NOTICE OF 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, the 12th day of May, 2026, at the polling places in the Election Precincts of Kearney County, Nebraska, an election will be held. The polls will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Said election will be for nominating, or in some cases electing, candidates to various offices. Some races will not appear on the Primary Election Ballot as the number of candidates filing does not exceed twice the number of vacancies; these candidates are declared nominated and advance to the November 3, 2026, General Election.
SENATORIAL TICKET
For United States Senator (Nominate)
6 Year Term
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Eric Mortimore William J. Forbes
Pete Ricketts Cindy Burbank
Todd Knobel
Mac Stevens
Debb Axtell Schultz
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings Earl Starkey
Mike Marvin
CONGRESSIONAL TICKET
For Representative in Congress (Nominate)
2 Year Term – District 3
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
David P. Huebner Becky Kelly Stille
Adrian Smith
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings David J. Else
The following is an excerpt from Section 32-912(3) R.R.S.: “A registered voter who is not affiliated with a political party and who desires to vote in the Primary Election for the office of United States Senator and Representative in Congress may request a partisan ballot for such office from any political party. No such registered voter shall receive more than one such partisan ballot.”
STATE TICKET
For Governor (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Sheila J. Korth-Focken Lynne Walz
Gary L. Rogge Larry Marvin
Jim Pillen
Jacy Todd
Sal Holguin
John Walz
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings Rick Beard
James J. Charvat III
For Secretary of State (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Bob Evnen Lee M. Cimfel
Scott Petersen Sarah J. Slattery
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
For State Treasurer (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Joey Spellerberg Daniel Ebers
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
For Attorney General (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Mike Hilgers Jocelyn Brasher
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
For Auditor of Public Accounts (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Mike Foley No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
COUNTY TICKET
For County Clerk (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Jenni Lupkes No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Clerk of the District Court (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Lisa Betty No Filings
Angela N. Follmer
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Treasurer (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Jody A. Payne No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Sheriff (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Cody R. Struss No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Attorney (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Melodie Bellamy No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Public Defender (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Shon T. Lieske No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Surveyor (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
No Filings No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Assessor (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Jennifer Pittner No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Commissioner – District 1 (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Jason Sinsel No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Commissioner – District 3 (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Robert Swanson No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Commissioner – District 5 (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Brent Stewart No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For County Commissioner – District 7 (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC
Heath Hofstetter No Filings
LIBERTARIAN Legal Marijuana NOW
No Filings No Filings
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
NONPARTISAN TICKET
For Member State Board of Education (Nominate)
District 7
Vote for ONE
Elizabeth Tegtmeier
(Names WILL appear on the Primary Ballot)
Central Community College (Nominate)
For Board of Governors
District 2
Vote for ONE
Rita Skiles
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Nominate)
For Board of Directors
Subdistrict 3
Vote for ONE
Brian Bergstrom
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Nominate)
For Board of Directors
Subdistrict 5
Vote for ONE
Joel Grams
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Nominate)
For Board of Directors
Subdistrict 6
Vote for ONE
Andrew Stade
Colby J. Emal
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (Nominate)
For Board of Directors
At Large
Vote for ONE
Jeffrey Ryan
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Southern Public Power District (Nominate)
For Board of Directors
6 Year Term – Subdivision 2
Vote for ONE
Joel W. Kuehn
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
SCHOOL TICKET
For Axtell School District 50-0501 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Ty Fickenscher Jeff Halvorsen Sara Wells
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Minden School District 50-0503 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
James A Faber Rusty Rhynalds
Lindsay Buechler Mary Stewart
Ann M Madsen
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Wilcox-Hildreth School District 50-0001 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Teresa Carey Kert W. Hansen
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Kearney School District 10-0007 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Paul Hazard Drew Blessing
Kyle McCartney Marty Albrecht
Byron D. Hansen
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Shelton School District 10-0019 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Dana D. Tompkin Abby Carman
Sarah Rolfsmeyer Patricia Wiehn
Sonja Warren
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Gibbon School District 10-0002 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Jodi Bendfeldt Jon Ewoldt
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Silver Lake School District 01-0123 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to FOUR
Alan Bonifas Leon Lutkemeier
Eric Parr Bill Johnson
Jennifer Himmelberg Jason Konen
Adam Sidlo
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Kenesaw School District 01-0003 (Nominate)
School Board Member
Vote for up to THREE
Jessika Benes Areial McNeil
Marc Kroll Taylor Jacobitz
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Adams Central Public School District 01-0090 (Nominate)
Vote for up to THREE
Derek Uhrmacher Tamaka Gangwish
Nicole Terrell Jalynda Hollister
Melissa Thompson
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
Voters who reside in School Districts that cross County lines will vote on candidates and issues in their respective districts.
MUNICIPAL TICKET
For City of Minden Mayor (Nominate)
Vote for ONE
Larry Evans
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Member of Minden City Council (Nominate)
North Ward
Vote for ONE
David Bunger
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Member of Minden City Council (Nominate)
South Ward
Vote for ONE
Ron Keen
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
For Member of Minden Airport Authority (Nominate)
6 Year Term
Vote for TWO
Brent Stewart Ed Sheen
Scott Jacobsen
(Names WILL NOT appear on the Primary Ballot)
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION & INITIATIVES or REFERENDUMS.
(Text and Title to be published by the Secretary of State.)
Pursuant to Section 32-606(2), The Village of Axtell, Heartwell, Norman and Wilcox, Public Power District and Educational Service Units No. 9, 10, & 11, will elect Board Members at the November 3, 2026, General Election. The incumbent filing deadline for these offices is July 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The non-incumbent filing deadline is August 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Official Seal of my office at Minden, Kearney County, Nebraska this 18th day of March, 2026.
/s/ Jenni Lupkes_____
Kearney County Clerk