Nebraska GOP withholds endorsements from all five congressional incumbents

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The five members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation, all Republicans, are running for reelection this year.

But none of them have received backing from the state GOP.

The group is made up of Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer, as well as Reps. Mike Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith.

The Nebraska Republican Party even endorsed challengers to Ricketts, Bacon and Smith, while not endorsing in the other two races.

It’s the latest sign of tension in the state GOP since sweeping leadership changes in 2022.

State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk said usually, the party does not endorse challengers to incumbents.

And “it’s never been done at that level before,” he said.

Dover pointed to the past election success of the incumbents as proof that they are popular among Republicans.

“I think a small group of people decided they wanted to support an opponent,” he said. “And they can do that, but I would say by far, more people support the incumbents than don’t.”

Led by Dover, 26 state senators – the vast majority of Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature – endorsed the delegation last week.

He felt it was necessary to show that many Republicans are still in support of the current federal leadership.

Dover acknowledged tension in the party but said that happens whenever “you have more than one person.”

“I think there’s tension everywhere in the world right now,” he said. “In the Democratic party, the Republican party.  I think it just seems to be that’s the way the world is right now.”

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Channel 8 reached out to the Nebraska GOP but has not yet received a response.

Last week, the party said on social media that there needs to be a change in Washington.

The statement goes on to say that the problem is bigger than the GOP and that the people of Nebraska are “not seeing the Republican response they are looking for.”

Both the GOP and Dover said they want to see more unity within the party.

“Everybody gets a choice, and eventually there’s a vote taken, and there’s a winner,” Dover said.