Southeast Nebraska Republicans Hear From State Office Nominees

Republican nominees for Nebraska’s constitutional offices addressed around 200 persons Sunday night, Sept. 13. The biennial Lew and Virginia Laflin Memorial Barbecue was at the Johnson Legion Hall. All offices are four-year terms.
Everyone was urged to get voter turnout and elect Republicans down the board.
Secretary of State
It is time to defend the Cornhusker State from outside forces sending money and corrupting elections, Scott Petersen stated.
In the May primary election, Petersen defeated incumbent Bob Evnen. The nominee called the primary campaign “an amazing experience. It was a blessing to run around the state and meet many good people.”
He called the first Republican midterm election the first week of September at Dallas “an awesome experience. We want to make sure everyone gets out and vote. We hope to have a great day (Tuesday) Nov. 3,” concluded Petersen, who praised the “amazing turnout” at the regional event.
Also on the November ballot will be: Sarah Slattery, Democrat; Paul Rumbaugh, Nebraska Working People and Bob Krist, America First.
Attorney General
Seeking a second term, Mike Hilgers praised the regional Republicans on what they do for their communities.
“Everything that I’ve gotten good is from being born and raised in Nebraska. Join me, and fight with me and your neighbors for your state and community. It is an honor to fight with you and for you for our amazing state and nation. I fight to protect Nebraskans. We fight and win everyday,” he noted.
Jocelyn Brasher is the Democratic nominee.
Treasurer
Joey Spellerburg was appointed to the office in November 2025. A former Fremont mayor and small businessman, his goals are to protect your tax dollars, help return unclaimed property, oversee the College Savings plan and strengthen Nebraska’s financial future.
“What hospitality you have here. It’s an honor to be here. We need to bring more new people into the GOP,” Spellerburg concluded.
The Democratic nominee is Daniel Ebers.
State Board of Education, District 5
Voters in Pawnee and Richardson counties will elect. Angie Eberspacher of Beaver Crossing recalled she has worked with all of the current conservative members of the board and wants to take her seat at that table.
The eight-member board is currently divided between conservatives and liberals. Eberspacher called for the re-election of the conservatives on the 2026 ballot. Residents of Johnson, Nemaha and Otoe counties will elect a state board member in 2028. District 2 is represented by Maggie Douglas of Bellevue.
“We’ll have to fix the other counties in the 2028 election,” she added.
Laura Osborne, planning committee member of the event, noted the State Board of Education is important. The board sets policy and ensures that the Nebraska Department of Education functions effectively within the framework developed by the Unicameral and the board.
Opposing Eberspacher is Michaela Conway of Crete. The office is on a nonpartisan ballot.
Local Candidates Introduced
Attendees running for offices in the five counties were introduced. They included: David Borrenpohl, Johnson County Commissioner District 1; Kim Buchmeier, District 3 Nemaha County commissioner; Seth Hawkins, Nemaha County attorney; Lynn Lyon, Johnson County sheriff; Mary Stewart Lyon, Educational Service Unit 4 board and Osborne, Auburn Public Schools Board of Education.
“We need to get out and vote for these people,” stated Ken Riley, Nemaha County Republican chair.
Jim Stark, Otoe County Republican chair, acknowledged District 1 Sen. Robert Hallstrom of Syracuse, midway through his first term in the Unicameral.
Other State Offices on the Ballot
Gov. Jim Pillen and Auditor Mike Foley were unable to attend.
Pillen and Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly will face Lynne Walz and Ben Steffen, Democrat; Rick Beard and Keenya Barnes, Legal Marijuana NOW; and Brett Lindstrom and Michael Picard, America First.
Foley has one opponent, John Knight, America First.
Anniversaries Noted
2026 is the 30th anniversary of the regional gathering founded by Lew Laflin, a cattle rancher. It was originally termed the Republican Roundup.
“We are forever indebted to the Laflins. We think it is a great event. Republicans that stay home elect Democrats. Make sure you and everyone you know votes. The midterms matter,” Riley continued.
The midterm elections typically have lower voter turnout than presidential election.
“It is great to me with like-minded folks. We’re proud of our beloved Huskers. It’ll be a great year for Husker athletics,” Osborne indicated.
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was also observed as well as the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and western Pennsylvania.
Fort McHenry Presentation
Sept. 13 marked the 212th anniversary of the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Austin Silva of Otoe County led the tribute.
“It is a solemn observance and a celebration. The bombardment of Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that embody the United States today,” Silva related.
Surveys show only 39 percent of Americans know all of the words to the first verse of the national anthem.
“We need to ask what does the flag actually mean to you? It honors ordinary people who hold extraordinary courage,” Silva concluded.
Alayna Gerdes led all in singing The Star Spangled Banner. She is a 2026 Johnson-Brock High School graduate and is currently a freshman at Peru State College.