2026 Nebraska State Board of Education election

2026 Nebraska State Board of Education election

←  2024 November 3, 2026 Officially nonpartisan 2028 →
4 of 8 seats on the Nebraska State Board of Education 5 seats needed for a majority
Party Republican Democratic Current seats 4 4 Seats needed 1 1

The 2026 Nebraska State Board of Education election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect four members to the Nebraska State Board of Education. The primary election will be held on May 12. The election is officially nonpartisan, but many candidates align with a political party.

District 5

Primary election

Candidates

Declared

• Angie Eberspacher, former educator (Republican) ^[1]

Declined

• Kirk Penner, incumbent board member (Republican) ^[1]

Endorsements

Angie Eberspacher

State board of education members

• Kirk Penner, member of the state board of education from the 5th district (2021–present) ^[1]

District 6

Primary election

Candidates

Potential

• Sherry Jones, incumbent board member (Republican)

District 7

Primary election

Candidates

Declared

• Elizabeth Tegtmeier, incumbent board member (Republican) ^[2]

District 8

Primary election

Candidates

Declared

• Lou Ann Goding, former Omaha Public Schools board president (Republican) ^[3]
• Sherrye Hutcherson, Bellevue University executive vice president ^[4]

Declined

• Deborah Neary, incumbent board member (Democratic) ^[5]

Endorsements

Sherrye Hutcherson

State board of education members

• Deborah Neary, member of the state board of education from the 8th district (2019–present) ^[4]

References

1. Wendling, Zach (June 4, 2025). "Former educator announces bid to succeed Penner on Nebraska State Board of Ed". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
2. Ebbers, Jenna (July 7, 2025). "Tegtmeier announces reelection bid for Nebraska State Board of Education". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
3. Wendling, Zach (September 9, 2025). "Former OPS board president announces bid for Nebraska State Board of Ed". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
4. Wendling, Zach (September 2, 2025). "Bellevue University VP announces bid for Nebraska State Board of Ed". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
5. Wendling, Zach (September 2, 2025). "Deb Neary won't seek reelection to Nebraska State Board of Ed in 2026". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 30 September 2025.