LINCOLN — As the general election approaches, former state Sen. Lynne Walz said her campaign will center on economic development and expanding basic services if she succeeds in unseating the incumbent governor on Nov. 3.
Walz, a Fremont lawmaker who served in the Legislature from 2017 to 2025, told the Nebraska Examiner in a one-on-one interview that she plans to travel across the state to meet Nebraskans and build coalitions that include voters from both parties.
What would change for residents
Walz said her top priorities include increasing affordable housing, improving access to health care, boosting childcare affordability and availability, creating better-paying jobs, and investing in public education. She framed those goals as necessary to reverse what she described as a scarcity mindset in the state and move toward broader prosperity.
“I’m really excited about the opportunities that we have to bring to Nebraskans and change this environment from an environment of being in scarcity to an environment of people becoming abundant again,”
She emphasized the need for more state revenue to fund those initiatives. “We are not going to be able to do a whole lot more until we see more revenue in our state,” Walz said, noting recent fiscal limits that have shaped policy choices.
Where she fits in the November field
Walz will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot as the Democratic nominee, facing Republican Gov. Jim Pillen of Columbus and Rick Beard of Omaha, who is running as the Legal Marijuana NOW Party candidate. Beard is identified as a wine professional and private chef.
The general election field could expand. Former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, who served alongside Walz for six years, has launched a petition drive to qualify as a registered nonpartisan candidate for governor. Lindstrom’s signature deadline is Aug. 3.
| Candidate | Party / Status |
|---|---|
| Lynne Walz | Democrat (nominee) |
| Jim Pillen | Republican (incumbent governor) |
| Rick Beard | Legal Marijuana NOW Party |
| Brett Lindstrom | Seeking nonpartisan ballot access (petition deadline Aug. 3) |
Campaign approach and messaging
Walz described herself as a candidate focused on collaboration, stressing personal attributes she believes resonate with voters. She said her background in state government gives her experience in building consensus and developing plans to address local needs.
Her campaign strategy, she said, will involve stepping up outreach across Nebraska communities, including conversations with voters who traditionally vote for the other party. The goal, according to Walz, is to present a set of practical improvements that would benefit working families and local economies.
- Economic development: Expand opportunities and grow local communities.
- Housing: Make housing more affordable and accessible.
- Health and childcare: Increase access and affordability.
- Education: Invest in public schools and workforce development.
As the campaign moves forward, the dynamics of the November race will depend in part on whether Lindstrom secures enough petition signatures to join the ballot as a nonpartisan candidate. That effort and continued outreach by all campaigns will shape voter choices in the months ahead.
This interview is the second in a three-part series examining how gubernatorial candidates have shifted their campaigns following the May 12 primary election.
Reporting from Lincoln.
