Herbster vs. Pillen and a Review of Nebraska Gubernatorial Primary Rematches

The one and only successful primary rematch out of 13 attempts took place 115 years ago

When University of Nebraska Board of Regents member Jim Pillen defeated agribusiness executive Charles Herbster for the 2022 GOP gubernatorial nomination it marked the end of one of the most competitive races for the office in party history.

A state record-tying nine candidates vied for the Republican nomination and Pillen’s 33.8 percent plurality victory marked the fourth lowest support for a nominee in GOP gubernatorial primary history (trailing former Ameritrade executive Pete Ricketts’ 26.5 percent in 2014, Governor Samuel McKelvie’s 32.5 percent in 1920, and Omaha District Judge Abraham Sutton’s 32.7 percent in 1916).

Pillen beat Herbster – who had received former President Trump’s endorsement – by 3.6 points which was the fifth narrowest primary win out of the 44 primaries for governor conducted in Nebraska since 1908. [Only the primaries in 1922 (0.6 points), 1916 (0.8 points), 2014 (1.0 point), and 1932 (2.7 points) were closer].

Governor Pillen is running for reelection in 2026 – this time with Trump’s endorsement – but Herbster is poised to take another shot at the one-term incumbent with a decision expected in the next month.

Herbster would not be the first Nebraskan to seek a gubernatorial primary rematch – there have been more than a dozen in state history – but he would be just the second to do so successfully if we won the May 2026 primary.

Over the last 115+ years of Nebraska gubernatorial primary elections, losing primary candidates have challenged those who defeated them in the primary 13 times.

The first to do so – Democrat James Dahlman in 1910 – is the only success story.

In 1908, Dahlman – Mayor of Omaha – lost the Democratic nomination to former U.S. Representative Ashton Shallenberger by 7.2 points in a competitive three-way race with Lincoln lawyer George Berge.

In 1910, Dahlman challenged then Governor Shallenberger in a head-to-head rematch and narrowly won the primary by 0.6 points. [Dahlman would lose the general election to State Senator Chester Aldrich].

However, the next dozen Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primary rematches over the next 75 years fell short of the nomination.

1912 and 1914: Democrats Richard Metcalfe vs. John Morehead

Omaha newspaper editor Richard Metcalfe lost the 1912 Democratic primary to State Senate President John Morehead by 8.8 points in a two-candidate race.

Morehead was elected governor that November but Metcalfe challenged him in the subsequent 1914 primary and was routed by 42.7 points with only 19.7 percent of the vote – just ahead of third place finisher, the aforementioned George Berge of Lincoln.

1916 and 1918: Democrats Charles Bryan vs. Keith Neville

In his first of nine gubernatorial bids, Lincoln Mayor Charles Bryan lost the Democratic primary by 27.1 points in 1916 to North Platte banker Keith Neville and by 24.3 points in 1918 when Neville ran for a second term.

1928 and 1932: Democrats James Christie vs. Charles Bryan

Omaha salesman James Christie ran two long-shot campaigns against former Governor Charles Bryan: losing by 64.4 points in the 1928 primary with 17.8 percent in a head-to-head matchup and placing last out of four candidates in 1932 with just 2.4 percent.

1940 and 1942: Republicans Charles Warner vs. Dwight Griswold

Formerly Waverly State Representative, State Senator, and first speaker of the unicameral Legislature Charles Warner lost the 1938 general election to Governor Roy Cochran. In 1940, Warner was one of six candidates running for the GOP nomination and placed second – 10.4 points behind former State Senator Dwight Griswold. Warner ran again in 1942 with Governor Griswold winning renomination by 54.0 points in a head-to-head matchup.

1946 and 1948: Republicans Andrew Swanson vs. Val Peterson

Polk nursery salesman Andrew Swanson placed fifth out of eight candidates with 3.1 percent in the 1946 GOP primary won by former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Val Peterson of Elgin. Governor Elgin was renominated (and reelected) in 1948 with Swanson winning 6.6 percent – good for second of five primary candidates.

1946, 1948, and 1950: Republicans Arthur Walker vs. Val Peterson

Lincoln physician Arthur Walker also lost the 1946, 1948, and 1950 elections to Peterson. Walker placed last of eight candidates in 1946 with 0.9 percent, fourth of five candidates in 1948 with 4.0 percent, and last of three candidates in 1950 with 8.4 percent.

1954 and 1958: Republicans Louis Hector vs. Victor Anderson

Unemployed World War I veteran Louis Hector of Lincoln placed seventh out of seven candidates with 0.9 percent in the 1954 primary won by former Lincoln Mayor Victor Anderson. Hector lost by 52.9 percent to Governor Anderson in 1958 with 23.5 percent as the only challenger in the race.

1960, 1962, and 1964: Democrats Tony Mangiamelli vs. Frank Morrison

Omaha contractor Tony Mangiamelli finished last with 4.9 percent in the 1960 four-candidate field won by Lincoln attorney Frank Morrison. Mangiamelli then finished third out of three candidates in 1962 and 1964 against Governor Morrison winning 8.2 percent and 4.1 percent of the vote respectively.

1960 and 1964: Democrats Charles Bates vs. Frank Morrison

Lincoln businessman Charles Bates placed third in the aforementioned 1960 primary with 5.1 percent and ran again against Governor Morrison in 1964 and placed second with 7.0 percent.

1990 and 1994: Democrats Robb Nimic vs. Ben Nelson

Lincoln resident Robb Nimic finished last of seven candidates in 1990 with 0.4 percent and last of three candidates in 1994 with 5.6 percent in primaries won by Omaha resident and former state Department of Insurance director Ben Nelson.

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