2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2022 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of Nebraska. Incumbent Republican governor Pete Ricketts was term-limited and unable to seek a third term.^[2] In the general election, Republican Jim Pillen won the gubernatorial election by a 23-point margin.

2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
Turnout	54.93% [1] 3.02 pp
Nominee Jim Pillen Carol Blood Party Republican Democratic Running mate Joe Kelly Al Davis Popular vote 398,334 242,006 Percentage 59.22% 35.98%
County results Congressional district results Pillen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Blood:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election Pete Ricketts Republican Elected Governor Jim Pillen Republican

Nebraska's primary elections were held on May 10. Pillen, the former University of Nebraska Board of Regents chair, won the Republican nomination, while state senator Carol Blood won the Democratic nomination.

The race took on increased importance in October 2022, when U.S. senator Ben Sasse announced he would resign and Ricketts said he would allow the winner of the gubernatorial election to appoint Sasse's replacement.^[3] In the end, Pillen appointed Ricketts to Sasse's seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Jim Pillen, member and former chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents^[4]
  • Running mate: Joe Kelly, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska^[5]

Eliminated in primary

• Donna Carpenter, contractor^[6]
• Michael Connely, educational advisor, quality assurance director, small-scale agribusiness, USMC veteran^[7]
• Charles Herbster, agribusiness executive and candidate for governor in 2014^[2][8]
• Brett Lindstrom, financial advisor, state senator and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012^{[2][9][10][11]}
  • Running mate: Dave Rippe, real estate broker and former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development^[12]
• Lela McNinch^[6]
• Breland Ridenour, information technology manager^[13]
• Theresa Thibodeau, former state senator and former chair of the Douglas County Republican Party^[14]
  • Running mate: Trent Loos, agriculture advocate and podcast host^[15]

Declined

• Don Bacon, U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (successfully ran for re-election)^[16][17]
• Deb Fischer, U.S. senator^[9][10]
• Mike Flood, state senator, former Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, and candidate for governor in 2014^[18]
• Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, former Nebraska State Auditor, and candidate for governor in 2014 (successfully ran for State Auditor; endorsed Herbster)^[2][19][20]
• Jeff Fortenberry, former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district^[9][21]
• Dave Heineman, former governor^[9][22][23]
• Mike Hilgers, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature (successfully ran for Attorney General)^[9][24]
• Greg Ibach, former U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture^[19]
• Dave Nabity, financial adviser, talk show host, and candidate for governor in 2006^[9]
• Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and candidate for governor in 2014^[2]
• Adrian Smith, U.S. representative for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (successfully ran for re-election)^[9]
• John Stinner, state senator^[9]
• Jean Stothert, Mayor of Omaha (endorsed Lindstrom)^[2][9]

Endorsements

Charles W. Herbster

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Hal Daub, former chair of the Social Security Advisory Board (2002–2006), former mayor of Omaha (1995–2001), and former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (1981–1989)^[25]
• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)^[26]

Statewide officials

• Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska (2015–present), former Nebraska State Auditor (2007–2015), and candidate for governor in 2014^[27]
• Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) and former U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2011–2019)^[28]

State legislators

• Tom Brewer, state senator from the 43rd district (2017–present)^[29]
• Tom Briese, state senator from the 41st district (2017–2023)^[30]
• Steve Halloran, state senator from the 33rd district (2017–present)^[31]

Organizations

• American Conservative Union^[32]

Brett Lindstrom

U.S. representatives

• Brad Ashford, former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (2015–2017) (Democratic; Deceased; Republican primary only; co-endorsed with Blood)^[33]

State legislators

• Bob Krist, former state senator from the 10th district (2009–2019) and Democratic nominee for governor in 2018^[34]

Local officials

• Jean Stothert, Mayor of Omaha (2013–present)^[35]

Organizations

• Nebraska AFL–CIO (Republican primary only; co-endorsed with Blood)^[36]

Jim Pillen

U.S. representatives

• Tom Osborne, former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (2001–2007)^[37]

Statewide officials

• Jon Bruning, former Nebraska Attorney General (2003–2015)^[38]
• Kay A. Orr, former governor of Nebraska (1987–1991)^[39]
• Doug Peterson, Nebraska Attorney General (2015–2023)^[40]
• Pete Ricketts, Governor of Nebraska (2015–2023)^[41]

State legislators

• Dan Hughes, state senator from the 44th district (2015–2023)^[42]
• Lou Ann Linehan, state senator from the 39th district (2017–present)^[43]

Local officials

• Don Kleine, Douglas County District Attorney (2007–present)^[44]
• Terry Wagner, Lancaster County Sheriff^[45]

Organizations

• Americans for Prosperity^[46]
• Nebraska Farm Bureau^[47]

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Charles Herbster	Brett Lindstrom	Jim Pillen	Theresa Thibodeau	Other	Undecided
WPA Intelligence (R)[48][A]	April 30 – May 2, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	26%	16%	31%	–	8%	19%
WPA Intelligence (R)[49][A]	April 26–28, 2022	505 (LV)	± 4.4%	23%	20%	24%	7%	2%	24%
Data Targeting (R)[50][B]	April 19–20, 2022	858 (LV)	± 4.9%	26%	28%	24%	6%	–	16%
3D Strategic Research (R)[51][C]	April 10–12, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	23%	27%	27%	6%	5%	12%
Moore Information Group (R)[52]	March 26–29, 2022	206 (LV)	± 7.0%	23%	19%	10%	5%	9%[b]	34%
KAConsulting LLC (R)[53][D]	March 8–10, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	27%	17%	18%	3%	–	35%
3D Strategic Research (R)[51][C]	March 7–9, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	30%	20%	23%	3%	6%	18%
Data Targeting (R)[54][B]	February 8–11, 2022	1,168 (LV)	± 2.9%	27%	21%	26%	–	–	–
3D Strategic Research (R)[51][C]	September 2021	– (LV)	–	32%	10%	19%	–	9%	30%

