Nebraska GOP chair Eric Underwood won’t seek reelection

LINCOLN — Nebraska Republican Party Chair Eric Underwood will not pursue another term after his wing of the party was able to seize control of the party from its establishment.

Underwood has served as party chair for three years. He came to power in a revolt against the GOP leadership team favored by former Gov. and current U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. The party will choose its next chair at its State Central Committee meeting in Kearney this Saturday

Under Underwood’s leadership, the party has seen turbulence with its funding and continued infighting. But in the same breath, it has rebuilt its network of county parties, grown its number of grassroots activists and won a supermajority in the Legislature. 

What’s next for the party?

In his emailed announcement to party members about his decision not to run again, he endorsed Mary Jane Truemper, the current vice chair, as the next chair of the state’s dominant political party. He said, “We both share the long-term success of the NEGOP as our primary goal.”

Truemper said more needs to be done, such as getting more Republicans elected in down-ballot races and building better relationships with officeholders. 

“All these efforts will ensure the long-term success of the NEGOP,” Truemper said.

During the 2024 election season, the NEGOP didn’t endorse any of Nebraska’s congressional incumbents in the primary election but supported the delegation after the primary. Truemper was the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon’s primary challenger, Dan Frei.

She previously managed Bacon’s campaign in 2018. Truemper said she has gathered suggestions from party members on improving the party’s endorsement policy and would be “the first to admit that the NEGOP endorsement process has much room for improvement.” 

“Politics is about building relationships,” Truemper told the Examiner. “I am confident we will have a much better experience in the future for all candidates.”

The state party had previously defaulted to endorsing incumbents in primaries but moved away from that approach after Underwood and his team took over. He and others tied to the new regime said the party should encourage robust primaries to boost party energy and interest.

The other known candidate for party chair is the state party’s treasurer, Dave Plond. He told the Examiner that under his leadership, the party would continue Underwood’s agenda. 

He pointed to the party’s goal of shifting how Nebraska awards Electoral College votes in presidential races to winner-take-all from awarding some to the winner in each congressional district. He said he wants to help more Republicans get elected to school boards and city councils.

“We need more Republicans on our bench in those areas,” Plond said.

A longtime donor to President Donald Trump and former gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, who backed the 2022 state GOP takeover and helped the new party fund events but has reduced his giving, endorsed Plond for party chair Friday. Herbster called Plond “America First and Nebraska First” and said he “has the tools needed to bring major donors back to the NEGOP.”

Crossroads for the NEGOP

Although the two candidates expressed similar goals, the party itself is at a crossroads. 

Some of Underwood’s critics say Plond would be better for the party’s fundraising efforts and has a stronger relationship with elected officials than Truemper. The state party has had issues with donor funding, which has dropped since Underwood became party chair. Donations haven’t reached past levels from before Underwood became party chair. 

The NEGOP currently listed $52,444 in cash on hand for federal races, according to the party’s latest Federal Election Commission January filing. The party reported raising $116,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 for state and local races in its separate state fund.

Old-guard conservatives and Trump populists take Nebraska GOP from Ricketts

University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professor Geoff Lorenz said changes in party leadership in any party often change a party’s ability to fundraise, recruit candidates, organize and communicate in state and local campaigns. Lorenz said party agendas change depending on who becomes the next chair.

“State parties have a big impact in shaping the kinds of candidates who run under their banner,” Lorenz said.

Some party legislative goals haven’t crossed the finish line, including winner-take-all. However, Underwood said what the party had accomplished under his leadership was “revolutionary.” Yet some former members said new leaders had used “purity tests” to expel members, candidates and elected officials who didn’t fully agree with leadership.

Despite attempts to reunify, the NEGOP has not fully recovered from its fallout with Ricketts or the party’s former power structure. Underwood has said remnants of the old NEGOP are looking to regain power, describing organized groups raising money as a “Shadow GOP” last year.

Underwood said in his statement that he would help the next party chair transition into the role. He and the current NEGOP leadership team did not get the same courtesy, inheriting keys to the party’s headquarters in Lincoln and questions about missing files and computers.

“I believe the future is bright for Nebraska Republicans,” Underwood said. “I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with you in the good fights to come.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from former gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster.