Nebraska Governor

Lynne Walz (Democratic Party)
Jim Pillen  (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
Rick Beard  (Legal Marijuana Now Party)

Jim Pillen is the Republican Party nominee for Governor and is the incumbent Governor.  Mr. Pillen has been a staunch Trump ally and has not been a friend of democracy processes here in Nebraska.  Mr. Pillen has taken upon himself to transition a state prison that was designed as a rehabilitation center into an immigration detention center, without consulting the local government in McCook nor the Nebraska Legislature.  Mr. Pillen has opposed and sought to undercut the clear votes of Nebraskans to oppose the use of state taxes for parochial schools, the support of Nebraska voters for access to medical marijuana, and the support of Nebraska voters for raises in the minimum wage rate.  Gov. Jim Pillen inherited a record budget surplus of over $1.2 billion when taking office in 2023. By the end of the 2025 legislative session, the surplus had dwindled, and the state experienced a shortfall that grew to a projected $471 million deficit by early 2026.  Gov. Pillen’s track record clear shows that he is not a friend of democracy and does not deserve to be re-elected.

Lynne Walz is the Democratic Party nominee for Governor as she was unopposed in the Primary (https://lynnewalz.com/).  Lynne Walz’s website describes herself as a lifelong Nebraskan, former teacher, and bipartisan problem-solver who’s running for Governor to bring common sense, compassion, and integrity back to Nebraska’s leadership.  Ms Walz is also a former member of the non-partisan Nebraska Legislature and was elected by her fellow legislators to be chairperson of the Education Committee. Ms. Walz is currently travelling the state in a listening tour.

Rick Beard is the Legal Marijuana Now Party nominee.  Mr. Beard does not realistically have any chance of being elected as Nebraska’s next Governor and it is likely that any votes for him would have gone to Lynne Walz otherwise.

We believe that investing pro-democracy resources (time and money) in the Lynne Walz for Governor campaign are a sound investment to support Nebraska’s future democratic governance and civil society.