Race · November 3, 2026
Governor · Nebraska
4 candidates on the ballot.1
§1Candidates
Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.
§2Side by side
Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.
| Fact | Jim Pillen | Lynne Walz | Rick Beard | Brett Lindstrom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican1 | Democratic1 | Legal Marijuana NOW1 | America First1 |
| Status | Incumbent | Challenger | Challenger | Challenger |
| Money | Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Campaign finance system search — Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.2 | |||
| State K-12 school funding | His Pillen Playbook 2.0 says he would reform K-12 funding to mirror the state's approach to community colleges and give public schools the resources they need.3 | Her campaign website says the share of state income taxes going to schools has fallen sharply and that she would find a consistent way to fund schools while lowering property taxes and keeping local control.4 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Increase state funding for public schools His campaign's policy framework says the state should move toward paying about half of core K-12 education costs as its finances allow.5 |
| Data centers and electricity costs | His Pillen Playbook 2.0 says he would eliminate tax incentives for big tech data centers.3 | Her campaign website says she would create a statewide strategy to track new data centers while letting local communities approve or reject them.4 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Rules for citizen ballot measures | His Pillen Playbook 2.0 calls for reforming what it calls the broken ballot petition process.3 | Her campaign website says she would work to raise the number of votes the Legislature needs to overturn a voter-approved ballot measure, and would veto attempts to ignore voters' decisions.4 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Property taxes | His campaign website says he will keep leading efforts to fix property taxes, and his Pillen Playbook 2.0 calls for transformative property tax reform.3, | Cap yearly increases or expand homeowner exemptions Her campaign website says she would target property tax relief to Nebraska homeowners, businesses, farmers and ranchers, expand the homestead exemption to the first $100,000 of a home's value, and slow valuation increases.4 | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign's policy framework calls for averaging property valuations over several years to reduce swings and for valuing farmland more on what it produces, and sets a long-term goal of reducing schools' reliance on local property taxes by cutting the local effort rate from one dollar to fifty cents.5 |
| State government spending | Cut state spending and return the savings through tax cuts or rebates His campaign website says he wants to give families a break by fixing the state's tax system and shrinking state government spending.3, | Her campaign website says she would hire an independent auditor to find waste, end no-bid contracts except in emergencies and replace across-the-board budget cuts with targeted ones.4 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
Issues only one candidate has addressed
By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.
Jim Pillen — 2 issues
- Transgender students in school sportsRequire teams based on sex at birth
- Large investors buying single-family homesHis Pillen Playbook 2.0 says he would stop hedge funds from buying up homes in Nebraska.3
Lynne Walz — 9 issues
- Ethanol and biofuel requirementsExpand biofuel use, such as by allowing E15 sales all yearHer campaign website says she supports investment in the bioeconomy and in ethanol production and use.4
- Marijuana lawsHer campaign website says she would sign an executive order legalizing medical marijuana with a doctor's prescription.4
- Police funding
- TariffsHer campaign website says national tariffs have closed markets Nebraska farmers and ranchers built, and calls for an aggressive effort to open new markets.4
- Vouchers and education savings accountsNo public money for private school or homeschooling costsHer campaign website says she would reject all forms of school vouchers, following the vote of Nebraska voters.4
- Child care costsHer campaign website says she would work to increase affordable child care and access to early childhood education for working families.4
- HomelessnessHer campaign website says she would invest in mental health services, job training and other services to reduce homelessness and prevent crime.4
- State income taxHer campaign website says working people should not pay more in taxes than the highest earners, and that the state should close loopholes and adjust rates.4
- State sales taxesHer campaign website says she would oppose new taxes on food, water, medicine and other essentials and oppose ending sales tax exemptions, and would propose a school-supply sales tax holiday in August.4
Brett Lindstrom — 2 issues
- Zoning and new housingHis campaign's policy framework says communities should shape their own housing solutions, with the state as a partner rather than a writer of mandates.8
- High-speed internet access
Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.