A party that wants to put Americans and Nebraskans first is collecting signatures to secure a ballot line ahead of the November election.
The “America First Party” sponsor is Omaha Tribe Attorney General John Cartier, according to paperwork received Wednesday by the Secretary of State’s office.
The America First Party’s stated purpose is to “provide voters with a political organization committed to putting Americans and Nebraskans ahead of all others by cracking down on out-of-control government spending and wasteful foreign aid, getting tough on illegal immigrants, standing up against abortion, and rigidly defending the Second Amendment.”
In a statement, Cartier said, “People are angry and tired of the bulls—. The America First Party is here to give voters options.”
Cartier, currently registered nonpartisan, is listed as treasurer of the campaign for the Legal Marijuana NOW Party’s U.S. Senate nominee Mike Marvin, according to the FEC.
A similar effort is underway to establish a Nebraska Working People Party in the state. Both efforts have a July 15 deadline to collect at least “one percent of the total votes cast for Governor at the most recent general election for such office,” according to state law. That would be about 6,726 signatures.
If the groups are successful, the new parties can place their candidates on the general election ballot, per Nebraska state law.
The Nebraska Liberal Party also has been seeking official party status in the state since 2024, according to paperwork filed with the Secretary of State’s Office. There are four official parties in Nebraska: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Legal Marijuana NOW.
This election cycle has seen multiple allegations that candidates are playing “spoiler” in Nebraska by running to clear the field for other candidates or trying to split the vote.
Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is being challenged by registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn. The Democratic Party’s nominee, Cindy Burbank, won the primary in May, but she is expected to drop out of the race. In the run-up to the primary, she posted on her campaign website that she would drop out if she won to give Osborn a cleaner shot against Ricketts.
The general election is Nov 3.
Editor's note: The story has been updated to include additional information about John Cartier.