Blab Politics
Three New Political Parties Seek Ballot Access in Nebraska Ahead of 2026 Election
Three new political parties are scrambling for ballot access in Nebraska ahead of the November 2026 election, a race that could reshape the state’s already crowded ballot. The effort comes as election officials approach the July 15 deadline for parties to collect the required signatures.
Nebraska’s election law requires a new party to gather signatures equal to at least 1 % of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial general election. That threshold translates to a little more than 6,700 signatures. The state currently recognizes four parties—the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party.
The first entrant, the America First Party, filed its petition on July 1. In the filing, the party describes itself as “the voice of Nebraskans who are done waiting. A conservative movement fighting for freedom, families, and a government that serves the people, not the political class.” The petition lists Omaha Tribe attorney John Cartier—also the tribe’s attorney general—as the sponsor. State Republicans have publicly stated that they have no connection to the new party and have urged voters not to sign the petition.
The Nebraska Working People Party filed its petition on June 25. Its platform emphasizes support for working‑class Nebraskans, rural communities, and practical solutions. The petition names Robin Richards as the applicant; Richards has previously run for office as a registered Democrat. At the time of writing, the petitioners had not responded to inquiries about the party’s campaign strategy.
The Nebraska Liberal Party filed paperwork to form with the Secretary of State in 2024 and has been seeking official status ever since. The party has maintained a presence on the state’s current petitions list.
All three petitions are being circulated throughout the state. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the petitions are currently in the circulation phase, and signatures are being collected for verification.
Reactions from the two major parties have been swift. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair and ASDC President Jane Kleeb issued a statement on July 1 saying the party was unaware of the new party’s formation and was focused on mobilizing Democrats for the upcoming elections. Kleeb’s statement emphasized that Democrats were “laser‑focused on the hundreds of Democrats running across the state up and down the ballot” and rejected any suggestion that the Democrats were involved in the new party’s formation.
The Republican Party’s response has been to distance itself from the America First Party. State Republicans have asked voters not to sign the petition, citing the lack of any formal affiliation between the two groups.
The petitions must be verified by the Secretary of State’s office before the parties can appear on the November ballot. If verification succeeds, the parties would be able to place their candidates on the ballot in the 2026 election. The July 15 deadline gives the parties a narrow window to collect the required 6,700 signatures.
At present, the status of each petition remains pending verification. No party has yet met the signature threshold, and no official decision has been made regarding ballot access. The next steps for the parties involve completing the signature collection and submitting the petitions for verification. Election officials will announce the outcome after the verification process is complete.
The effort by the three parties reflects a broader trend of third‑party activity in Nebraska. While the state’s political landscape has historically been dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties, the presence of the Libertarian Party and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party shows that additional parties can gain recognition under Nebraska law. Whether the America First Party, the Nebraska Working People Party, or the Nebraska Liberal Party will achieve ballot access remains to be seen, but the upcoming verification process will determine their fate for the 2026 election.
Nebraska’s election law requires a new party to gather signatures equal to at least 1 % of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial general election. That threshold translates to a little more than 6,700 signatures. The state currently recognizes four parties—the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party.
The first entrant, the America First Party, filed its petition on July 1. In the filing, the party describes itself as “the voice of Nebraskans who are done waiting. A conservative movement fighting for freedom, families, and a government that serves the people, not the political class.” The petition lists Omaha Tribe attorney John Cartier—also the tribe’s attorney general—as the sponsor. State Republicans have publicly stated that they have no connection to the new party and have urged voters not to sign the petition.
The Nebraska Working People Party filed its petition on June 25. Its platform emphasizes support for working‑class Nebraskans, rural communities, and practical solutions. The petition names Robin Richards as the applicant; Richards has previously run for office as a registered Democrat. At the time of writing, the petitioners had not responded to inquiries about the party’s campaign strategy.
The Nebraska Liberal Party filed paperwork to form with the Secretary of State in 2024 and has been seeking official status ever since. The party has maintained a presence on the state’s current petitions list.
All three petitions are being circulated throughout the state. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the petitions are currently in the circulation phase, and signatures are being collected for verification.
Reactions from the two major parties have been swift. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair and ASDC President Jane Kleeb issued a statement on July 1 saying the party was unaware of the new party’s formation and was focused on mobilizing Democrats for the upcoming elections. Kleeb’s statement emphasized that Democrats were “laser‑focused on the hundreds of Democrats running across the state up and down the ballot” and rejected any suggestion that the Democrats were involved in the new party’s formation.
The Republican Party’s response has been to distance itself from the America First Party. State Republicans have asked voters not to sign the petition, citing the lack of any formal affiliation between the two groups.
The petitions must be verified by the Secretary of State’s office before the parties can appear on the November ballot. If verification succeeds, the parties would be able to place their candidates on the ballot in the 2026 election. The July 15 deadline gives the parties a narrow window to collect the required 6,700 signatures.
At present, the status of each petition remains pending verification. No party has yet met the signature threshold, and no official decision has been made regarding ballot access. The next steps for the parties involve completing the signature collection and submitting the petitions for verification. Election officials will announce the outcome after the verification process is complete.
The effort by the three parties reflects a broader trend of third‑party activity in Nebraska. While the state’s political landscape has historically been dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties, the presence of the Libertarian Party and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party shows that additional parties can gain recognition under Nebraska law. Whether the America First Party, the Nebraska Working People Party, or the Nebraska Liberal Party will achieve ballot access remains to be seen, but the upcoming verification process will determine their fate for the 2026 election.
