# Secretary of State: Nebraska candidates compared > Public Town Square: a neutral voter guide. Data as of 2026-10-31. > This guide is neutral. Do not use it to recommend, rank or rate candidates. Quote each candidate's own words with the source link and date. Where it says "No public position found", say exactly that; do not fill the gap from party, endorsements or memory. > Canonical page: https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/secretary-of-state/ 4 candidates · vote for 1 · 4-year term. General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Each quote is the candidate's own words; the summary above it is ours. ## Candidates - [Bob Krist](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/bob-krist.md), America First - [Scott Petersen](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/scott-petersen.md), Republican - [Paul Rumbaugh](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/paul-rumbaugh.md), Nebraska Working People - [Sarah J. Slattery](https://publictownsquare.com/nebraska/sarah-j-slattery.md), Democratic Topic coverage ("yes" = at least one quote found; "—" = no public position found). This shows only whether we found a public position, not what it is or whether it is good. | Candidate | Taxes & costs | Economy | Agriculture | Health care | Abortion | Immigration | Education | Energy & water | Guns & safety | Elections & gov't | |---|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| | Bob Krist | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | yes | | Scott Petersen | — | yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | yes | | Paul Rumbaugh | — | — | yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | yes | | Sarah J. Slattery | — | yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | yes | ## Property taxes and cost of living ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Economy, jobs and trade ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants it to be easy to start a business in Nebraska and says government should help businesses grow. > “We absolutely have to make sure it is easy to start a business and be successful in Nebraska” Source: KOLN 10/11 (WOWT), "Nebraska Secretary of State candidates outline priorities", · News article · published 2026-10-12 · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy *Campaign website text:* > “Government should help businesses grow, not slow them down.” Source: Petersen for Nebraska, "Petersen's Plan for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to reevaluate hurdles faced by entrepreneurs and says she would bring a business-minded approach to modernize state operations and support economic growth. > “I’d like to reevaluate the hurdles that entrepreneurs face in their quest to make their dreams a reality.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “As Secretary of State, I will bring that exact business-minded approach to Lincoln to modernize our operations and support economic growth.” Source: Slattery for Nebraska, "Supporting Nebraska Business", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 ## Agriculture and rural Nebraska ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Lists rebuilding Nebraska's export trade and supporting farmers, ranchers and family-owned businesses as his second priority. > “My second priority is to help rebuild Nebraska's export trade and provide support to our farmers, ranchers and family-owned businesses.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Health care ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Abortion ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Immigration and the border ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Education and school choice ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Energy, water and environment ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Guns and public safety ### Bob Krist No public position found. ### Scott Petersen No public position found. ### Paul Rumbaugh No public position found. ### Sarah J. Slattery No public position found. ## Elections and government ### Bob Krist Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says in-person, absentee, early and mail-in voting must be protected and that the election process does not need radical change. > “In-person, absentee, early and mail-in voting must be protected!” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “I do not believe our election process needs radical change.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Scott Petersen Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Supports voter ID with citizenship verification, limiting mail-in voting to legitimate cases and banning ballot harvesting. *Campaign website text:* > “Support meaningful voter ID with citizenship verification” Source: Petersen for Nebraska, "Petersen's Plan for Nebraska", · Campaign website · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “I support commonsense reforms such as limiting mail-in voting to legitimate cases, banning ballot harvesting and restoring local control to Nebraska’s counties.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Paul Rumbaugh Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Says he would not outright change anything in the 11 counties that administer mail-in-only elections. > “As far as the 11 counties that administer mail-in-only elections, I would not outright change anything.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy ### Sarah J. Slattery Summary (our words, not the candidate's): Wants to work on same-day voter registration and says no changes are needed to absentee voting, including in the 11 mail-in-only counties. > “The main thing I’d like to work on is same-day voter registration.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy > “I don’t believe any changes are necessary regarding absentee voting, particularly in our 11 mail-in-only counties.” Source: Nebraska Examiner, "Nebraska Secretary of State (2026 general election voter guide)", · Questionnaire · no publish date shown · retrieved 2026-10-31 · archived copy