(Picture credit Joe Hunter)
One of Nebraska’s newest parties now has a candidate on the ballot for November. Joe Hunter, who is running for mayor of Papillion, has announced that he is leaving the Democratic Party and will join the Nebraska Working People Party.
In an Aug. 25 news release, Hunter wrote:
“Over time, I have also seen how our political institutions can become echo chambers. Too often, the focus shifts from solving problems to scoring points. We’ve become fixated on breaking one another down instead of building opportunities for everyone to prosper. That reality led me to make a difficult but necessary decision: I am leaving the Nebraska Democratic Party.”
Hunter will serve as vice chair of the Nebraska Working People Party, with Robin Richards of Ralston as chair, Vincent Rukstalis of Papillion as treasurer, and Melissa Harbison of Omaha as secretary, according to a certified list of officers filed with the Secretary of State and received Aug. 13.
Democrats who previously supported Hunter reacted with disappointment. Kelly Bohlman, a consultant who worked on Hunter’s campaign, posted on Facebook:
“I am utterly disappointed in the lack of transparency. The lack of actual answers. The comments being hidden and turned off. The identifying credit and attribution associated with my copyrighted work being removed. The overall character and behavior. But mostly, I’m disappointed by what feels like a complete lack of genuine connection or care for our city and for the people who worked so hard to support him.”
Hunter competed in a primary with five other candidates for Papillion mayor, which is officially nonpartisan. He came in second, garnering around 28% of the vote and advancing to the general election.
Incumbent Papillion Mayor David Black announced in mid-April 2026 that he would not seek re-election after 17 years in office.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.