Lindstrom appears to have enough signatures to run for Nebraska governor

Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom appears to have collected enough signatures to join Nebraska’s race for governor.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office confirmed Lindstrom turned in his signatures on Monday, the deadline to do so. The signatures will have to be verified before his name is added to the ballot. Verification can typically take around one week and the process must be completed within 15 days.

Lindstrom announced his bid for governor on July 13. Since his name did not appear on the May primary ballot, he needed to turn in signatures by 5 p.m. Monday. Lindstrom needed to collect 4,000 signatures from registered voters, in addition to 750 signatures from all three of Nebraska’s congressional districts.

Lindstrom said in a statement that he turned in more than 5,700 signatures.

"Nebraskans signed these petitions because they know something is wrong and they're tired of being told everything is fine," Lindstrom said in the statement. "In three and a half years, this administration has spent through a historic cash reserve, raided cash funds and made billions in commitments with no sustainable way to pay for them. Now Nebraskans are being handed the bill."

Nebraska’s state budget, which is in a structural deficit, and economy were key factors in Lindstrom’s decision to run for governor, Lindstrom said when he announced his candidacy. He said Nebraska is at a turning point, and the decisions made by leaders today will impact generations to come. Lindstrom said he is on the independent ticket because he is not vouching for either political party, but rather all Nebraskans.

Campaign staff for Gov. Jim Pillen, the Republican incumbent in the race, wrote in a statement that Pillen is the only common-sense conservative in the race, adding that Lindstrom’s record aligns more closely with liberal policy.

“(Lindstrom) is a failed career politician who will do and say anything to see his name on the ballot again and again,” Campaign manager Taylor Sliva wrote.

Lynne Walz, who is running on the Democratic ticket for governor, said Lindstrom’s entry into the race won’t change her focus.

“It’s always been about lowering costs for working families and growing our state,” Walz said.

Lindstrom, who spent eight years as a state senator, was briefly a candidate for the Republican nomination for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, though he dropped out in January. He also ran for that seat in 2012 but lost in the primary election.

Four years ago, Lindstrom finished third in the Republican gubernatorial primary, behind Pillen and Charles Herbster.

He has named Mike Picard of Omaha, a Navy veteran and director of ENVY Volleyball Club, as his running mate