Petersen Leads Nebraska Secretary of State Race
Republican Scott Petersen appeared to win the Nebraska secretary of state race over Democrat Sarah Slattery as early returns came in.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Scott Petersen led with 52% of the vote early Wednesday, ahead of Democratic nominee Sarah Slattery at 43%, while Bob Krist and Paul Rumbaugh each had 3%. The Associated Press had not called the race as of about 12:30 a.m.
Why it matters
The secretary of state oversees elections in Nebraska, and the office has been held by a Republican for nearly a century. Petersen's campaign focused on rebuilding confidence in elections among Republican voters skeptical of election security.
Early returns showed Petersen with a 9-point lead over Slattery, a margin that remained open as the count continued. Less than one-third of Republicans turned out in the May primary Petersen won, and the final outcome awaits further reporting.
The players
Scott Petersen
Republican candidate who owned an Omaha printing business for more than two decades and previously chaired the Douglas County Republican Party.
Sarah Slattery
Democratic nominee for Nebraska secretary of state trailing in early returns.
Bob Evnen
Incumbent Nebraska secretary of state who lost the Republican primary to Petersen.
The details
Petersen, who owned an Omaha printing business for more than two decades and previously chaired the Douglas County Republican Party, defeated incumbent Bob Evnen in the May Republican primary after Evnen appeared likely to face no primary opponent. Rumbaugh was the nominee of the Nebraska Working People Party and Krist was the nominee of the America First Party.
Timeline
May 2026: Petersen defeats Evnen in the Republican primary.
November 3, 2026: General election in which Petersen appeared to win.
Political Context
Nebraska's secretary of state has been a Republican for nearly a century, and Petersen's primary challenge to an incumbent reflects intra-party debate over election confidence. Opposition from Democrats and third-party nominees faces a Republican base that turned out at under one-third in the primary.
The secretary of state oversees election administration in Nebraska, so the outcome shapes how voters register, cast ballots, and have their results certified. Voters should watch for the official certified count, which will confirm the winner.
The takeaway
Election results can shift as counting continues, so early leads are not final until certified. Readers tracking Nebraska's elections should follow official county and state releases for confirmed totals.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections coverage for Nebraska.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star-Herald.
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