Lynne Walz, 2026 Nebraska Governor Democratic candidate
Lynne Walz
DEMOCRATIC
Nebraska Senate (R)
2017 – 2025
Nebraska state flag

Nebraska 2026 GOVERNOR FORECAST

Jim Pillen, 2026 Nebraska Governor Republican candidate
Jim Pillen*
REPUBLICAN
Governor (R-NE)
2023 – Present

2026 Nebraska Governor Forecast:

Proprietary forecast for Nebraska's Governor election between Democrat Lynne Walz and Republican Jim Pillen. This page will update with a daily set of 100,000 new simulations as race fundamentals change in order to produce race odds, projected margin, and forecasted vote share.

The 2026 Nebraska governor election features Democrat Lynne Walz and Republican Jim Pillen. Incumbent governor Jim Pillen is seeking reelection to a second term, having served in the governor's mansion since 2023. In 2024, Donald Trump won Nebraska by 20.5%, and Republicans are expected to easily retain the state's governorship in 2026. Nebraska voters will decide whether to extend the incumbent party's control of the governor's mansion or move the state in a new direction.

Year
2026
Race
Governor
State
Nebraska
Democratic candidate
Lynne Walz
Republican candidate
Jim Pillen
Incumbent / open seat
Jim Pillen
Forecast rating
Solid R
Projected vote
40.9% D / 59.2% R
Projected margin
R +18.3
Forecast odds
1.6% D / 98.4% R
Forecast last updated
12:00 AM on July 2, 2026
Polling average
38.4% D / 46.2% R
Polling average margin
R +7.9
Polling last updated
12:00 AM on July 2, 2026
Polls included
4
Latest poll
Lake Research Partners (D) — April 29, 2026