Nebraska governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Nebraska federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Larry Marvin

Party: Democrat

Lynne Walz

Party: Democrat

Jim Pillen

Party: Republican

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governor

Nebraska governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe r— Cook Political Report (Last updated Jan 23, 2025)

Nebraska is a heavily Republican state where Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election since 1994. While incumbent Governor Pillen has secured President Trump's endorsement and a $10 million campaign war chest, the 2026 race could serve as a bellwether for Democratic enthusiasm in midterm elections and whether economic concerns about property taxes and budget deficits can overcome structural Republican advantages in the state.

Larry MarvinD
Lynne WalzD
Jim PillenR

Summary

Larry Marvin is a retired hardware store owner, real estate broker, volunteer firefighter, and American history and civics teacher from Fremont, Nebraska running in the Democratic primary for governor. He is an Air Force veteran and has run for office multiple times, including a 2012 U.S. Senate Democratic primary campaign where he was defeated by Bob Kerrey. Marvin acknowledges he has 'a very slim chance' of becoming governor but says he is running 'so we can talk about things' and challenge people to be better.

Lynne Walz is a former state senator and realtor from Fremont, Nebraska who launched her campaign for governor in January 2026 after a two-month statewide listening tour. She represented Dodge County (conservative-leaning) in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature from 2017-2025, winning reelection by double digits in 2020. She is a former fourth and fifth-grade teacher, former live-in caregiver, and former worker at 3M and local grocery stores. Walz is married to Chris (a registered Republican) and has three adult children and seven grandchildren. She chaired the Legislature's Education Committee (2021-2022) and was honored as Legislator of the Year by the Fraternal Order of Police. She was the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee in 2018 (lost to Pete Ricketts). She describes herself as a moderate focused on bipartisan solutions.

Jim Pillen is the 41st Governor of Nebraska, serving since January 5, 2023. A veterinarian by training and livestock producer, Pillen founded Pillen Family Farms in 1993, one of Nebraska's largest hog operations. He previously served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents from 2013-2023, serving as Chair in 2020. He was elected governor in 2022 with 59.2% of the vote, defeating Democrat Carol Blood. Pillen is married to Suzanne and has four children and seven grandchildren. He is Catholic and played college football at Nebraska as a defensive back (1975-1978), earning induction into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

View Larry Marvin's Full Profile →View Lynne Walz's Full Profile →View Jim Pillen's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Other
  • Ensure all Americans are treated as first-class citizens
  • Govern democratically with Legislature oversight
  • Emphasize faith, honesty, and efficiency in government
Healthcare
  • Prioritize affordable insurance and healthcare coverage
Economy
  • Create and attract good-paying jobs and focus on economic development
  • Lower costs of living: food, healthcare, and childcare
  • Balance the state budget responsibly
Education
  • Support public schools and education funding
Other
  • Keep divisive national issues out of Nebraska politics
Economy
  • Fix Nebraska's broken property tax system
  • Fix budget and reduce wasteful government spending
Education
  • Protect our kids, defend Nebraska values
Other
  • Support agriculture and farmers
  • Promote winner-take-all Nebraska electoral votes

Key Issue Positions

Healthcare
Affordable insurance coverage
Priority is ensuring insurance actually covers illnesses people face.
Government Accountability
Transparency and honesty
Emphasizes efficiency, transparency, and democratic governance working with legislature.
Education and Civic Engagement
Teacher background informs emphasis on education and understanding
Background as American history and civics teacher shapes campaign focus on informed citizenship.
Property Taxes
Critic of Pillen's performance; supports bipartisan solutions
Walz notes property taxes have 'gone up for most homeowners, not down' and argues Pillen has failed. She worked on bipartisan property tax relief plan in 2024 with GOP senators that took longer-term approach. Claims Ricketts-led executive branch ran 'interference' due to her party affiliation.
Economic Development
Focus on attracting business and creating jobs
Believes Nebraska needs aggressive economic development strategy and state 'salesman' for business recruitment.
Education
Strong supporter of public schools and teacher pay
Former teacher; chaired Education Committee; believes schools need adequate funding and parental involvement, not political interference.
Government Accountability
Calls for integrity, transparency, and ending 'culture war' politics
Criticized Pillen for using divisive language and attacking reporters. Says government should work together, not pit 'neighbor against neighbor.'
Gender Care and Abortion
Moderate; seen as swing vote in legislature
In 2023, proposed amendment to restrict genital transition surgeries for minors but allow non-genital surgeries. In 2020, was one of four registered Democrats in nonpartisan legislature to support bill banning second-trimester abortion method. Describes herself as moderate willing to work across party lines.
Property Tax Relief
Central focus of administration, though efforts have largely stalled in legislature
Proposed comprehensive LB 1 reform; requested $170M relief in 2026 with no success. Property taxes down minimally in 2025 after historic increases 2022-2023.
Education and School Choice
Supports vouchers/tax credits and opposition to progressive curriculum
Signed executive order enrolling Nebraska in federal school choice tax credit program; proposed $7M state voucher program despite voter rejection in 2024.
Agriculture Protection
Strong supporter of livestock industry, especially pork producers
Signed executive orders banning cultivated meat, supported CAFO streamlining, opposed 30x30 land conservation initiative.
Budget and Spending
Calls for fiscal restraint and efficiency
Eliminated vacant positions, requested budget cuts, but state faces deficits. His own approval for $2.5M no-bid contract to lobbyist raised questions about judgment.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Union Pacific
Multiple contributionsIndividual/Corporate
Major Nebraska employer
Tyson Foods
$20,000Corporate
Food production company
Ethanol and agriculture companies
Multiple contributionsIndustry PAC
Industry support

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Will significantly reduce property taxes.
Contradiction: Minimal progress; property taxes down $6M in 2025 after increases of nearly $300M in 2022-2023.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

Jim Pillen Campaign

Walz 'fought to allow sex change surgeries on children, expanded abortion, opposed tax relief, opposed Second Amendment rights, and voted for free needles to drug addicts.'

Pillen campaign response to Walz's January 2026 announcement; Walz campaign disputes characterization

Lynne Walz

Property taxes have gone up for most homeowners, not down. Our GDP growth is the worst in the nation.

Walz campaign messaging on Pillen's economic record

Charles Herbster

Pillen has not listened to the business community and is not aggressively selling the state to business leaders.

Herbster social media posts in late 2025 criticizing Pillen's performance

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

Nebraska Democratic Partyorganization
President Donald Trumpindividual
State Troopers Association of Nebraskaorganization