LINCOLN — As Nebraskans head to the polls Tuesday, they will vote in some of the most expensive races in state history — and in a year when candidates and statewide ballot measure campaigns have already raised more than $63 million.
Campaign finance data available as of Sunday afternoon indicates general election candidates across 43 state-level offices, from the governor to two statewide education boards, had raised $36.5 million. Of the total, 75% is from Nebraska, and 11% is from Washington, D.C. Money has come in from all states but Alaska, Delaware and New Hampshire.
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Meanwhile, four groups for or against three statewide ballot measures have raised nearly $26.9 million — 21.3% is in-state while 38.6% is from New York and 36.5% is from Massachusetts. The out-of-state lean is primarily because outside gambling groups are the sole donors to the campaign to legalize and regulate online sports betting (Initiative Measures 440 and 441).
In addition to campaign-specific spending, political action committees have spent $3.68 million to support or oppose the same state-level candidates or issues. This total doesn’t include administrative spending or funds already reported on candidate-disclosed donation reports.
‘Unfortunate reality’
The race for Legislative District 4 in west Omaha has so far exceeded $1.2 million in direct spending. Lawmakers are paid just $12,000 each year, 100 times less than the campaign spending total.
An additional $323,000 in outside PAC money has been spent to support or oppose incumbent state Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn and challenger Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek of Omaha.
“It’s the unfortunate reality that we live with right now,” said von Gillern, who is facing a tough reelection. His fate could have a cascading effect on legislative leadership positions next year as multiple senators have asked him to consider the open speakership.
Von Gillern, a Republican, is in a rematch with Maxwell-Ostdiek, a registered nonpartisan. She came ahead of von Gillern in the spring primary by about the same margin that von Gillern won by four years ago.
The incumbent said candidates largely have two missions aided by campaign finance: Tell people about yourself and ensure voters understand your opponent.
“The hope is, obviously, that that inspires someone to ask good questions and consider the facts,” von Gillern said. “The challenge is that so often the advertising is misrepresentation or is 1% of the truth and is incredibly misleading.”
Maxwell-Ostdiek said it was “wild” to see this much money being spent on an officially nonpartisan race. She was outspent in 2022 and has been outspent so far this year.
“It is meant to be representation where you’re really learning and visiting and talking with your neighbors, and this outside money is just, it’s very, it’s surprising,” said Maxwell-Ostdiek.
She added: “These amounts of money, I think, are a reflection of concern about performance, and so I’m trying to keep my eye on what’s important, which is talking to voters every day and listening and trying to get my message out. That’s my focus.”
In Nebraska, party affiliation for candidates for the Legislature, State Board of Education and University of Nebraska Board of Regents does not appear on the ballot. However, nearly all candidates in those races are registered with a party or endorsed by Republicans or Democrats.
Of the seven nonpartisans in those races, all but two are endorsed by the Nebraska Democratic Party. The exceptions are Dan Winter of Bradshaw, who is running for Legislative District 24, and Shaylee Scranton of Thedford, who is running for Legislative District 42.
Top donors in Nebraska 2026 elections
Democratic and Democratic-endorsed nonpartisans have largely benefited from a network of centralized groups this cycle. Former Democratic state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, who is challenging Republican Gov. Jim Pillen’s reelection, is also among the benefactors.
The top Democratic donors this year, so far, are:
- Democracy Nebraska, a Lincoln-based PAC, donated $1.39 million across 17 state-level candidates (14 Democrats and three nonpartisans, including $351,000 to Walz).
- Dianne Lozier, co-founder of the Lozier Foundation in Omaha, donated $1.38 million across 15 state-level candidates (15 Democrats and four nonpartisans, including $1 million to Walz).
- NU Regent Barbara Weitz, co-founder of the Weitz Family Foundation in Omaha, donated $1.26 million across nine state-level candidates (six Democrats and three nonpartisans, including $750,000 to Walz).
- Way Back PAC, based out of Wyoming, donated $653,000 to 11 state-level candidates (nine Democrats and two nonpartisans, including $498,000 to Walz).
On the right, the largest donors are Guy Ellsworth of Pierce ($465,000 to Pillen alone), Shawn Peed of Lincoln ($400,000 to five candidates) and Tom Peed of Lincoln ($326,000 to four candidates). The Peeds each gave Pillen $300,000.
Union Pacific Railroad Co. has given $426,500 to 13 Republicans, including $375,000 to Pillen. UP has also given $2,000 to Democratic state Sen. John Fredrickson.
