Herbster decides not to run for Nebraska governor
By Fred Knapp 
, Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
March 2, 2026, 4:39 p.m. ·
Charles Herbster, a Falls City agribusinessman who ran second to now-Gov. Jim Pillen in the Republican primary four years ago, has decided not to try again.
Herbster has been criticizing Pillen’s leadership for months on social media and elsewhere, faulting him for the state’s budget problems, among other criticisms.
In a statement Monday, Herbster said he looked long and hard at running, and while he got a lot of verbal encouragement, “very few were willing to support a challenge to the current administration.”
"As critical as I have been, losing the state to a liberal Democrat would be devastating," Herbster said. "Gov. Pillen will need to step up his game to be successful in November.”
In the gubernatorial primary four years ago, Herbster had the support of then former-President Trump. But this year, President Trump endorsed Pillen.
Herbster’s campaign was set back when his choice for lieutenant governor, Theresa Thibodeau, announced her own campaign for governor and criticized him as disorganized.
About one month before the primary election day, published accusations of sexual assault by then-state Sen. Julie Slama and seven other women rocked the final push of Herbster’s campaign.
Herbster sued Slama for defamation. Slama sued Herbster for sexual battery. After the election, both Slama and Herbster dropped their lawsuits.
Herbster had previously run for the gubernatorial nomination in 2014 but withdrew when his wife underwent open-heart surgery. He then contributed more than a million dollars to the campaign of another candidate, Beau McCoy, who finished third.
Herbster said he will continue to work in various conservative Republican organizations.
Even without Herbster, the governor's race is crowded. In addition to Pillen, there are three other Republicans in the race, although none of them is considered to be a serious challenger.
Pillen's main competition is likely to be former state Sen. Lynn Walz of Fremont, who is expected to easily win the Democratic nomination.
There also are two candidates running from the Legal Marijuana NOW party.
The state has not elected a non-Republican to the office since 1994.