Johnson, Nemaha County Nominees Highlight May 12 Primary Ballot

David Swanson + 1
05/06/2026 10:53 AM

Republican nominees for two races each in Johnson and Nemaha counties will be determined in the Tuesday, May 12, primary election. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting started Monday, April 13.
Johnson County: Mike Buss, Wayne Snyder and Channing Doeden are Johnson County District 3 Commissioner candidates. The primary winner will be opposed by Democrat Kale Heusman in November. Incumbent Les Agena will leave the county board in January 2027.
Terry Keebler and Nicole Beck are candidates for Johnson County clerk. The primary winner will be unopposed in the general election. Kathleen Nieveen is not seeking another term.
Nemaha County: Two incumbents face challengers. The primary winners will not have Democratic opponents in the fall.
Angelo Ligouri, county attorney, faces Seth Hawkins.
District 3 Commissioner Michael Weiss is going up against Marvin Bohling, Kim Buchmeier and Philip Gerdes. Bohling served on the commissioners from 2011 through 2019.
In Auburn, Mayor Chris Erickson will be opposed by Stephanie Holmes, Allen Lindon and Gary Nerison. The two receiving the most votes advance to the fall. The mayoral race is nonpartisan.
Peru electors will decide whether to recall City Council member Theresa Westfall.
Not On the Primary Ballot
Auburn, Johnson-Brock, Johnson County Central and Sterling Boards of Education; Auburn City Council; Auburn Airport Authority; Johnson County assessor, District 1 commissioner, attorney, sheriff, surveyor and treasurer; Nemaha County assessor, clerk, clerk of the district court, District 1 commissioner, sheriff, surveyor and treasurer; Peru City Council; Tecumseh mayor and city council; Tecumseh Airport Authority; Nebraska Public Power District Subdivision 1; Nemaha Natural Resources District Subdistricts 6, 7, 8 and at large and Southeast Community College District 2.
Not more than two individuals per open position filed for those offices. Educational Service Unit 4 board and village boards will be decided in the general election.
State and Federal Offices
Republican Gov. Jim Pillen has five primary opponents: Gary Rogge of Auburn; Sheila Korth-Focken; Jacy Todd; Sal Holguin and John Walz. Democrats seeking the nomination are Larry Marvin and Lynne Walz. Legal Marijuana NOW contenders are Rick Beard and James J. Charvat III. Primary winners in their respective parties advance.
Democrats and Republicans each have two vying for secretary of state. Democrats Lee Cimfel and Sarah Slattery; and Republicans incumbent Bob Evnen and Scott Petersen.
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts faces four other Republicans in the primary: Eric Mortimore, Todd Knobel, Mac Stevens and Debb Axtell Schultz. William Forbes is the single Democrat. Earl Starkey and Mike Marvin are seeking the Legal Marijuana NOW nomination.
U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith has one Republican primary opponent, David Huebner. Becky Stille is the lone Democrat and David Else the only Legal Marijuana NOW candidate.