Primary
Primary held May 12, 2026.
Democratic Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynne Walz ✓ | 116,458 | 91.5% | |
| Larry Marvin | 10,847 | 8.5% |
Legal Marijuana Now Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Beard ✓ | 349 | 69.1% | |
| James Charvat | 156 | 30.9% |
Republican Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Pillen ✓ | 142,301 | 75.4% | |
| John Walz | 18,066 | 9.6% | |
| Sheila Korth-Focken | 14,621 | 7.8% | |
| Gary Rogge | 6,986 | 3.7% | |
| Jacy Todd | 5,125 | 2.7% | |
| Sal Holguin | 1,612 | 0.9% |
Full calendar and every race: Nebraska primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
PollingSource average — trailing average of all polls from the last 90 days.
Candidates
General Election Polling Average
Average reflects all polls from the last 90 days; table shows the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more — subscribe for the full history. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Dem | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Research Partners (D) partisan·D | 2026-04-29 | 900 LV | ±3.30 | Lynne Walz 45.00% | Jim Pillen 47.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 Nebraska governor's race?
Jim Pillen leads Lynne Walz 47% to 45% in the PollingSource polling average — a R+2.0 margin based on 1 poll from the last 90 days.
Is the 2026 Nebraska governor's race competitive?
Yes — the PollingSource polling average rates this race a Toss-up, the most competitive category.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 Nebraska governor's race say?
The most recent public poll, from Lake Research Partners (D) (completed April 29, 2026), found Lynne Walz (D) at 45% and Jim Pillen (R) at 47%.
When is the 2026 Nebraska governor's race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of every scientific public poll of the race from the last 90 days — we do not exclude pollsters. Each race page lists the individual polls behind the average with pollster, field dates, sample size, and margin of error. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.