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LINCOLN — A second former Nebraska state lawmaker is considering a nonpartisan run for one of “several” offices this election cycle but said he would not run in any three-way race.
Former state Sen. Bob Krist, 69, of Omaha, a 2009 Republican appointee to the Legislature turned 2018 Democratic nominee for governor, confirmed in a phone call with the Nebraska Examiner this week that rumors about his name floating around for the secretary of state’s office race, and other offices, is more than speculation.
“There’s a lot of truth to me considering it,” Krist, who is now a registered nonpartisan, said Thursday of the secretary of state’s race. “There’s a lot of truth to the fact that I’ve been looking at the polls to make sure that it’s viable, but I’ve not made a decision yet.”
Krist said it’s a “matter of me making sure that several things come together before I do that.”
Nonpartisan candidates wishing to appear on the ballot for statewide partisan-nominated offices, such as a U.S. senator, Nebraska governor, secretary of state and other state constitutional positions, must gather valid signatures from at least 4,000 voters, including at least 750 signatures in each of the state’s three congressional districts.
Three-way race consideration
A recent poll asked voters about Krist as a potential new option in the two-way secretary of state’s race between Republican Scott Petersen, an Omaha businessman, and Democrat Sarah Slattery, a Plattsmouth professional chef and small business owner. Petersen handily won last month’s GOP primary over incumbent Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who has held the post since 2019.
Krist declined to speak more specifically on what things would need to come together for him to run, or say what other offices he might be considering. Still, Krist said he thinks that for any candidate wanting to jump into a two-person race and become the third person, “they are crazy.”
“In order for me to get into a three-way race, it’s a showstopper right there,” Krist said.
“I will not be involved in a three-way race,” Krist emphasized. “It’s a death sentence to begin with.”
However, Krist’s decision whether to run might be made simpler — Petersen and Slattery both confirmed to the Examiner that they have no intention of dropping out and that they had little concern or thoughts until someone actually moves forward with a nonpartisan campaign.
“Our campaign doesn’t change — same message, same goals and objectives,” Petersen said, describing his top goals as responding to those who have lost confidence in Nebraska elections and election systems and restoring confidence that elected officials will act and deliver results. “I think it sold pretty well in the primary, and I think it will also sell pretty well in the general.”
He added: “I’ll have to, obviously, when I win — and I think I’m going to work hard and make sure we win in the fall — I’ll have to deliver exactly what I talked about.”
Petersen, Slattery won’t drop out
Petersen’s upset over Evnen came, in part, after pledging to pursue more significant changes to handling elections, including echoing calls from President Donald Trump to crack down on mail-in ballots.
Slattery, who has said a major goal of her campaign is to restore “neutrality” to the secretary of state’s office, said she didn’t have much to say other than noting it is the right of any nonpartisan Nebraskan to want to petition to get on the ballot.
“I question their motivations and wonder why they are entering this race with less than five months until the general election,” Slattery said in a text. “I think voters will have those same questions as well.”
Asked if she had any intention to drop out, Slattery responded: “Absolutely not.”
Petersen, with a laugh, gave a similar answer: “I’m pretty sure I will be in the race.”
Another rumored name to be considering a nonpartisan bid: Bryan Slone, the former president and CEO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Slone, a former Republican, ran for governor in 2014 and had previously told the Examiner in April he would not be launching any nonpartisan run this year.
Slone confirmed last week that while he’s received several calls asking whether he’d run, his position hasn’t changed. Slone still maintained for future years: “Never say never.”
Krist’s background
Whether Krist runs for something this cycle depends on another factor: campaign finance.
“If the money is there and people are coming forward, then I would consider, but I haven’t made my decision yet,” Krist continued, adding he “hates” fundraising. “I just want to be respectful for the process all the way around.”
Former Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, appointed Krist to the Legislature in 2009 to succeed former state Sen. Mike Friend. Voters elected Krist, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, in 2010 and reelected him in 2014.
Krist’s colleagues chose him to chair the Legislature’s Executive Board, the high-ranking internal committee that manages day-to-day operations of the branch, for two years immediately after his reelection. Lawmakers chose then-state Sen. Dan Watermeier over Krist as chair in 2017.
In September 2017, Krist switched to a nonpartisan as he announced a bid for governor before switching to the Democratic Party in 2018 and becoming the nominee against then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who had previously donated to Krist’s legislative campaigns. Krist chose then-state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont as his running mate. Ricketts won reelection with 59% of the vote to the Krist-Walz ticket’s 41%.
Walz is now the 2026 Democratic nominee looking to unseat Republican Gov. Jim Pillen. The duo also faces Rick Beard of Omaha, the nominee for the Legal Marijuana NOW party.
As with Krist, former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, also a former Republican lawmaker turned nonpartisan, is still considering whether to launch a gubernatorial bid this year.
Krist briefly returned to the Republican Party in 2022 to vote for Lindstrom over Pillen in that year’s GOP primary to succeed term-limited Ricketts.
The deadline to turn in petition signatures is Aug. 3. The general election is Nov. 3.
