No write-in candidates for Congress, governor, Legislature, Nebraska state education boards in 2026

LINCOLN — In a year of twists and turns for some of Nebraska’s highest elected positions, there are no declared write-in candidates for congressional offices or for constitutional officers, the Legislature and state education boards.

Under state law, candidates must file a written affidavit and the respective filing fee no later than the second Friday before an election for their votes to be counted. That was Friday, Oct. 23. On election night, write-in votes will be grouped collectively. If an affidavit has been filed, votes for that candidate will be separated in the immediate days after the election.

By Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline, no one had filed a write-in candidacy for:

• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House of Representatives, Districts 1-3
• Governor
• Secretary of state
• Attorney general
• Auditor of public accounts
• State treasurer
• Public Service Commission District 2
• Nebraska Legislature, even-numbered districts and District 41 for a two-year term.
• State Board of Education, Districts 5-8
• University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Districts 1-2 and District 4, for a four-year term

This means, barring any unforeseen circumstances, candidates running unopposed in five of those 42 statewide races will be the first confirmed winners once voting concludes on Nov. 3.

Four candidates are set to be reelected: state Sens. Barry DeKay of Niobrara (Legislative District 40), Teresa Ibach of Sumner (Legislative District 44) and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln (Legislative District 46), as well as State Board of Education President Elizabeth Tegtmeier of North Platte (State Board of Education District 7).

Dawson Brunswick of Columbus, president of the Omaha Area Chamber of Commerce, is also running unopposed. He is set to succeed state Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, who is prevented from seeking reelection due to term limits, for Legislative District 22.

Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley of Lincoln, a Republican, had been running unopposed until Sept. 1, when John Knight of Clay Center joined the race under the new America First Party.

The Secretary of State’s Office did receive the following write-in candidacies by Friday:

• Cuming County Public Power District, Subdivision 2: Keith A. Kreikemeier (joining the race with incumbent Leroy Mostek).
• Educational Service Unit 10, District 1: Todd Beck (no one else is in the race).
• Educational Service Unit 13, District 7: Audrey M. Long (no one else is in the race).
• Lower Loup Natural Resources District, Subdistrict 3: Rollie Skip Ambsberry (no one else is in the race).
• Lower Loup NRD, Subdistrict 5 (for a two-year term): David L. Harrington (no one else had been in the race for a two-year term).
• Lower Loup NRD, Subdistrict 5 (for a two-year term): Tyler Petersen (no one else had been in the race for a two-year term).
• Upper Loup NRD, Subdistrict 5: Richard Burnside (no one else is in the race).
• Western Nebraska Community College, District 5: Monica Shambaugh (joining the race with incumbent Lori Liggett).

Candidates who filed the notarized affidavit are entitled to all write-in votes for them even if only the last name of the candidate has been written if such last name is reasonably close to the right spelling, under state law.

The Secretary of State’s Office is the filing repository for statewide offices that blanket the state or regions, such as public power districts, NRDs, reclamation districts and ESUs.

Voters wishing to know write-in candidates for other county- or city-specific races where candidates file locally can contact their county election office.

The general election is Nov. 3. Early voting is underway.