen of Humboldt; Beard, Keenya “Ruby” Barnes; Lindstrom, Michael Picard of Omaha. Biographical details on the lieutenant governor candidates are available here: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-general-nebraska-lieutenant-governor/
An asterisk denotes a question asked ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The responses below include candidates’ responses to questions ahead of the May 12 primary. Lindstrom was not on the ballot in the spring and was asked all questions ahead of the general election.
The Candidates
Rick Beard
Legal Marijuana NOW
Rick Beard of Omaha, 58, is a wine professional and private chef. He is a graduate of Burke High School.
Brett Lindstrom
America First
Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, 45, works in financial services. He is a former state senator for Legislative District 18 (2015-23). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jim Pillen
Republican • Incumbent
Jim Pillen of Columbus, 70, is the governor of Nebraska (2023-present). He previously served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents (2013-23). The former veterinarian earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Kansas State University after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.
Lynne Walz
Democrat
Lynne Walz of Fremont, 63, is a Realtor, small business owner, former teacher and former state senator for Legislative District 15 (2017-25). She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Midland Lutheran College.
The Issues
Reason for Running
What should voters know about you and why you are running for this position? What is one interesting fact about yourself?
Rick Beard (LMN)
I’m the only candidate running on a platform of legal cannabis that is based on regulation and whole plant access to the voters. This is not a single-issue candidacy, as my plan and legislation would create upwards of 15,000 jobs for Nebraskans while generating $95 million in yearly state tax revenue, funding for roads and schools, property tax relief, crop options for farmers, jail and prison reform, affordable non-pharmaceutical medicine and a real solution to slow Nebraska brain drain. Other candidates talk about bringing new industry to Nebraska with more tax breaks for corporations, while I have a proven industry model that requires NO tax breaks or incentives. Interesting fact about me: I believe I’m the only candidate that plays the banjo.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Nebraska is on the wrong path. The status quo is not sustainable. Nebraska deserves leadership with the courage to tell the truth, make hard decisions and chart a new course before the damage becomes even harder to reverse.
Jim Pillen (R)
I made the decision to run for governor in 2022 to focus on four critical areas of our state's future: kids, taxes, agriculture and values. And I'm running for reelection because I have a record of results and a conservative vision for Nebraska. Since taking office, we've banned cellphones bell-to-bell in schools to prevent distractions in the classroom and prioritized making sure all kids can read at grade level. Additionally, we were the first state in the nation to opt in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, giving parents the power to choose which school is the best fit. On taxes, I've worked together with the Legislature to pass historic income tax relief, and we're actively addressing the property tax crisis. And we've done it while cutting spending and improving government services, achieving for Nebraska the highest credit rating in our history (AAA). We banned bioreactor-grown "meat" and introduced legislation to ensure family farmers and ranchers own their agricultural data, not publicly traded corporations. And perhaps most importantly, I've been proud to stand up for our commonsense Nebraska values — protecting girls' sports, building a culture of life, passing constitutional carry and prohibiting government funding from going to DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] programs. One interesting fact about me that I believe goes to the core of who I am is that I'm a husband, dad and grandfather. Family makes you appreciate your responsibility to make things better for those who come after you.
Lynne Walz (D)
I’m running because Nebraska is at a crossroads. I’m not running to increase my wealth or my power. I’m running because Nebraskans need commonsense leadership. When Gov. Pillen was elected, Nebraska had a $1.2 billion surplus. In a little more than three years, lawmakers had to close a $646 million deficit. And what have we gotten for that spending? Costs of groceries, gas, health care, housing and almost everything have gone up. Nebraskans have not received the property tax relief that they’ve been demanding. We’ve cut services for people with disabilities, for veterans and for rural health care. At this pace, Nebraska will be broke in another four years. We need a leader who is laser-focused on creating opportunities for businesses and workers to grow our revenues without raising taxes and cutting wasteful spending, not essential services.
Priorities
What issues would you prioritize if elected (or reelected), and why?
