Former state Sen. Bob Krist selects America First Party for secretary of state run

LINCOLN — After saying he would not run in a three-way race, former state Sen. Bob Krist has entered the race for Nebraska secretary of state after all with the new America First Party.

Krist, 69, of Omaha, is a 2009 Republican appointee to the Legislature who briefly became an independent in September 2017 before becoming the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor. He later switched his party affiliation back to nonpartisan, where he mostly remained.

Within the past week, the retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel switched again, this time to the fledgling America First Party, which Krist said had approached him about running.

“I believe very strongly that my background, my voice, needs to be heard,” Krist told the Nebraska Examiner. “I’ve never entered an election thinking I was going to lose.”

Partisan petition process

In June, Krist confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that there was “a lot of truth” to his considering a nonpartisan bid for the top election administration spot and that he’d been looking at polls “to make sure that it’s viable.” He ultimately didn’t do so.

A nonpartisan bid would have needed 4,000 valid signatures statewide by Aug. 3, including at least 750 apiece from each of the state’s three congressional districts.

By contrast, Krist needs just 25 valid signatures from new party members to qualify his new bid.

Second former Nebraska lawmaker mulling nonpartisan run, including for secretary of state

Polls this summer had asked about Krist as a potential new option in the two-way race between Republican Scott Petersen, an Omaha businessman, and Democrat Sarah Slattery, a Plattsmouth professional chef and small business owner. Petersen handily won the May GOP primary over incumbent Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who has held the post since 2019.

Krist said he had reviewed data from the primary and wasn’t convinced he should run until after he heard Petersen and Slattery talk more. He said he still thought there needed to be a “voice of reason” on the state of Nebraska elections, not that of any other state or a national landscape.

“We have not had problems in the state,” Krist said.

This summer, Krist had made clear his view of anyone wanting to jump into a two-way race as the third candidate:  “They are crazy.” He called that choice a “showstopper.”

“I will not be involved in a three-way race,” Krist said in June. “It’s a death sentence to begin with.”

But Krist hearkened back to his legislative service under longtime Secretary of State John Gale and later Evnen. Krist said the only “fault” he attributed to the current secretary was handing over Nebraska’s voter data to the federal government. Krist said he “never” would have done that.

Petersen, Slattery respond

In a Tuesday text, Petersen said his focus hasn’t changed and he’s honored to be the Republican nominee.

“We’re going to keep traveling Nebraska and making the case for restoring confidence in our elections, improving services for Nebraska businesses and defending Nebraska,” Petersen said. “We will be working hard to win big on November 3rd.”

Petersen has praised President Donald Trump’s moves to crack down on mail-in voting and require citizenship verification and invoked the phrase “America first” in public statements. 

The Nebraska Republican Party tried to stop the America First Party from forming over worries the name would lead to voter “confusion.” The Nebraska Supreme Court allowed its certification.

Slattery, reached Tuesday, said she had heard about Krist’s possible entrance into the race Monday but it doesn’t change her campaign. She has described a major goal of hers to restore “neutrality” to the office and targeted Petersen for seeking major election changes.

“I’m still in this to protect the voting rights of Nebraskans and reach out to as many Nebraskans as I possibly can and let them know what’s at stake in the Nov. 3 election,” she said.

‘On the right track’

Having been in the Legislature, Krist said he understands the particulars of the secretary of state role. He pointed to legislation in the 2000s from former state Sen. Deb Fischer, now a U.S. senator, who championed a law for counties to do 100% mail-in elections. Eleven counties now utilize that law. 

Krist described Fischer as a friend and said a priority of his is increasing election turnout, such as for those who must travel long distances or are in in-home or long-term care facilities.

“Seems to me like we need to make elections fair and available to everyone. Make sure no one’s cheating. And we’ve already done that as a Legislature,” Krist said. 

He continued: “I think it’s on the right track, and I think we need to stay on the track we’re on. Maybe increase the pace just a little bit.”

The general election is Nov. 3.