Pillen has received $2 million from the Republican Governors Association, too, so far the single-largest contributor to a candidate this year. Walz has received $507,500 from the Democratic Governors Association. She’s also been boosted by the Government that Works PAC in Washington, D.C., with $800,000.
Another major donation: $400,000 from the Republican Attorneys General Association and the RAGA Action Fund to Attorney General Mike Hilgers. He faces Democrat Jocelyn Brasher this fall. Brasher’s top two donors are Weitz ($314,600) and Democracy Nebraska ($125,400).
Candidates receiving nonitemized contributions from individuals totaling less than $250.01 account for $1.27 million across 51 candidates on the general election ballot.
Outside PAC spending
When including indirect PAC spending, another legislative race, Legislative District 18, also in Douglas County, has exceeded $1.1 million between Jess Goldoni and Taylor Royal. They are seeking to succeed state Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, who decided not to run again.
Outside spending accounts for $562,600 in LD 18, about 48% for or against Goldoni compared to 44% for or against Royal (an additional 8% came in the primary when a second Republican was in the race). However, more PAC money has supported Goldoni (53% of her total) than opposed her. More PAC money has opposed Royal (76% of his total) than supported.
Legislative District 14, between Bill Bowes of La Vista and SuAnn Witt of Papillion ($991,214.35), to succeed Speaker John Arch of La Vista, is also less than $10,000 away from $1 million in spending. The race has, in total, seen nearly $400,000 in outside PAC spending, mostly negative (45% for or against Bowes, 34% for or against Witt and 22% for or against a second Republican who did not advance from the primary, similar to LD 18).
Of the LD 14 PAC spending, nearly $140,000 has been against Bowes, and nearly $123,000 has been spent to oppose Witt.
The five most active Nebraska PACs this year in total spending: Nebraska United ($1.57 million spent), Preserve the Good Life ($1.13 million), Nebraskans for a Stronger Future group ($988,000, We Are Nebraska ($667,000) and the Nebraska Conservative Leadership Fund ($600,000).
Nebraska United, We Are Nebraska and the Conservative Leadership Fund have supported Republicans and opposed Democrats or Democratic-supported nonpartisans. Preserve the Good Life and the Nebraskans for a Stronger Future Group have done the opposite.
Other expensive legislative races
The other most expensive legislative races this year, based on available records:
- Legislative District 36, between incumbent state Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and Darin Tompkins of Papillion ($826,237.59).
- Legislative District 10, between Cindy Johnson of Omaha and Rebecca Rens of Bennington ($763,617.34), to succeed state Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha.
- Legislative District 12, between incumbent state Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston and Christy Knorr of Omaha ($725,442.22).
- Legislative District 2, between Dean Helmick of Plattsmouth and Caitlin Knutson of Lincoln ($614,801.45), to succeed state Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood.
- Legislative District 20, between incumbent state Sen. John Fredrickson and Chris Anderson, both of Omaha ($559,198.19).
- Legislative District 26, between incumbent state Sen. George Dungan and Tobias Howard, both of Lincoln ($305,019.75).
Fredrickson and Dungan are looking to avoid close elections as they had in 2022 when they first won. Fredrickson was outspent in 2022 and won by 82 votes. Fredrickson and Dungan are Democrats. This time around, they’ve heavily outspent their Republican opponents.
Fredrickson and Anderson have spent $440,000 between them, and Fredrickson accounts for 88% of that. Of an additional $114,000 in indirect PAC spending, $31,000 has supported Fredrickson. About $43,000 has supported Anderson, with almost $40,000 more in opposition.
For Dungan, he is the only candidate in the race with a financial disclosure committee (a legal requirement after directly raising or spending $5,000). About $40,000 has been spent indirectly to support either Dungan (just shy of $7,000) or Howard (almost $33,000).
Two other rural races to watch: Legislative District 32, between Mark Schoenrock of Diller and Shay Smith of Crete, and Legislative District 30, between Janet Bock of Beatrice and Cally Ideus of Filley. LD 32 is represented by state Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, while state Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams represents LD 30. Brandt and Dorn are term-limited.
Schoenrock and Ideus are Republicans, while Smith is a registered nonpartisan. Bock is a Democrat. Smith has outspent Schoenrock by nearly $100,000, and in outside spending, the Nebraska Conservative Leadership Fund has spent $7,675 in support of Schoenrock.
Importance of canvassing
Despite the money, von Gillern, Maxwell-Ostdiek and dozens of other candidates say they continue to meet voters where they’re at, primarily door to door or at listening sessions.
Von Gillern described canvassing as “by far the most impactful thing that we do.” He described going to 108 doors in one night, and maybe 35 homeowners answered. Of those, he said he had decent conversations with 25 and is convinced he won at least 15-20 votes that night.
