Photos: Trump’s Nebraska rally, the first presidential visit to Grand Island since 2006

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Thousands of Nebraskans flocked to Grand Island to see a presidential rally in the city for the first time in 20 years.

Plenty more Americans tuned in virtually, and an “unwelcoming committee” protested just about half a mile away. President Donald Trump’s visit — a string of midterm visits to help shore up Republican support — marks the first time a president visited Grand Island since 2006. 

In those midterms, President George W. Bush rallied support for Nebraska candidates and others. Voters in Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Grand Island, also first elected U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering in 2006 after his eight years in the state Legislature.

Smith is now asking for an 11th term against the Democratic Party’s Becky Stille of South Sioux City, Legal Marijuana NOW Party’s David Else of Overton, Working People Party’s Macey Budke of North Platte and registered nonpartisan Mark Cohen of Lemoyne.

Also in 2006, then-U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, a former governor, became the last Democrat to win Nebraska statewide. Nelson handily beat Pete Ricketts, 64%-36%, yet Ricketts would go on to safely win Nebraska’s governorship in 2014 and 2018. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the U.S. Senate in 2023, and he won a two-year term in 2024.

Ricketts and Pillen face closer-than-expected reelection bids this year. Trump disparaged their leading opponents, registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn and former Democratic state Sen. Lynne Walz, respectively. Osborn told KETV Newswatch 7 that the visit “speaks volumes” if Ricketts needs backup, while Walz similarly told the station the rally shows Pillen is “really nervous.”

Osborn defied expectations in 2024 and gave U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer a close race in her reelection bid. Also on the 2026 Senate ballot are Legal Marijuana NOW’s Mike Marvin (who dropped out), Working People’s Robin Richards and the America First Party’s Chuck Conboy.

Walz is the most well-funded Democrat seeking the governorship since 1990, when Nelson unseated Republican Gov. Kay Orr. Also running for governor in 2026 are Legal Marijuana Now’s Rick Beard and America First’s Brett Lindstrom, a former state senator. However, Pillen maintains a nearly 9:1 lead in cash on hand — $7.5 million as of Sept. 29 to Walz’s $860,000. Neither Beard nor Lindstrom has reported raising or spending more than $5,000 in total.

Trump also appeared on stage Monday with U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, who faces Democrat Chris Backemeyer and Libertarian Nik Sandman, both of Lincoln, and Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who faces Democrat Jocelyn Brasher of Omaha.

A Grand Island-area state lawmaker told the Nebraska Examiner that Monday’s event helps drum up voters as much as it “restores” and “recharges” Trump’s strength. Pillen also named Trump as the newest admiral in the honorary  “Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.”

Photos from Monday’s rally captured by the Nebraska Examiner’s Zach Wendling: