Pillen, Walz advance in Nebraska governor's race

Incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Pillen will face Democrat Lynne Walz in the general election, after both won easy primary victories Tuesday night.

Pillen easily beat out five other Republicans: Sheila Korth-Focken, Gary Rogge, Jacy Todd, Sal Holguin and John Walz. Lynne Walz prevailed over a single challenger, Larry Marvin.

The Associated Press called both races shortly after the first vote totals were released.

In a statement, Pillen called the victory "a team effort."

"Thanks to our administration, Nebraska is one of the safest places in America to raise a family and build a business,” Lt. Governor Joe Kelly said. “Governor Pillen loves the people of this state, and our team will continue to work hard to keep Nebraska safe, prosperous, and growing.”

Since securing the governor’s mansion in 2022, Pillen has held a platform closely aligned with Trump administration policies.

A proponent of tax cuts, he signed steady income tax reductions into law in 2023 and increased property tax offset credits. He is also a strong supporter of “winner-take-all” voting and taxpayer-funded “school choice” scholarships to private and parochial school students.

As the state faced a budget crisis this Legislative session, Pillen proposed cuts to state spending, requesting all agencies cut budgets by at least 10%. The final budget bills passed by the Legislature narrowed a $646 million budget deficit to roughly $38 million.

In March, Pillen led the state through its greatest wildfire crisis yet, coordinating a response to fires that burned more than 750,000 acres in western and central Nebraska.

But the past year has not been without controversy. The state auditor’s office found Pillen directed the Department of Economic Development to award a no-bid emergency contract to a company owned by a lobbyist Pillen travelled with in state delegations. State Auditor Mike Foley alleged the contract did not justify an emergency. Skipping a contract bidding process is against state law.

Before serving as governor, Pillen served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and chaired the board of directors for mentorship program, TeamMates. He previously held multiple leadership positions in business organizations as a leader of Pillen Family Farms and served organizations related to his Catholic faith.

Walz, a former state senator, said she was " thrilled to continue this campaign to the general in November."

"We need a governor who will listen to Nebraskans and focus on getting our budget balanced and attracting good-paying jobs," she said. "I believe we have more in common than what divides us, and I assure you I will be a governor who is focused on Nebraska's future."

Walz said she plans to spend more time meeting the people she hopes will be her future constituents and building momentum. Non-partisan unity is a big facet of that for her campaign.

"We have got to bring the 90% of people in the middle together again to really move the needle forward and, you know, bring more opportunities to Nebraskans," she said.

Walz, who served as a state senator for eight years after flipping a Republican-held seat in her hometown of Fremont, said she built her campaign around bringing people together from across political aisles. She feels she is not the only Nebraskan who is in the mood for unity as she eyes her opportunity to flip a red governor’s seat blue.

"There are a lot of people shaking their head; they're tired of neighbors being pitted against neighbors. And, you know, they're ready for a change. They're ready to come together."

Walz added that she is seeing more and more Republicans at her campaign events as the general election draws closer.

She said that if she wins the general election for governor in November, her time leading the state will center around economic development, education, and improving healthcare access.

"We are going to really concentrate on how we expand access to healthcare especially in rural areas, mental health, public health. It's really important."

Walz’s campaign priority list includes lower taxes, stronger schools and a booming economy, built on unity.

Walz out-raised Pillen in the last reporting period, raising $171,291.66 in public cash donations during a three-week period, according to records, while Pillen raised $76,640, a 55.25% difference. Pillen still has $9.4 million in cash available for his campaign. In contrast, Walz has $546,818.31 for her campaign. The campaign fillings are publicly available.

If elected, Walz would be the second female governor in Nebraska history and the first Democrat elected to the governor’s mansion since 1994.

Pillen called Walz a "good person" and said that they both love Nebraska.

"But she's got an eight-year track record in the unicameral and my four years, we couldn't be more polar opposite. So it's going to be real easy for people to decide," he said.

Rick Beard had a comfortable lead in the Legal Marijuana Now primary and looked likely to advance to the general election.