Nebraska Working People Party Chair Richards running for U.S. Senate herself

LINCOLN — The chair of the new Nebraska Working People Party will run for U.S. Senate herself as her party qualifies two other candidates for the November election.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that Robin Richards of Ralston filed for U.S. Senate. Richards was a Democratic write-in candidate for Legislative District 12 this spring. She was also the runner-up for the seat in 2022. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Richards joins a ticket that features U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn. The America First Party also nominated Chuck Conboy of Papillion. Nebraska Democrats chose not to replace Cindy Burbank of Omaha after she dropped out.

Kishla Askins of Omaha, who came in fourth in the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in May, was approached by the Working People Party to run for Senate. She declined, as first reported by the Omaha World-Herald.

Legal Marijuana NOW’s Mike Marvin of Omaha suspended his campaign Aug. 21 and endorsed Osborn. However, he will still appear on the ballot.

In other Working People Party filings, Macey Budke of North Platte qualified for the ballot for Nebraska’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District, one of the most conservative in the nation.

Budke had pledged to pursue a write-in candidacy for Nebraska’s 3rd District after she backed away from a petition drive seeking to qualify a nonpartisan bid. In that instance, she needed 2,000 valid signatures from district voters. 

In contrast, candidates for the new parties needed valid signatures from at least 25 party members either statewide or in their respective House district.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., is running for an 11th term against Democrat Becky Kelly Stille of South Sioux City, Legal Marijuana NOW’s David Else of Overton and registered nonpartisan Mark Cohen of Lemoyne, in addition to Budke.

The America First Party also nominated a House-level candidate in Dan Hartong of Lincoln. In  Nebraska’s eastern 1st Congressional District, Hartong will face U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., who is seeking a third term, and Democrat Chris Backemeyer of Lincoln.

In addition, Paul Rumbaugh of Omaha will appear on the ballot for Nebraska secretary of state for the Nebraska Working People Party, making that fight a four-way race. Rumbaugh and former state Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, now with the America First Party, will join Republican Scott Petersen of Omaha and Democrat Sarah Slattery of Plattsmouth.

Also filing Tuesday were two more candidates for the America First Party: former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, for governor, and John Knight of Clay Center, for state auditor.

The order on the ballot for candidates in partisan races this fall is Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Legal Marijuana NOW, Working People Party and America First Party. In the cases of the Senate and 3rd District, Osborn and Cohen will appear at the end. They are the only nonpartisans who successfully petitioned to appear on the ballot this year.

Tuesday was the deadline for the two new political parties to nominate candidates or for any nonpartisan candidates to join statewide races for the Legislature, State Board of Education or University of Nebraska Board of Regents. No other candidates filed petitions for those offices.

The Secretary of State’s Office confirmed enough valid signatures for all three Working People Party candidates and five America First Party candidates who filed by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The general election is Nov. 3.