Brett Lindstrom, a former Omaha state senator and GOP congressional candidate, cracked open the possibility of a nonpartisan gubernatorial run during an appearance on the Dan Parsons Show, a Lincoln-based political podcast, this week. Lindstrom, a financial adviser who finished third in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, said he sees a mathematical path forward but has made no final decision on entering the race.
Lindstrom abandoned his congressional campaign in January, citing frustration with divisiveness in modern politics. He formally shed his Republican affiliation in March, a move that observers noted could clear the way for an independent gubernatorial bid. Running as a nonpartisan would require him to be registered as such by the filing deadline, a threshold he has already met.
During the podcast interview, Lindstrom explained his departure from the GOP. "I believe, right now we are about as polarized a position politically as we've been in some time, and I just didn't feel comfortable participating in that type of philosophy," he said. He added that exploring a nonpartisan gubernatorial run was not his original intention when leaving the party but that he has since examined the mechanics. "I dug into it a little bit. Mathematically it can work, but I haven't made a decision on that yet," he said.
To qualify as a nonpartisan candidate, Lindstrom or his representatives would need to collect at least 4,000 signatures from registered Nebraska voters. Approximately 750 signatures must come from each of the state's three congressional districts. The deadline for submitting signatures is August 3. Lindstrom said he has not yet initiated signature-gathering efforts, though he noted that beginning such work would not necessarily signal a final commitment to running.
In the Republican primary, Gov. Jim Pillen faces challengers including Sheila Korth-Focken, Jacy Todd, Sal Holguin, John Walz, and Gary L. Rogge. Political observers expect Pillen to advance to the general election, where he would likely face Democratic former State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont. Nebraska's two-to-one Republican registration advantage over Democrats has led many to view Pillen's second term as probable, though recent polling suggests he ranks among the nation's least popular incumbent governors.
During his tenure as a state senator from 2015 to 2023, Lindstrom served as a swing vote on divisive issues, including casting a vote to help repeal the death penalty, which voters later reinstated. He also advocated for eliminating the state income tax on Social Security benefits. Meanwhile, Omaha attorney Bryan Slone, a registered nonpartisan previously mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, announced he would not be running this cycle, though he did not rule out future candidacies.
