Governor elections in Nebraska
● In officeJim PillenRepublican
Elections won
R 42 · D 20 · Other 365 gubernatorial elections since 1866
Last decided by
23.2 pts2022, Jim Pillen over Carol Blood
Closest ever
0.37 pts1900, Charles Henry Dietrich over William A. Poynter
Longest streak
12 in a rowRepublican, 1866–1888
Next election
2026Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Nebraska's governor is Republican Jim Pillen; Pillen won the most recent race by 23.2 points in 2022. Pillen has held the office since 2022. The 2022 race put Pillen ahead of Carol Blood, 23.2 points clear. Across 65 elections since 1866, Republicans have won 42 and Democrats 20, with 3 going to other parties. Of those, the closest was 1900, decided by 0.37 points; the widest 1944, by 52.2 points.
Jim Pillen R 398,334 · Carol Blood D 242,006
Pete Ricketts R 411,812 · Bob Krist D 286,169
Pete Ricketts R 308,751 · Chuck Hassebrook D 211,905
Dave Heineman R 360,645 · Mike Meister D 127,343
Dave Heineman R 434,802 · David Hahn D 144,624
Mike Johanns R 330,349 · Stormy Dean D 132,348
Mike Johanns R 293,910 · Bill Hoppner D 250,678
Ben Nelson D 423,270 · Gene Spence R 148,230
Ben Nelson D 292,771 · Kay A. Orr R 288,741
Kay A. Orr R 298,325 · Helen Boosalis D 265,156
Bob Kerrey D 277,436 · Charles Thone R 270,203
Charles Thone R 275,473 · Gerald T. Whelan D 216,754
James J. Exon D 248,552 · Norbert Tiemann R 201,994
Norbert Tiemann R 299,245 · Philip Sorensen D 186,985
Frank B. Morrison D 347,026 · Dwight W. Burney R 231,029
Frank B. Morrison D 242,669 · Fred A. Seaton R 221,885
Frank B. Morrison D 311,344 · John Cooper R 287,302
Ralph G. Brooks D 211,345 · Victor E. Anderson R 209,705
Victor E. Anderson R 250,080 · William Ritchie D 164,753
Robert B. Crosby R 366,009 · Walter R. Raecke D 229,700
Val Peterson R 247,081 · Walter R. Raecke D 202,638
Val Peterson R 286,119 · Frank Sorrell D 190,214
Val Peterson R 249,468 · Frank Sorrell D 131,367
Dwight Griswold R 410,136 · George W. Olsen D 128,760
Dwight Griswold R 283,271 · Charles W. Bryan D 95,231
Dwight Griswold R 365,638 · Terry Carpenter D 235,167
Robert L. Cochran D 333,412 · Dwight Griswold R 257,267
Robert L. Cochran D 284,095 · Dwight Griswold R 266,707
Charles W. Bryan D 296,117 · Dwight Griswold R 260,888
Charles W. Bryan D 222,161 · Arthur J. Weaver R 215,615
Arthur J. Weaver R 308,262 · Charles W. Bryan D 230,640
Adam McMullen R 206,120 · Charles W. Bryan D 202,688
Charles W. Bryan D 214,070 · Charles H. Randall R 163,735
Samuel R. McKelvie R 120,888 · Keith Neville D 97,886
Keith Neville D 143,564 · Abraham L. Sutton R 136,811
John H. Morehead D 120,206 · Robert B. Howell R 101,229
John H. Morehead D 123,997 · Chester Hardy Aldrich R 114,075
Chester Hardy Aldrich R 123,070 · James Dahlman D 107,760
Ashton C. Shallenberger D 132,960 · George L. Sheldon R 125,976
George L. Sheldon R 97,858 · Ashton C. Shallenberger D 84,885
John H. Mickey R 111,711 · George W. Berge P 102,568
John H. Mickey R 96,471 · William Henry Thompson P 91,116
Charles Henry Dietrich R 113,879 · William A. Poynter P 113,018
William A. Poynter P 95,703 · Monroe Hayward R 92,982
Silas A. Holcomb P 116,415 · John H. MacColl R 94,723
Silas A. Holcomb P 97,815 · Thomas Jefferson Majors R 94,623
John Milton Thayer R 103,983 · John A. McShane D 85,420
James W. Dawes R 72,835 · J Sterling Morton D 57,634
Albinus Nance R 55,237 · Thomas W. Tipton D 28,167
Robert W. Furnas R 16,543 · Henry C. Lett D 11,227
David Butler R 11,126 · John H. Croxton D 8,648
David Butler R 8,567 · James R. Porter D 6,349
David Butler R 4,093 · J Sterling Morton D 3,948