Rick Beard (LMN)
The will of the voters: Our current governor and Legislature repetitively deny the vote of the same people that put them in office. As a third-party governor, I feel the Unicameral will accomplish more and actually function as intended by encouraging the Republicans and Democrats to work together instead of against each other. I will uphold the will of the vote, even if I don’t agree with it. Cost of living: Stop turning away billions of federal dollars scheduled for Nebraska. Quit giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations and tax the ultra-rich. Put a moratorium on data centers until we can accurately assess the impacts on Nebraska water, infrastructure and citizens. Bringing new industry and wealth to Nebraska: 15,000 new jobs in the cannabis business would produce $500 million in Nebraskan salaries. When we mitigate brain drain through respecting and implementing the vote of our younger generations, we keep more salaries in Nebraska instead of forfeiting them to other states or countries. Fix the roads: We drive on rubble. It’s embarrassing and wrecks our cars. Cannabis taxation will provide money for road repairs. Lowering or at least capping property taxes through new revenue: We all want to lower property taxes. I can’t promise lower taxes immediately, but I can promise that with a legal cannabis industry, we can cap the levies and not have further increases. No other candidate is bringing $95 million a year in new tax revenue to the state. Having the state better prepared for natural disasters and wildfire prevention: Sending our Nebraska National Guard to Washington, D.C., to protect marble and direct traffic during a red-flag fire season is beyond irresponsible but not as irresponsible as doing prescribed burns during a red-flag warning with excessive wind. Stop turning away federal benefits for Nebraska that our taxpayers have paid into: It’s not welfare. Turning away federal funds is like sending your Social Security check to someone else. If we had the billions we turned away over the last 10 years we wouldn’t be in debt.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Take the pressure off property taxes and make valuations something you can plan around. Build housing where the jobs already are. Protect public power and expand the grid before demand outruns it. Keep more of what Nebraska grows getting processed in Nebraska. Finish the job on rural internet. Nebraska's problem was never a shortage of land, work or ambition. It's that too many of the people who grew up here can't afford to build a life here. Government's job is to fix the conditions causing that — not to win the argument about it.
Jim Pillen (R)
I plan to keep building on the progress we've made with kids, taxes, agriculture and values. They're what I ran on and how I've governed. We've made tremendous progress in running government like a business — cutting wasteful spending, maximizing efficiency, reducing the regulatory burden — but there is always more to be done. It’s important to say "no" — to more spending, more programs, more government. Nebraskans are the most good-hearted and hardworking people in the world, and the way forward for our state is to implement policies that empower them — to innovate, create jobs, solve problems and make a difference in their communities. Nebraskans understand that money doesn't solve every problem, and I'm not afraid to withstand the political pressure and make sure taxpayers' money is used wisely.
Lynne Walz (D)
I would focus on economic development and creating opportunities for families. The current administration has created a budget crisis that will not be easy to resolve. Long term, we have to grow our economy. The government's role isn’t to create jobs, it’s to create the climate and be good partners that allows the private sector to grow our state. We need to work with our agricultural and business leaders to solve our most pressing issues that allow us to grow our economy and tax base without raising taxes on our Nebraska residents. 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.
Budget*
What steps would you take to stabilize Nebraska's budget after multiple years of projected shortfalls? What should the state emphasize and/or deemphasize in state spending? How can the state government step up to generate new revenue?
Rick Beard (LMN)
We will have State Auditor Mike Foley audit all corporations receiving tax incentives through the ImagiNE Nebraska Act. Sections 33, 37 and 66 of the ImagiNE Act allow and require full recapture of all tax credits given to a corporation when that company fails to uphold their end of the agreement (providing x-number of jobs). The potential revenue from recapturing these funds is massive. It's what broke us. The state should quit wasting time and money on expensive lawsuits suing the federal government for its cannabis policy, and stop consuming the time of our Unicameral, state funds and the funds of local municipalities while fighting against voter-approved legislation. Like a state-run liquor program, we will have a state-run cannabis program with wholesale, retail, testing, enforcement and distribution. We start this system as we license Nebraska farmers to grow medical cannabis in controlled environments. This creates a program that is more profitable for the state with wholesale profit AND sales tax, with regulation preventing players and out-of-state corporations from taking profits that should remain in Nebraska.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Nebraska needs to restore fiscal stability by controlling the growth of state spending, protecting a strong cash reserve and ending the practice of using one-time money for ongoing commitments. My goal would be to keep annual budget growth around 2.5%, creating a stable baseline that does not allow government spending to outpace the private-sector economy. When revenues grow above that baseline, that fiscal discipline gives us the capacity to implement the Nebraska Doctrine by investing in priorities that expand opportunity and strengthen Nebraska for the long term, while also providing sustainable tax relief. We don’t need to raise taxes to generate revenue; we need to grow Nebraska’s economy, population, businesses and tax base.
Jim Pillen (R)
My whole goal is to make sure Nebraskans get to keep more of what they earn. To ensure that, we’re running government more like a business — cutting costs and improving services. Rated as one of America’s most fiscally conservative governors, under my administration, Nebraska earned back-to-back AAA credit ratings for the first time ever, and we have over $1.5 billion in reserves. As governor, I’ve protected taxpayers, ensured our fiscal integrity and balanced the budget — 100% of the time.
Lynne Walz (D)
I’m running for governor because in Nebraska, we have to restore fiscal discipline, ensure that our government is accountable to the people and, most of all, have a governor who puts Nebraskans first. I will end no-bid contracts, hire an independent auditor to cut waste, fraud and abuse and make responsible, strategic budget decisions that protect the vital services families depend on; not a lazy across-the-board cut that guts public safety and our kids' future. Here’s where we are: Gov. Pillen inherited a $1.2 billion surplus. This year, lawmakers closed a $646 million deficit. Next spring, they'll face a $1 billion deficit. He's depleted our cash reserves, raided funds meant for veterans and for our children's education, all while our property taxes keep going up. That is mismanagement, plain and simple. I will fix the books, restore fiscal discipline and bring honesty and transparency back to the budget process — so Nebraskans know where every dollar is going. I will fight to bring in new jobs and revenue and deliver real property tax relief. The only way out of this crisis is if we grow our way out of it, not keep asking Nebraskans to pay more to get less.
Taxes*
What specifically should be done to address Nebraska property taxes? What changes do you support to Nebraska's sales tax, such as in the statewide rate or in what is or isn't taxed? What should be done, if anything, with Nebraska's income tax rates?
Rick Beard (LMN)
Nebraska schools demand 70% of Nebraska's property taxes. When we distribute 90% of all profits from our state-run cannabis program to our public schools and $300 million a year goes to our schools, it eliminates the need for local levy hikes. We need to quit giving excessive tax breaks to corporations and require them to pay their fair share of community needs through appropriately taxing and charging them for local resource consumption. Raise income taxes by one or two points on Nebraska's top earners with incremental brackets for different levels of earning. We can't expect a budget solution from taxing our working class more. One hundred percent of revenue attributable to the new upper-income brackets could be deposited into a Nebraska Property Tax Reduction Fund and used exclusively to reduce property tax obligations. I do not support broadly taxing services to generate new revenue. If we tax discretionary consumer services (golf lessons, pool care, etc.) and not essential services (childcare, medical care), we can generate property tax relief without putting the burden on working-class Nebraskans.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Nebraska needs real property tax reform without simply shifting the burden to another tax. My plan would use a seven-year rolling average for valuations across residential, commercial and agricultural property, creating greater stability and preventing the dramatic valuation spikes that have contributed to our property tax problem. For agricultural land, we would also reform the valuation approach to better reflect its income-producing capability. Once we establish that stability, we can deliver sustainable tax relief because tax cuts should be a dividend of good fiscal management, not a gimmick. By keeping state spending from growing faster than the private-sector economy, we can maintain a stable budget and return those savings to taxpayers without raising sales, income or other taxes.
