Brett Lindstrom submitted a petition to run as a nonpartisan candidate

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom is planning to enter the Nebraska governor race as an independent.

Lindstrom has submitted a petition to get on the ballot as a nonpartisan candidate.

Sen. Lynne Walz’s campaign said Lindstrom has been a lifelong conservative.

“Brett Lindstrom is a lifelong conservative Republican who recently switched after an unsuccessful congressional bid,” said Brandon Bayer, senior advisor to the campaign. “Now he is trying to mount a campaign as an independent after re-registering at the deadline. His record speaks for itself, he is no moderate.”

Gov. Jim Pillen’s campaign disapproves Lindstrom’s name on the ballot as well.

“Governor Jim Pillen has earned the trust of Nebraskans over the last four years. That trust is reflected in the truly historic statewide grassroots and financial support he’s received from farmers, ranchers, business leaders, and hardworking families across the state and political spectrum,” said Taylor Sliva, Pillen for Governor’s campaign manager. “Simply, there’s no path forward for a career politician like Lindstrom. In the past four years, he lost a Governor’s campaign, applied to be a U.S. Senator, quit a congressional race, switched parties, and is now scheming up a workaround to see his name on the ballot once again.”

Lindstrom ran for the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District but dropped out in Jan. He also ran in 2012 but lost.

Mary Jane Truemper, Chairman for the Nebraska Republican Party, said the NEGOP supports Gov. Jim Pillen.

“The Nebraska Republican Party is 100% behind our Republican nominee, Gov. Jim Pillen,” said Truemper. “Real results have earned him broad and grassroots support from people across the sate and across the political spectrum. On the other hand, Brett Lindstrom can’t make up his mind. A failed run or the governor, a congressional bid he abandoned, a party switch and now a last-ditch scramble to force his name onto another ballot.”

The Nebraska Democratic Party (NDP) reinforced Lynne Walz’s campaign.

“The Nebraska Democratic Party will not be distracted or deterred,” said Jane Kleeb, NDP chair. “We will continue to build a strong coalition of farmers, business owners, and working families to elect Lynne Walz.”

Lindstrom said Nebraska deserves leaders who answer to them, not political parties.

“That’s why I’m running as an independent,” said Lindstrom. “I’m not here for the fight between red and blue. I’m here to get things right for Nebraska: a budget that respects the people who pay for it, an economy that keeps our families close to home, and a government that never forgets who it works for.”