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.

Nebraska state executive official elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia

Mayor Taylor not seeking reelection - McCook Gazette

Hundreds file for Nebraska primary election; Governor's race among ...

2026 Nebraska General Election

2026 Nebraska Primary Election

Democrat

Libertarian

Legal Marijuana NOW

Nonpartisan

Republican

Nebraska Initiative 436, Paid Sick Leave Initiative (2024) - Ballotpedia

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.

Economy

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.

Public Safety

Healthcare

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

Education

Energy & the Environment

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Voting & Elections

Rick Beard

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

Rafael Perez

Buket Urgen

James J. Charvat

- 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.