Jim Pillen

Candidate for Governor, with Joe Kelly for Lieutenant Governor

Party: RepublicanIncumbent
City
Columbus
On the ballot as
Jim Pillen and Joe Kelly
Campaign website
jimpillen.com

Property taxes and cost of living

Summary

Wants hard caps on local spending and limits on valuation growth to address property taxes, and lower state income tax rates further.

“For starters, hard caps to rein in local spending (the main driver behind increasing property taxes) and preventing runaway valuation growth would go a long way.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

“On income tax rates, we slashed them from 6.8% to 3.99% – and I’d like to see us drive that percentage down even more.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

Economy, jobs and trade

Summary

Points to the Grow the Good Life Act, which he signed, as a way to help businesses attract new families to Nebraska.

“Over the coming years, we’ll see the impact of LB 1165 — The Grow the Good Life Act — I signed into law to help businesses attract new families to Nebraska.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Governor (Voter Guide: 2026 General Election)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Governor (Voter Guide: 2026 General Election)

Agriculture and rural Nebraska

Summary

Says his administration banned bioreactor-grown "meat" and introduced legislation so family farmers and ranchers own their agricultural data.

“We banned bioreactor-grown "meat" and introduced legislation to ensure family farmers and ranchers own their agricultural data, not publicly traded corporations.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Governor (Voter Guide: 2026 Primary Election)QuestionnaireRetrieved

Health care

Summary

Says federal rural health funding Nebraska received will help build infrastructure and technology to support rural hospitals.

“Under my leadership, Nebraska was one of the top states in the nation in receiving funding from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. It will be a game changer in helping us build the infrastructure and technology needed to support rural hospitals across our state.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

Abortion

Summary

Says abortion providers will not be allowed to skirt accountability while claiming state money, in comments on a November 2025 order on state funding.

“We’re not going to let abortion providers skirt accountability while claiming our money”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Pillen signs order cutting off state tax dollars to Nebraska abortion providersNews articlePublished Retrieved

Immigration and the border

Summary

Says Nebraska supports President Trump's work with Secretary Noem to arrest and deport people he calls "criminal, illegal aliens," in an August 2025 statement.

“We want President Trump to know that Nebraska is supportive and grateful for his ongoing, critical work with Secretary (Kristi) Noem to arrest and deport criminal, illegal aliens”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Pillen faces blowback on Nebraska immigration stance, releases ‘Pillen Playbook 2.0’ platformNews articlePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Pillen faces blowback on Nebraska immigration stance, releases ‘Pillen Playbook 2.0’ platform

Education and school choice

Summary

Supports giving families a say in their children's schooling and opted Nebraska into the federal scholarship tax credit.

“Not every teaching environment fits every student so I am a big believer in giving families a say in the type of education that is right.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

“I was the first Governor in America to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, which will allow taxpayers to direct up to $1,700 to a qualified scholarship granting organization (SGO) in exchange for a 100% dollar-for-dollar credit on their federal income taxes.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

Energy, water and environment

Summary

Says protecting the aquifer and removing toxins from water are needed, and supports extending coal plants and adding nuclear power.

“We have to protect the health of our aquifer, and we have to ensure that we’re getting toxins out of our water.”

Source: KTIV: Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s GovernorQuestionnairePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Candidate Profile: Jim Pillen for Nebraska’s Governor

“We extend our coal plants. We need to have nuclear power.”

Source: Nebraska Public Media: Nebraska governor takes jabs at ‘libtards,’ champions conservative wins in campaign callNews articlePublished Retrieved Archived copy of Nebraska governor takes jabs at ‘libtards,’ champions conservative wins in campaign call

Guns and public safety

Summary

Lists protecting the 2nd Amendment among his campaign's plans.

Campaign website text

“Protect the 2nd Amendment”

Source: Pillen for Governor: The Pillen Playbook 2.0: Jim’s Plan for a Stronger NebraskaCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of The Pillen Playbook 2.0: Jim’s Plan for a Stronger Nebraska

Elections and government

Summary

Plans to protect election integrity and reform the ballot petition process, and wants to bring back winner-take-all for electoral votes.

Campaign website text

“Protect the integrity of our elections and reform the broken ballot petition process”

Source: Pillen for Governor: The Pillen Playbook 2.0: Jim’s Plan for a Stronger NebraskaCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of The Pillen Playbook 2.0: Jim’s Plan for a Stronger Nebraska

“Bringing back “Winner Take All” legislation to unify Nebraska’s voice at the national level.”

Source: Pillen for Governor: Governor Jim Pillen: Fighting for Nebraska. Delivering Results.Campaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Governor Jim Pillen: Fighting for Nebraska. Delivering Results.

Compare all candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor