Could Pillen Face an Independent Challenger in the Gubernatorial Race?
by John Gage
(Screenshot from The Dan Parsons Show)
A second former Republican has publicly teased a potential run as an Independent for Nebraska’s gubernatorial seat in 2026. Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, who announced earlier this year he was leaving the Republican party, said he sees a potential path for an Independent run for governor.
“There is a path. It is possible,” Lindstrom told The Dan Parsons Show when asked if he is considering running for governor in 2026. “But I haven’t made a decision on that yet.”
Lindstrom confirmed rumors that he had been approached by supporters who wanted him to run again against Governor Jim Pillen in the 2026 Republican primary. Lindstrom had previously run in the 2022 primary, placing third behind Pillen and Agra-businessman Charles Herbster.
Lindstrom said he was approached over a year ago to run for governor, but initially declined because he wanted, at the time, to run for the second congressional seat following Congressman Don Bacon's announcement of his retirement. Lindstrom said he dropped out of the Republican primary not because he thought he was going to lose but because he did not feel comfortable in the direction the primary was headed.
When it comes to running as an Independent, he said “mathematically” he would have a shot at winning if he decides to run. Lindstrom said people should not be surprised to see petitioners out getting signatures to get him on the ballot while he makes a final decision.
The news comes after Democratic challenger Lynne Walz, a former state senator and colleague of Lindstrom, released a poll showing her campaign within five points of Pillen in a general election matchup. Walz made the claim in her polling memo that Pillen was the “least popular governor in the country.”
Pillen’s campaign dismissed the polling results from Walz. A spokesperson for the campaign said the poll does not “accurately reflect” their own polling as well as “the truth.”
Lindstrom is the second former Republican to tease a run for governor as an Independent. Former head of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Brian Slone, said in an interview last month that he had not fully closed the door on running for governor in 2026.
“I’ll never say never,” Slone said when asked if he would run. Slone previously ran for governor as a Republican in 2014.
John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.