The 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Incumbent Republican governor Pete Ricketts was term-limited and unable to seek a third term. In the general election, Republican Jim Pillen won the gubernatorial election by a 23-point margin.
Nebraska's primary elections were held on May 10. Pillen, the former University of Nebraska Board of Regents chair, won the Republican nomination, while state senator Carol Blood won the Democratic nomination.
The race took on increased importance in October 2022, when U.S. senator Ben Sasse announced he would resign and Ricketts said he would allow the winner of the gubernatorial election to appoint Sasse's replacement. In the end, Pillen appointed Ricketts to Sasse's seat.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominated
- Jim Pillen, member and former chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents
- Running mate: Joe Kelly, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Eliminated in primary
- Donna Carpenter, contractor
- Michael Connely, educational advisor, quality assurance director, small-scale agribusiness, USMC veteran
- Charles Herbster, agribusiness executive and candidate for governor in 2014
- Brett Lindstrom, financial advisor, state senator and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012
- Running mate: Dave Rippe, real estate broker and former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development
- Lela McNinch
- Breland Ridenour, information technology manager
- Theresa Thibodeau, former state senator and former chair of the Douglas County Republican Party
- Running mate: Trent Loos, agriculture advocate and podcast host
Declined
- Don Bacon, U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (successfully ran for re-election)
- Deb Fischer, U.S. senator
- Mike Flood, state senator, former Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, and candidate for governor in 2014
- Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, former Nebraska State Auditor, and candidate for governor in 2014 (successfully ran for State Auditor; endorsed Herbster)
- Jeff Fortenberry, former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district
- Dave Heineman, former governor
- Mike Hilgers, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature (successfully ran for Attorney General)
- Greg Ibach, former U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture
- Dave Nabity, financial adviser, talk show host, and candidate for governor in 2006
- Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and candidate for governor in 2014
- Adrian Smith, U.S. representative for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (successfully ran for re-election)
- John Stinner, state senator
- Jean Stothert, Mayor of Omaha (endorsed Lindstrom)
Endorsements
Charles W. Herbster
U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Hal Daub, former chair of the Social Security Advisory Board (2002–2006), former mayor of Omaha (1995–2001), and former U.S. representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district (1981–1989)
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
Statewide officials
- Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska (2015–present), former Nebraska State Auditor (2007–2015), and candidate for governor in 2014
- Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) and former U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2011–2019)
State legislators
- Tom Brewer, state senator from the 43rd district (2017–present)
- Tom Briese, state senator from the 41st district (2017–2023)
- Steve Halloran, state senator from the 33rd district (2017–present)
Organizations
- American Conservative Union
Polling
Graphical summary
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Results
Pillen, Herbster, and Lindstrom all won their respective home counties – Pillen won Platte County with 66.3% of the vote, Herbster won Richardson County with 55.7% of the vote, and Lindstrom won Douglas County with 39.5% of the vote. Lindstrom won the Omaha metropolitan area and came close to winning Lancaster County, home to state capital Lincoln, losing to Pillen by about 2.1%. Pillen and Herbster won parts of more rural Nebraska.
While Herbster won most of the Sandhills region, Pillen won most of northeastern Nebraska and counties along the I-80 corridor.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominated
- Carol Blood, state senator
- Running mate: Al Davis, former state senator
Eliminated in primary
Withdrew
- Bob Krist, former state senator and nominee for governor in 2018 (endorsed Lindstrom)
Declined
- Sara Howard, member of the Omaha Public Power District board and former state senator
- Steve Lathrop, state senator
- Alisha Shelton, behavioral health clinical supervisor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House)
- Tony Vargas, state senator (unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House)
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Declared
- Scott Zimmerman, businessman, comedian, founder of Z-Trak Productions and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014
- Running mate: Jason Blumenthal
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Carol Blood (D)
Results
By congressional district
Pillen won all three congressional districts.