2026CalledUnofficial results

2026 election for Nebraska Secretary of State

Name: 2026 election for Nebraska Secretary of State
Start: 2026-11-03
Location: Nebraska

Secretary of State · Nebraska

Scott Petersen (R) won with 53.7% of the vote, defeating Sarah Slattery (D) by 13.1 points.

Scott PetersenRepublican · winner

53.7%398,851

Sarah SlatteryDemocrat

40.6%301,563

Paul RumbaughOther party

3.1%23,007

Bob KristOther party

2.6%19,309

742,730 votes

Source: Nebraska Secretary of State unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:22 PM ET

Where the race moved

Against the 2024 presidential vote

Every county, 2024 to 2026

Each dot is a county, sized by votes cast and colored by who carried it in 2026. Dots above the line moved toward Slattery compared with the 2024 presidential vote; 82 of 93 did. The largest shift among the bigger counties: Dakota, +21.0 points.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

The seat's recent races

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

By county

CountyShareMarginShift

DouglasD+17.7+7.5

LancasterD+11.8+7.5

SarpyR+1.2+10.4

BuffaloR+39.4+5.6

HallR+29.2+8.5

LincolnR+50.0+5.2

DodgeR+24.6+8.0

CassR+26.0+11.2

Show 85 more

PlatteR+50.0+8.3

MadisonR+48.3+7.6

Scotts BluffR+36.9+10.9

AdamsR+35.9+5.8

SaundersR+40.7+5.8

WashingtonR+37.5+4.8

GageR+35.7+3.5

SewardR+46.9−0.3

DawsonR+37.9+11.7

OtoeR+30.2+8.7

YorkR+50.2+1.2

DakotaR+8.8+21.0

CusterR+72.5−0.2

SalineR+21.1+12.1

HamiltonR+57.7+2.6

Red WillowR+62.8+5.6

HoltR+71.4+2.6

CedarR+63.8+6.2

PhelpsR+67.1+1.4

KnoxR+58.7+4.6

Box ButteR+46.2+10.2

MerrickR+62.2+2.8

ButlerR+55.1+4.6

CheyenneR+57.6+6.5

KeithR+60.5+3.5

WayneR+39.6+9.6

CumingR+58.8+1.2

DawesR+38.9+8.1

PierceR+71.8+4.5

RichardsonR+46.2+5.2

BurtR+40.2+4.9

KearneyR+58.4−0.4

ColfaxR+33.3+17.6

ClayR+61.8+1.6

NemahaR+43.0+1.7

JeffersonR+44.6+0.7

AntelopeR+73.4+3.0

HowardR+59.3+3.4

StantonR+62.2+4.5

CherryR+74.1+2.1

BooneR+65.2+0.9

FillmoreR+51.4+3.5

DixonR+49.6+9.1

ThayerR+59.3+1.5

PolkR+61.8+1.9

SheridanR+67.0+3.1

MorrillR+63.1+5.3

FurnasR+68.4+1.4

ValleyR+61.3+2.6

JohnsonR+37.2+3.3

NuckollsR+60.3+3.4

ThurstonD+0.5+7.4

ChaseR+71.3+6.1

HarlanR+66.4+1.7

WebsterR+60.9+4.5

NanceR+56.5+3.9

KimballR+59.4+7.5

ShermanR+57.2+3.1

BrownR+72.4+2.3

FranklinR+67.4+2.3

PerkinsR+73.7−1.0

PawneeR+50.5+7.5

FrontierR+71.0+1.9

HitchcockR+69.7+8.3

GreeleyR+63.0+4.9

GosperR+67.7−4.7

GardenR+62.6+7.9

BoydR+73.1+1.8

GarfieldR+74.8+1.8

DeuelR+68.4±0.0

RockR+75.1+4.0

DundyR+76.8+2.1

SiouxR+72.2+4.5

Keya PahaR+81.7+2.2

HayesR+86.5+5.2

WheelerR+77.4−1.9

HookerR+69.8+3.7

LoupR+65.8−0.1

ThomasR+80.8−3.4

LoganR+82.9+4.4

BannerR+81.5−0.1

GrantR+89.9+1.9

McPhersonR+87.9+2.2

BlaineR+75.7−2.5

ArthurR+83.6+4.0

Bar: share of the state's vote. Shift: change in margin from the 2024 presidential vote, + toward Democrats.

Source: civicAPI county results (unofficial); 2024 president: MEDSL precinct returnsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)

Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.

Sarah Slattery: 3%
Scott Petersen: 97%
Projected margin: R+13.5

How the forecast works →

The candidates

Scott Petersen (R)
Businessman and member of the state party's executive committee Sarah Slattery (D)
Small business owner, professional chef, and candidate for state legislature in 2022

Also on the ballot: Paul Rumbaugh (Other party), 3.1%; Bob Krist (Other party), 2.6%

Also on this ballot here

U.S. Senate	R+6.2
Governor	R+8.0
Attorney General	R+12.1
Treasurer	R+16.8

Results within this state. Source: Results and race calls: Nebraska Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:22 PM ET