2026 Nebraska General Election

2026 Nebraska Primary Election

Democrat

Libertarian

Legal Marijuana NOW

Nonpartisan

Republican

James J. Charvat's campaign for Governor of Nebraska is his first entry into politics.

State races take shape | Nance County Journal

Wants to evaluate reducing or eliminating Nebraska's state income tax.

Supports improving tax competitiveness with neighboring states.

Supports preparing for AI-driven economic changes.

- Wants to evaluate reducing or eliminating Nebraska's state income tax.
- Supports improving tax competitiveness with neighboring states.
- Supports preparing for AI-driven economic changes.

Economy

As of March 5, 2026, James J. Charvat’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Wants to explore regulated, legalized cannabis as a new revenue stream, a criminal justice reform measure, and as a way keep Nebraska competitive with surrounding states.

- Wants to explore regulated, legalized cannabis as a new revenue stream, a criminal justice reform measure, and as a way keep Nebraska competitive with surrounding states.

Healthcare

Wants to pilot 4-day/35-hour work week programs in state government and private sector.

- Wants to pilot 4-day/35-hour work week programs in state government and private sector.
- Wants to introduce yoga in K-12 schools.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Voting & Elections

James J. Charvat

- Plans on evaluating pathways to eliminate Nebraska’s state income tax while ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term budget sustainability.
- Wants to incorporate digital assets such as Bitcoin into long-term state financial strategy with strict risk controls.
- Believes in farmer bonuses to attract and retain more talent in Western Nebraska
- Supports incentivizing individuals to relocate & help rural towns.
- Supports attracting fintech and tech entrepreneurs.

- Wants to prepare Rural Nebraska for AI-driven economic shifts

- Wants to encourage pilot programs in state government and private sector partnerships to test productivity under a reduced-hour model.

- Plans on evaluating pathways to eliminate Nebraska’s state income tax while ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term budget sustainability.
- Wants to incorporate digital assets such as Bitcoin into long-term state financial strategy with strict risk controls.

Rafael Perez

Milan Parker

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

129 candidates running for 42 Nebraska statewide offices in 2026

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Rick Beard is from Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Omaha Burke High School. Rick lives with his wife, Marion, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Rick is the founder and owner of Omaha Wine Company. He works at Omaha Wine Company, where he has been since 1995. He previously owned and operated a wine store in Napa Valley for 19 years and guided a family cannabis farm in Norman, Oklahoma, through its first year of licensing and growing in 2019.

Rick currently works as a puppy wrangler. He previously owned the Omaha Wine Company. He also worked for a wine store in Napa Valley, California and owned a cannabis farm in Oklahoma.

Rick Beard's campaign for Governor of Nebraska is his first entry into politics.

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Supports legalizing cannabis to generate tax revenue, which he believes will help reduce property taxes.

Supports legalizing cannabis to generate tax revenue to help reduce property taxes.

Opposes the repeal of sick leave for young, seasonal, and temporary workers.

Opposes the various changes made to Initiative 436 before passing into law, including removing seasonal, temporary, and young workers from paid leave eligibility and the right to sue for employer violations.

Supports fixing roads and funding schools with the yearly cannabis tax revenue in all counties, including those without commercial cannabis businesses.

Opposes decreasing the minimum wage for 14-16 year olds from $15 to $13.50.

- Supports legalizing cannabis to generate tax revenue to help reduce property taxes.
- Opposes the various changes made to Initiative 436 before passing into law, including removing seasonal, temporary, and young workers from paid leave eligibility and the right to sue for employer violations.
- Supports fixing roads and funding schools with the yearly cannabis tax revenue in all counties, including those without commercial cannabis businesses.
- Opposes decreasing the minimum wage for 14-16 year olds from $15 to $13.50.

Supports extensive background checks, seed to sale tracking, rigorous product testing, and distribution and retail models with safety in mind.

- Supports extensive background checks, seed to sale tracking, rigorous product testing, and distribution and retail models with safety in mind.

As of March 5, 2026, Rick Beard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Rick Beard

Supports legalizing cannabis and plans to initiate a ballot for "full-access whole-plant cannabis" in Nebraska.

- The governor is the chief executive of the state and is tasked with faithfully carrying out the laws of the state. He also serves as the commander-in-chief of the state’s military forces within Nebraska.
- The governor serves as the chief budget officer and must present a complete budget for the state’s continued business to the state legislature.
- The governor signs or vetoes bills passed by the state legislature, with any vetos potentially bypassed by a supermajority within the state legislature.
- The governor appoints officers and fills vacancies in state offices.
- The governor is elected in a partisan, statewide election to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms. They must be affiliated with the political party they run under, a state resident, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and at least 30 years old immediately preceding the election.
- The governor earns a yearly salary of $105,000.

Nebraska Governor, Nonpartisan Primary

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