Jim Pillen (R)
We’ve made some progress on property taxes over the last four years but need four more years to finish what we’ve started. I’m the only conservative candidate with proven statewide experience, a plan and the will to solve this decades-old problem for generations to come. We’ve put in a lot of work to stop property tax growth — but now we have to carry out the rest of our reforms. The plan is simple, but for starters: 1) hard caps to rein in local spending (the main driver behind increasing property taxes) and 2) preventing runaway valuation growth would go a long way. I delivered the first year-over-year property tax cut in generations, provided historic amounts of property tax relief and slashed income taxes to make sure Nebraska families, producers and seniors pay less in taxes. Nebraska has been duped into creating tax carveouts, subsidies, loopholes and exemptions. We’re just giving away tax revenue to data centers and special interests. That has to end.
Lynne Walz (D)
Nebraskans are struggling. Farmers and ranchers are facing the worst financial crisis in decades. Young families can’t afford their first home. Seniors are being taxed out of their homes. I’ve heard it everywhere I’ve traveled, and property tax will be my No. 1 priority. Here’s what I proposed: expanding the homestead exemption, and to target property tax relief to Nebraska residents — not out-of-state corporations buying housing and farmland. Meanwhile, Gov. Pillen has focused on cutting income taxes for the highest wage earners. He’s promising property tax relief, but he couldn’t get it done with a massive surplus. There is no way that he can cut property taxes facing a deficit he created. We can and will cut property taxes, fix the budget and do so without shifting the tax burden to working families by raising sales taxes, as Gov. Pillen has proposed.
Economy/Affordability*
What state policies would you support, continue or champion to improve Nebraska's economy and help with affordability for Nebraskans? Name at least one specific policy you believe is working in this area.
Rick Beard (LMN)
I fully support rescinding ImagiNE Nebraska Act tax incentives for new Nebraska data centers. This should apply to all Nebraska data centers, not just new hyperscale projects. When tax breaks for one industry contribute to budget shortfalls and program cuts, we need to tax that industry fairly. We must also identify other business sectors receiving disproportionate tax incentives and correct those disparities. Removing corporate and special interest money from our politics through legislation based on Montana Plan I-95 is one of the biggest things we can do to protect our economy. This will help prevent data centers, power companies and foreign interests from influencing elected officials to pass policies that benefit them at the expense of Nebraskans. We can help fund Nebraska through a state-run cannabis business, directing wholesale profits and taxes to our schools for property tax relief. This program directly lightens the load of our stressed healthcare system by providing alternative treatment for many medical conditions and addiction relief. A separate industrial hemp industry will give farmers a new rotational crop, create rural manufacturing jobs and make Nebraska a pioneer in renewable green-building materials. This could be a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry for Nebraska.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Nebraska should become the best place in America to build a life, and that starts with making it possible for our children to afford to stay here. We need to build housing where jobs already exist, protect public power and expand our electrical grid, finish rural broadband, encourage entrepreneurship and technology, and process more of what Nebraska grows right here in Nebraska. Continued investment in broadband and infrastructure is working and should remain part of that strategy. Economic growth should reinforce what makes Nebraska unique, not require us to become someplace else.
Jim Pillen (R)
I’ve taken action — and will continue to take action — to increase affordability in Nebraska: eliminating tax incentives for Big Tech data centers, lowering property insurance rates, battling for transformative property tax relief, cutting government spending and eliminating state taxpayer benefits for illegals, stop hedge funds from buying up our homes, protecting Nebraska’s public power ratepayers. Over the coming years, we’ll see the impact of LB 1165 — The Grow the Good Life Act — I signed into law to help businesses attract new families to Nebraska. For too long, government spent too much of our money. I believe there’s more work to be done to lower the tax burden in our state so families, producers and seniors can keep more of what they earn.
