Businessman Scott Petersen Defeats Nebraska Secretary of State in Republican Primary
Nebraska also held primaries for Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, the Public Service Commission, and the Board of Education.
The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in Nebraska to select candidates for the November 2026 general election. This post covers the races for state office in the Cornhusker State. That includes contests for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, the Public Service Commission, and four nonpartisan seats on the Board of Education. Separate posts will be covering the primaries for federal races, 25 seats in the state legislature, and county contests.
The general election for all of these statewide executive offices will be held on November 3, 2026.
Governor:
Former State Senator Lynne Walz won the Democratic primary with 91.3% (106,804) against Air Force veteran Larry Marvin with 8.7% (10,229). 117,033 votes counted.
Incumbent Jim Pillen won the Republican primary with 75.7% (137,915) against engineer John Walz with 9.5% (17,366), former Randolph city administrator Sheila Korth-Focken with 7.6% (13,890), farmer Gary Rogge with 3.7% (6,708), business owner Jacy Todd with 2.7% (4,856), and attorney Sal Holguin with 0.8% (1,528). 182,263 votes counted.
Secretary of State:
Chef Sarah Slattery won the Democratic primary with 91.0% (100,350) against artist Lee Cimfel with 9.0% (9,962). 110,312 votes counted.
Businessman Scott Petersen won the Republican primary with 54.7% (94,193) against incumbent Bob Evnen with 45.3% (77,880). 172,073 votes counted.
Attorney General:
Former Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Brasher won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Mike Hilgers won the Republican primary.
Treasurer:
2024 NE-03 U.S. House nominee Daniel Ebers won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Joey Spellerberg won the Republican primary.
Auditor of Public Accounts:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Mike Foley won the Republican primary.
Public Service Commission (District 2):
State Senator Wendy DeBoer won the Democratic primary.
Retired public safety worker Dennis McCann won the Republican primary.
Board of Education (Nonpartisan):
For District 5, educator Angie Eberspacher and Crete school board member Michaela Conway will advance with 45.6% (19,440) and 31.0% (13,243) against educator Lana Daws with 23.4% (9,971). 42,654 votes counted.
For District 6, incumbent Sherry Jones and attorney Grady Erickson will advance.
For District 7, incumbent Elizabeth Tegtmeier will advance.
For District 8, former Omaha public school board president Lou Ann Goding and Bellevue University vice president Sherrye Hutcherson will advance.