Brett Lindstrom Has 21 Days to Get on Nebraska’s November Ballot
Former Nebraska state Sen. Brett Lindstrom, 45, announced on July 13, 2026, that he is running for governor as a nonpartisan candidate. To appear on the November 3 ballot, he must collect at least 4,000 valid signatures by August 3.
The signature requirement has a geographic condition. Nebraska law requires at least 750 of those signatures come from registered voters in each of the state’s three congressional districts. That means Lindstrom cannot simply concentrate his canvassing in Omaha. He needs statewide reach within three weeks.
4,000 valid signatures required by August 3, including 750 per congressional district, for Lindstrom to qualify for Nebraska’s November 3 ballot.
If he qualifies, Lindstrom enters a four-way race. Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican who beat Lindstrom in the 2022 GOP primary, is seeking a second term alongside Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly. Former Democratic state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont and Rick Beard of Omaha, the Legal Marijuana NOW party candidate, round out the field.
Lindstrom’s chosen running mate is Mike Picard, a Navy veteran and volleyball club director from Omaha.
Lindstrom told the Nebraska Examiner he does not want to be a “spoiler.” He has framed his candidacy around the state’s budget and economic direction rather than party positioning. He has also left himself an exit: he says he could still decide against running after securing the signatures, but needs them in hand to preserve the option.
Nebraska’s nonpartisan ballot access rules mean that voters do not need to be registered with any party to sign Lindstrom’s petition. Any registered Nebraska voter can sign, regardless of registration.
What You Can Do Now
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Sign the petition if you are a registered Nebraska voter. Contact the Lindstrom campaign directly to find a petitioner near you or request a petition sheet. The deadline is August 3, 2026, and signatures must be valid under Nebraska election law. The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office at (402) 471-2554 can answer questions about eligibility.
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Contact your Nebraska state senator to ask whether they support lowering the signature threshold for nonpartisan candidates in future cycles. Find your senator at nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php.
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Check your own voter registration before signing. Nebraska requires signers to be active registered voters. Confirm your status at sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-registration-information.
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Track the ballot certification deadline. If Lindstrom submits signatures, the Nebraska Secretary of State must verify them before the August 3 cutoff. Watch the Nebraska Secretary of State elections page for certification updates.
Sources
Nebraska Examiner: Lindstrom Launches Petition Drive for Nonpartisan Nebraska Governor Bid Nebraska Secretary of State: Candidate Filing and Ballot Access Requirements Nebraska Legislature: Senator District Finder