Lynne Walz (D)
Nebraskans are feeling the pain every day: at the grocery store, at the gas pump, in their property tax bills. The cost of healthcare, housing and input costs for farmers have skyrocketed over the last four years, and I hear as I travel across the state that families are struggling to keep up. As governor, I'll ban price gouging so corporations can't exploit Nebraska consumers in tough times. I'll enact a gas tax holiday to deliver real relief at the pump. And I'll follow the Trump plan to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, because hardworking Nebraskans deserve to keep more of what they earn. I cannot name a single policy that has been enacted by Gov. Pillen that has resulted in costs going down for Nebraskans. At best, his administration has delivered a decrease to the increase. That’s not a record to run on and Nebraska families deserve a governor who will get the job done.
Separation of Powers*
How do you define separation of powers, and how do you (would you) work within the executive branch and with the legislative and judicial branches?
Rick Beard (LMN)
To me, separation of powers means that no one person or branch of government should have all the power. The Legislature makes the laws, the governor and executive branch carry them out, and the courts make sure those laws and government actions follow our constitution. Each branch has its own responsibility, and each should respect the others. As your governor, I will work with the Legislature, even when we disagree. I will listen, negotiate and work hard to find common ground. I will also use the constitutional powers of the governor when I believe legislation is wrong for Nebraska or violates our constitution. I expect the executive branch to follow the law and be accountable to the people. I respect the independence of our courts and will follow their decisions, while using the legal appeals process when I believe a decision is wrong. Most importantly, I believe our government belongs to the people, and not to the governor, the Legislature, political parties, corporations or special interests. Separation of powers is one of the protections that keep government accountable to Nebraska citizens. In theory.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Separation of powers means respecting the constitutional role and independence of each branch of government. Having served eight years in the Nebraska Legislature, I understand that a governor’s job is not to dictate to the Legislature but to work with senators, build coalitions and find solutions that can actually become law. I would respect the independence of the judiciary and the Legislature while providing strong executive leadership. Good government requires collaboration and accountability, not constant political conflict.
Jim Pillen (R)
Each branch of government has a specific job to do — and checks and balances are important. As a conservative, I want government to run efficiently and will also fight back against any type of government overreach across parts of government and, especially, into the personal and business lives of Nebraskans.
Lynne Walz (D)
As a former state senator, I’ve seen firsthand the overreach of the executive branch. Colleagues used to pull me aside and say, “I agree with you, but I can’t vote with you.” Think about what that means: elected officials, afraid to represent their own constituents and their interests. Senators work for their districts and the people, not the governor or special interest groups. I’ll work with lawmakers to build relationships and create commonsense solutions to our challenges. I’ll respect and restore the equal branches of government and the checks and balances in order to keep power in check, not rubber stamp it.
Lieutenant Governor*
Why did you choose your running mate? What should Nebraskans know about them, and how will they work with you to help Nebraska?
Rick Beard (LMN)
I chose my running mate, Ruby Barnes, because she's a strong voice for the people with a lifetime of civic service engagement. She works for the rights of Nebraskans and champions affordable housing. She's a former military wife and a military contractor who's closely connected to Omaha and Lincoln politics. Also a resident commissioner to the Omaha Housing Authority, appointed by Omaha's mayor, she acts as an advocate for the housing agency, its residents and its programs. She creates solutions for the problems. Ruby has been in the Legal Marijuana NOW Party since 2022, and we were really happy to have someone from within the party accept the nomination. Ruby reached out to us, offering to volunteer with the campaign, and by the end of our first meeting we knew this was a good partnership. We are like-minded and share the same ideologies about governance and our society. While I push new policy and business opportunities for rural Nebraska, Ruby Barnes brings insight and connection to our city communities, addressing the challenges and issues of our metro residents.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
I chose my running mate because he reflects so much of what is good about Nebraska. He is a Navy veteran who served his country, a small business owner who understands what it takes to build and grow a company, and he runs a nonprofit volleyball club dedicated to giving young girls opportunities to compete and succeed. He has a heart for service, cares deeply about kids and Nebraska’s future, and understands the value of hard work and entrepreneurship. Those are Nebraska values, and they are exactly what I want represented in our administration.
