Primary
Democratic Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynne Walz ✓ | 116,458 | 91.5% | |
| Larry Marvin | 10,847 | 8.5% |
Republican Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| 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% |
Legal Marijuana Now Primary
Held May 12, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Beard ✓ | 349 | 69.1% | |
| James Charvat | 156 | 30.9% |
Full calendar and every race: Nebraska primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
Showing the published average. The rating above uses this figure.
The right edge is that same average of the last three polls. This is an average, not a forecast.
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Candidates
General Election Polling Average
LV = likely voters · RV = registered voters · ± = margin of error · R-sponsored / D-sponsored / I-sponsored = paid for by a Republican, Democratic, or Independent group · "missed 2024 by X pts" = that firm's average miss in 2024
Average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls. Fewer than three uses the polls that exist. The rating uses that average when the newest poll ended in the last 30 days. The table lists the polls in that average, plus 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 | Ind | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord Public Opinion Partners (D) D-sponsored In average | 2026-10-18 this poll | 500 LV | ±4.40 | Lynne Walz 43.00% | Rick Beard | Jim Pillen 40.00% |
| National Public Affairs R-sponsored In average | 2026-10-18 this poll | 598 LV | ±4.00 | Lynne Walz 41.00% | Rick Beard 3.00% | Jim Pillen 47.00% |
| Global Strategy Group (D) D-sponsored In average | 2026-10-18 this poll | 800 LV | ±3.50 | Lynne Walz 39.00% | Rick Beard | Jim Pillen 40.00% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) D-sponsored missed 2024 by 2.0 pts Not in average | 2026-10-14 this poll | 571 RV | ±4.10 | Lynne Walz 46.00% | Rick Beard | Jim Pillen 48.00% |
| National Public Affairs R-sponsored Not in average | 2026-10-05 this poll | 800 LV | Lynne Walz 40.00% | Rick Beard 5.00% | Jim Pillen 44.00% | |
| YouGov Not in average | 2026-10-03 this poll | 1809 LV | ±3.30 | Lynne Walz 43.00% | Rick Beard | Jim Pillen 44.00% |
| co/efficient R-sponsored Not in average | 2026-09-30 this poll | 1113 LV | ±2.92 | Lynne Walz 38.00% | Rick Beard 3.00% | Jim Pillen 43.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 Nebraska governor's race?
Jim Pillen leads Lynne Walz 42.3% to 41% in the PollingSource polling average — a R+1.3 margin based on 3 polls, the last three or fewer.
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 poll in our average, from Concord Public Opinion Partners (D) (completed October 18, 2026), found Lynne Walz (D) at 43% and Jim Pillen (R) at 40%.
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 the last three scientific public polls, or fewer when fewer exist. One poll sets the rating when it ended in the last 30 days. We do not exclude pollsters. The table lists recent polls, including ones older than those three. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
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