Nebraska Primary Elections 2026: Key Races, Poll Locations & How to Vote Today

Nebraska voters set the stage for November during Tuesday’s May 12 primary, with nearly every precinct counted and turnout at 26.87 percent—337,766 ballots out of 1.26 million registered voters, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial tally. Governor • Republican incumbent Jim Pillen cruised to renomination over five challengers and immediately pivoted to a tax-cut message for the fall. • State Sen. Lynne Walz captured the Democratic nod, setting up a Pillen–Walz matchup. • Rick Beard won the Legalize Marijuana Now primary, ensuring a three-way general-election ballot. U.S. Senate • Sen. Pete Ricketts easily secured the GOP nomination, positioning himself to defend the seat he was appointed to in 2023. • Democrats backed Omaha attorney Cindy Burbank, while independent union leader Dan Osborn is expected to qualify by petition. U.S. House • District 1: Former diplomat Chris Backemeyer won the Democratic primary and will face three-term Republican Rep. Mike Flood and Libertarian Nik Sandman. • District 2: Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding advanced unopposed on the GOP side. The six-way Democratic race remains razor-thin; community activist Denise Powell leads state Rep. John Cavanaugh by about 850 votes with 99 percent reporting, and officials warn a final count may take days. • District 3: Rep. Adrian Smith brushed aside a Republican challenger, while Democrat Becky Stille and Legalize Marijuana Now candidate David Else move on. Legislature & Down-Ballot Non-partisan legislative primaries trimmed crowded fields in 11 districts, including six seats in the Omaha area; the top two in each race advance to November. Voters also selected nominees for Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and multiple natural-resources districts, solidifying partisan matchups across the ballot. What’s next Can Pillen’s tax message and Ricketts’ incumbency hold off energized Democratic challengers? Will Omaha’s 2nd District remain a national bellwether if the Democratic nominee emerges unified? With turnout below 30 percent, both parties see ample room to grow their coalitions before early voting opens this fall.