09/15/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/15/2026 11:45
New Nebraska Poll Finds Governor's Race in a Dead Heat With "Electorate Deeply Unhappy With Direction of State"
A new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling finds the Nebraska gubernatorial race a dead heat between Democratic nominee Lynne Walz at 31% and Republican Gov. Jim Pillen at 32%, as Nebraska voters are deeply unhappy with the direction of the state under Pillen's failed leadership.
The poll finds that Nebraska voters say the state is on the wrong track by a 35-point margin - up 5 points since April. Pillen's underwater by 17 points with only 33% of voters approving of his disastrous job performance. Voters also said the tariffs have made their lives more expensive by a whopping 39-point margin.
Pillen's history of enriching himself and his allies in office has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. His toxic record includes inheriting a $1.2 billion surplus and driving the state into a $646 million deficit while forcing massive cuts to essential Nebraska services, awarding a $2.5 million no-bid contract to a lobbyist he has close ties to, and pushing a sales tax hike even a Republican state senator called "corrupt" that would have cut his own property taxes by $1 million while raising costs on working families.
"This poll confirms that Jim Pillen is extremely vulnerable as the majority of voters are unhappy with his scandal-plagued time in office that's sent costs sky high for Nebraska families," said DGA Deputy Communications Director Johanna Warshaw. "Lynne Walz is gaining momentum from Nebraskans across the state who are ready for new leadership that will put people over partisanship and make life better for everyday Nebraskans."
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