Results

Results by county

  Pillen

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Herbster

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Lindstrom

•   30–40%
•   40–50%

Pillen, Herbster, and Lindstrom all won their respective home counties – Pillen won Platte County with 66.3% of the vote, Herbster won Richardson County with 55.7% of the vote, and Lindstrom won Douglas County with 39.5% of the vote. Lindstrom won the Omaha metropolitan area and came close to winning Lancaster County, home to state capital Lincoln, losing to Pillen by about 2.1%. Pillen and Herbster won parts of more rural Nebraska.^[55]

While Herbster won most of the Sandhills region, Pillen won most of northeastern Nebraska and counties along the I-80 corridor.^[56]

Republican primary results^[55]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Pillen	91,555	33.88%
	Republican	Charles Herbster	80,771	29.91%
	Republican	Brett Lindstrom	70,554	26.14%
	Republican	Theresa Thibodeau	16,432	6.07%
	Republican	Breland Ridenour	4,685	1.73%
	Republican	Michael Connely	2,838	1.05%
	Republican	Donna Nicole Carpenter	1,536	0.57%
	Republican	Lela McNinch	1,192	0.44%
	Republican	Troy Wentz	708	0.26%
Total votes			270,271	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Carol Blood, state senator^[57]
  • Running mate: Al Davis, former state senator^[58]

Eliminated in primary

• Roy A. Harris^[59]

Withdrew

• Bob Krist, former state senator and nominee for governor in 2018 (endorsed Lindstrom)^[60]

Declined

• Sara Howard, member of the Omaha Public Power District board and former state senator^[9]
• Steve Lathrop, state senator^[2]
• Alisha Shelton, behavioral health clinical supervisor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House)^[61]
• Tony Vargas, state senator (unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House)^[62]

Endorsements

Carol Blood

U.S. representatives

• Brad Ashford, former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (2015–2017) (Democratic primary only; deceased; co-endorsed with Lindstrom)^[33]

Organizations

• Nebraska AFL–CIO (Democratic primary only; co-endorsed with Lindstrom)^[63]
• Nebraska Democratic Party^[64]
• Nebraska Sierra Club^[65]

Results

Results by county:

  Blood

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   90–100%

  Harris

•   80–90%

Democratic primary results^[55]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carol Blood	88,859	88.75%
	Democratic	Roy A. Harris	11,267	11.25%
Total votes			100,126	100.00%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

• Scott Zimmerman, businessman, comedian, founder of Z-Trak Productions and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014^[66]
  • Running mate: Jason Blumenthal^[67]

Results

Libertarian primary results^[55]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Scott Zimmerman	1,595	100.00%
Total votes			1,595	100.00%

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[68]	Solid R	March 4, 2022
Inside Elections[69]	Solid R	March 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[70]	Safe R	January 26, 2022
Politico[71]	Solid R	April 1, 2022
RCP[72]	Safe R	January 10, 2022
Fox News[73]	Solid R	May 12, 2022
538[74]	Solid R	June 30, 2022
Elections Daily[75]	Safe R	November 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Jim Pillen (R)

Statewide officials

• Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia (2022–present)^[76]

State legislators

• Brett Lindstrom, state senator from the 18th district (2015–2023), candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012 and candidate for governor in 2022^[77]

Organizations

• Americans for Prosperity^[46]
• Nebraska Farm Bureau^[47]

Carol Blood (D)

Organizations

• National Education Association^[78]
• National Women's Political Caucus^[79]

Newspapers

• Lincoln Journal Star^[80]
• Omaha World-Herald^[81]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jim Pillen (R)	Carol Blood (D)	Other	Undecided
Data Targeting (R)[82]	September 26–28, 2022	1,340 (LV)	± 2.7%	48%	41%	–	11%

Results

Swing by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

Trend by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election^[83]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Pillen Joe Kelly	398,334	59.22%	+0.22%
	Democratic	Carol Blood Al Davis	242,006	35.98%	−5.02%
	Libertarian	Scott Zimmerman Jason Blumenthal	26,455	3.93%	—
	Write-in		5,798	0.86%	—
Total votes			672,593	100.00%
Turnout			682,716	54.93%
Registered electors			1,242,930
	Republican hold

By congressional district

Pillen won all 3 congressional districts.^[84]

District	Pillen	Blood	Representative
1st	55.77%	40.57%	Mike Flood
2nd	48.21%	48.06%	Don Bacon
3rd	75.04%	20.45%	Adrian Smith

See also

• 2022 Nebraska elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "None" with 5%; Connely with 3%; Wentz with 1%; Carpenter and Ridenour with <1%; McNinch with 0%

Partisan clients

1. Poll conducted for Pillen's campaign
2. Poll conducted for Neilan Strategy Group
3. Poll conducted for Lindstrom's campaign
4. Poll conducted for Herbster's campaign