Jim Pillen (R)
In this business, you need people you can count on. As lieutenant governor, Joe Kelly has served our state extraordinarily well as we work to protect our land and water resources, keep our communities safe, grow our economy, improve wages and make life more affordable by cutting taxes. He’s built relationships in the Legislature and proven his record as a thoughtful public servant. A career prosecutor, Joe knows how to keep Nebraska safe. Whether focused on helping law enforcement or helping lead our efforts to take on the Chinese Communist Party, he will always do what’s best for our state. Joe and I are proud to be law enforcement’s candidate for governor.
Lynne Walz (D)
When I was selecting my running mate, I wanted a person who shares a deep love for Nebraskans, someone who is compassionate and understands the challenges Nebraskans face and someone who knows hard work and has a proven track record of serving others. Ben Steffen checks all of those boxes. Ben is farming the ground that has been in his family for over 100 years. He’s served on his local school board and understands the challenges of doing what is best for our kids while balancing the reality that people are struggling with high property taxes. He advocated for farmers and ranchers, as chair of the Richardson County Farm Bureau, as the president of Ag Builders of Nebraska and as chair of the County Extension Boards. He actively directs his church’s choir. When his nursing home faced financial distress, he rolled up his sleeves to find a solution to save it. Ben Steffen is the salt of the earth and will be my partner to better the lives of all Nebraskans.
Partisanship
Rick Beard (LMN)
As governor, my job is to honestly represent the voter without party influence or outside financial interference. I am not red or blue, so I am not controlled by a party. I am the only candidate who can say that. My job will be to push the parties to work together for the people, not to work against each other and against the will of our citizens. I bring transparency and can say I’ve never accepted a dollar from any party or private interest group. Votes matter, not ideological views and backgrounds.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
I am running with the America First Party because Nebraskans deserve a better choice in this election. Our party is the home for voters disenfranchised with the way things are going. When it comes to working across party lines and with a diverse group of stakeholders, I will do exactly what I did when I served in the Unicameral: work across the aisle and in good faith to find the best solution for Nebraskans. That is the priority.
Jim Pillen (R)
The Republican Party stands for less government and low taxes. I do too, and it's why I'm a proud conservative Republican. When the government adopts commonsense policies, as President Trump's administration has and we've sought to do on the state level, it's remarkable what people can accomplish. Nebraska is now #1 for cattle and #1 for ethanol, not because we have the best government programs, but because we in public office recognize that our job is to empower our people, not hold them back or trip them up with unnecessary rules and endless regulations. As Governor, I've worked with members of the Legislature — regardless of party or background — to pass legislation to better our education system, tax structure and agriculture industry. From banning phones bell-to-bell, lowering income taxes, to ensuring farmers own their data, working together takes putting aside partisan differences and focusing on what we can all agree on. And when we can't agree, we know that doesn't make us bad people or mean we don't care.
Lynne Walz (D)
This shouldn’t be a partisan office — 99% of the issues that come to the governor’s desk are not partisan. Keeping families safe isn’t partisan. Growing our economy is not partisan. Finding a real solution to property tax relief is not partisan. Partisan politics is the reason that we do not get results on the things Nebraskans care about most. I have a proven track record as a state senator of working with Republicans and Democrats to get things done. I passed legislation to support our first responders and received legislator of the year from the Fraternal Order of Police. I passed bills to expedite the four-lane expressway system to grow our economy. And I was elected by a bipartisan group of senators to chair the Education Committee. I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to fix our broken property tax system that never got a fair debate because of partisanship. As governor, I’ll put results first and work with anybody to better the lives of Nebraskans. We need to keep Washington-style politics in Washington and keep them out of our state.
Local Issues
What local concerns or issues have you heard from constituents that need to be addressed and why?
Rick Beard (LMN)
Property tax relief, cost of living and respect for voter-approved laws. Property tax and family expenses are out of control while we keep electing officials that deny the will of the vote and make poor decisions for the state.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
The state is in a budget crisis. When I left the Nebraska Unicameral, this state was in one of the strongest financial positions in its history. We built a healthy cash reserve. We kept spending growth well below the historical average while still funding essential services and delivering real tax relief. We honored a simple principle: Recurring spending must be backed by recurring revenue. Nebraska doesn't just have a budget problem. We have a leadership problem. Government should never spend first and hope growth follows. Growth should be the strategy that makes responsible tax relief and responsible budgeting possible. That strategy has been missing, and Nebraska is paying the price.
Jim Pillen (R)
The property tax crisis is the single biggest concern for the people of Nebraska. The next generation who want to live, work and raise a family here worry they won't be able to afford to, and Nebraskans who've worked their entire lives here fear being taxed out of the state. Reducing income taxes and capping local government taxing authority is a good start — I'm committed to continue addressing the property tax crisis regardless of the political cost. Another issue that I hear consistently from Nebraskans is stopping out-migration from our state, and I'm proud that we've done so. Nebraska is now hitting record highs for population, with over 2 million residents. Initiatives like our Grow the Good Life Incentive will keep this momentum going, bringing good jobs and good people to our state. We have the second-highest population growth in the region — beating Colorado and Iowa — but our goal is to be #1.
Lynne Walz (D)
Voters want to be listened to. Voters had the chance to weigh in on a number of issues, like medical cannabis and school vouchers. And Gov. Pillen and our Legislature have spent their time saying voters didn’t know what they voted for and did everything they could to overturn your vote. Nebraskans are not dumb. You know what you voted for. It’s insulting that our elected officials are working against you when they should be finding solutions to lower costs, collaborating with our private sector to create good paying jobs and finding solutions to solve our property tax crisis. I’ve been traveling to every corner of our state, and people feel our state is heading in the wrong direction.
Office Role
What qualities define a good governor in your view, and how would you meet those?
Rick Beard (LMN)
Honesty. Compassion. Transparency. I will be a servant to the people and ensure whatever legislation the people vote for gets implemented as the people intended without change or modification by our Legislature.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Experience to hit the ground running on day one, combined with the unwavering belief that Nebraska can become the best place in America to build a life. I did this work in the Legislature for eight years and know how to work with the Unicameral to get the work done. This isn't about short-term politics or spectacle. It's about a governing philosophy rooted in opportunity, stability and stewardship.
Jim Pillen (R)
Being a good governor requires humility. Whether it be on issues like security and defense or having to understand the intricate procedures of the Unicameral, I've tried to lead by example in learning from my mistakes and growing as a person and governor.
Lynne Walz (D)
A governor should have the same values Nebraskans do. Nebraskans value hard work, freedom and honesty and will fight for the family and their community. As I am traveling across the state, people are asking for a governor who will lead and bring people together.
Constituent Engagement*
Do you commit to continue engaging with constituents and hearing feedback from them after the election? If so, how would you do so?
Rick Beard (LMN)
Yes I do. Absolutely. I want an open-door policy for the Governor's Office. Other states use portals and apps to receive direct feedback from citizens, like South Dakota's Governor's Citizen Portal. I propose a more interactive system that enables polling on specific issues, representing Nebraskans every day and not just at the ballot box. We will utilize the Governor's Mansion for public relations and outreach and to promote alternative rural and urban food production. The most responsible way to govern is to hear from and represent the people. When you work for the people, you don't have to hide from the people.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
Absolutely. During my eight years in the Legislature, some of the most important perspectives I heard came directly from Nebraskans living with the consequences of decisions made in Lincoln. As governor, I would travel the state, hold regular public forums and listening sessions and make the administration accessible to Nebraskans regardless of geography or political affiliation. Government should also clearly explain what it is trying to accomplish, establish measurable goals and report back honestly about whether those efforts worked.