“Yes, it’s old-fashioned. Yes, it’s not a lot of fun, particularly on a 100-degree day, or when it’s raining, or I don’t know, three weeks it could be snowing,” von Gillern said in early October. “It’s not the most fun, but interacting with people and meeting folks, and some of the conversations are so incredibly rewarding and uplifting.”
Maxwell-Ostdiek agreed. In early October, she said candidates are asking voters to give their trust, which must be earned. She said her focus is also on good ideas, no matter the source.
“I think that going around and talking to people in person is part of how we’re going to build community again and try to bring people together because more people actually have in common many of the same issues and the same concerns and priorities than they don’t,” Maxwell-Ostdiek said.
Candidates and ballot measures unite
Two regents and one legislative candidate did spend millions supporting an anti-abortion measure in 2024, and one legislative candidate spent more than $1 million for an abortion-choice measure.
Candidates can buy cheaper ads in competitive ad markets than ballot question committees. The Legislature voted against ending the strategy this spring.
This year, candidates for and against Initiative Measures 440 and 441, to legalize and regulate online sports wagering, have purchased ads to spread the word about the proposals. The supporting group is Tax Relief Nebraska. The main opposing group is Save Nebraska Sports.
Tax Relief Nebraska is already the most expensive petition campaign, even outside of intermingling with candidates. The campaign had raised nearly $22.5 million through Oct. 29.
The group is the main reason for the out-of-state lean in ballot measure finance, due to funding from Boston’s DK Crown Holdings (the parent company of DraftKings) and New York’s FanDuel Inc. Each gave $10.4 million to Tax Relief Nebraska.
On Oct. 27, Tax Relief Nebraska gave $750,000 to legislative candidate Tim Anderson of Sutton. New ads are running under Anderson’s name in support of online sports wagering.
Anderson is running for Legislative District 38 in central Nebraska to succeed term-limited state Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. Anderson faces Janell Anderson Ehrke of Orleans. She, like Murman and Anderson, is a Republican. Anderson and Anderson Ehrke both said they are in favor of letting voters decide whether to legalize online sports betting.
State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg of Fremont has received nearly $1 million from Common Sense Nebraska, which is the same group that helped funnel money to candidates for the anti-abortion constitutional amendment in 2024. Spellerberg is part of Save Nebraska Sports.
Because of Anderson’s connection to Tax Relief Nebraska, Spellerberg, State Auditor Mike Foley and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts have withdrawn their endorsement of Anderson.
This appears to be the first year where legislative and regents candidates will exceed $1 million in funds raised or spent for their races, excluding any intermingling with ballot measures. Unlike the Legislature, regents have no salary.
Breaking through the noise
Other races likely to make history this year are two NU Board of Regents races, one an open seat for the first time in 18 years in Lincoln (NU Regents District 1) and the other a special election for a four-year term in Omaha (NU Regents District 4).
In the Lincoln race, candidates Brent Comstock and Jeremy Hosein have already raised more than $950,000 and spent more than $670,000. And in Omaha, candidates Susanne Shore and Justin Solomon have raised more than $555,000 and spent more than $529,000.
The previous regents’ record was nearly $779,000 raised and more than $772,000 spent in 2008, also for NU Regents 1.
The third and final regents race this year is for NU Regents District 2, between Jill Wolfe of Elkhorn and Elizabeth Butler of Papillion. Wolfe has given her campaign $190,000, and she’s taken out nearly $30,000 in loans. Her next largest donation is from U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts ($15,000). Butler’s top donors are Lozier ($30,000) and Weitz ($26,742). Wolfe and Butler have together raised $380,000.
Comstock said NU is critical for the state, with a $6 billion annual economic impact. He said voters want a “good, solid person in this seat,” which is open for the first time in 18 years after NU Regent Tim Clare, who ran in 2008, decided not to run again.
Regents often serve multiple six-year terms, Comstock noted, and they have no term limits.
“Like every other campaign for office, things are getting more expensive, but when you think about the importance of the university to our state, I think that it’s a good example of why it is costing so much,” Comstock said.
Hosein and Comstock encouraged voters to do their own research and look at candidates’ ideas, supporters and how candidates have conducted themselves before voting.
“I’m an open book because we deserve better leaders with honesty, character and competency,” Hosein said in a statement.
Said Comstock: “The university is too important for people to skip out on filling in this oval.”
Voting ends at 8 p.m. Central time Tuesday. Early voting is underway.
See a breakdown of most recently available campaign contributions through the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission below or in a new tab here.
This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.