Jim Pillen (R)
I’ve been campaigning for six years — and that means I’m everywhere in this state, serving the people. I engage, I listen and make it a point to ask what Nebraskans think about issues. I believe I’m governor for every Nebraskan — even if we disagree on one particular piece of policy, there’s still a lot more good we can focus on. I will always listen to Nebraskans across the state. That's the type of leader I aim to be.
Lynne Walz (D)
The number one thing I’ve heard from traveling across our state is that people feel like their governor isn’t listening to them. They feel like the Governor’s Office is an open door to special interests and lobbyists, but closed to teachers, farmers or a family trying to get by. They’re frustrated that he holds scripted tele-townhalls instead of actually showing up, face to face. That will end with a Walz administration. In my Commitment to Nebraskans, I’ve committed to real town halls and office hours across Nebraska. I’ll appoint Republicans, Democrats and Independents to key positions to ensure that we all viewpoints are heard, respected and represented in my administration. And I’ll ensure that every Nebraskan deserves a seat at the table, not just the ones who write checks to the governor’s campaign. And I’ll restore basic transparency. Gov. Pillen will not release his phone records or his public calendar, and he’s handed out no-bid contracts to his donors and buddies. I’ll put a stop to that and make state government available to every Nebraska citizen, because Nebraskans deserve a governor who governs in the open and actually shows up and hears from them.
Closing Message*
What is one thing that makes you stand out as the right person for the job?
Rick Beard (LMN)
What sets me apart is simple: I answer to you, not political parties or corporate donors. I am not beholden to the two-party system that has controlled our politics for over 100 years. While the others running in this race take millions from special interest and dark money, I've run a campaign on less than $500 total. This is a promise to the voters that I cannot be bought. When politicians take millions from special interests, they also owe those special interests. We all know nothing is for free. Because I owe zero favors to wealthy donors or political machines, I can actually focus on real solutions for the people of Nebraska. If you want a governor who actually works for the citizens instead of donor bosses, I ask for your vote.
Brett Lindstrom (AF)
I’m running to govern for the 80% of Nebraskans who are tired of being caught in the political crossfire and simply want their government to work. They want transparency, accountability, stability and the opportunity to build a good life here and leave something better for their children. My experience in business and eight years in the Legislature taught me that lasting results come from bringing people together, not pushing them further apart. That is what the Nebraska Doctrine is about, and that is the kind of governor I will be.
Jim Pillen (R)
I believe in telling the truth about who I am and what I believe in. Nebraskans know exactly where I stand. Sometimes leadership requires you to say no to things. The values I believe in align with what the vast majority of Nebraskans believe in. I have experience and relationships in all 93 counties across agriculture, industry and the political spectrum. I’m the only candidate that is 100% pro-life, a proven job creator and has a plan to reform property taxes. Nebraskans can truly be optimistic about the future of our state. We’re exploding with opportunity. There’s no better place to raise a family, build a career and start a business. It’s the Good Life for a reason. I'd be honored to have your vote.
Lynne Walz (D)
I’m an average Nebraskan who has worked many jobs, right alongside you. I’ve worked multiple jobs to make ends meet — as a caretaker for people with disabilities, running a daycare out of my home, as a teacher and as a Realtor who made partner at my firm. I understand the struggles that you face because I’ve lived them. It’s past time we elect someone who truly understands and cares about you. Running for office was not a bucket list item for me. I ran for Legislature and won a district Donald Trump won by 33 points — and then won it again by 19 points. My colleagues elected me to chair the Education Committee. I’ve passed dozens of bills. I’ve done all of it the same way: by listening, collaborating and taking action. I don’t care what party you belong to. Nebraskans go to work every day with people they agree with and people they don’t — and they get things done anyway. That’s how I’ve lived my life, and that’s how I’ll lead as governor. I’m running because we are all Nebraskans and want commonsense policies that create real opportunities to better our lives and a government that actually works for us.
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