“I've spent the last several weeks having conversations with my wife Peggy, our family, friends and the voters of Nebraska. And people across the state are saying the same thing. Nebraskans are looking for independent and effective leadership,” Krist said during a news conference in the capitol rotunda. “We believe I am the right person to answer the call and return us to the non-partisan traditions that made Nebraska great.”

State Senator Announces Independent Bid for Governor

State troopers association endorses Krist | Nebraska Public Media

The retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel has served ten years in the state legislature. He believes that experienced would serve him well if elected Governor. As for what he hopes to accomplish at the debate, Krist said, "To let people know that I have more experience than the governor. In terms of workings with agencies and my ten years, I bring as my experience base. Also my life experience with 21 years in the Air Force. My ethics, my core values and I hope those will show."

Debate Preview: State Senator Bob Krist

As for what he hopes to accomplish at the debate, Krist said, "To let people know that I have more experience than the governor. In terms of workings with agencies and my ten years, I bring as my experience base. Also my life experience with 21 years in the Air Force. My ethics, my core values and I hope those will show."

Bob Krist is a retired lieutenant colonel who served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years.

Debate Preview: State Sen. Bob Krist - KMTV

Krist is entering the 2018 governor’s race as an independent candidate. The former Republican changed his voter registration to non-partisan today. Krist is a 60-year-old Air Force veteran who has been a state senator since he was appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman in 2009. He then won elections in 2010 and 2014.

Bob previously served as a Nebraska state senator. He was appointed in 2009 and won elections in 2010 and 2014.

2026 Nebraska General Election

As of September 9, 2026, Bob Krist did not have a website or any information online.

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Krist has disagreed with Secretary of State Bob Evnen on several issues, including what he described as Evnen’s failure to advocate for implementing medical cannabis after a petition measure passed with 72% of the vote. He also objected to Evnen providing voter data to the Trump administration. “I would not have given him [Trump] the information about the individual voters and their addresses and all that stuff that is part of our voter registration, and I will never do that as a secretary of state,” Krist said. “We have seen the repercussions of that, because now this administration is trying to say mailmen are part of the voting process.”

Bob Krist—Former GOP, Democrat, and Independent Candidate—Opens Up on Why He Is Running ‘America First’

A chief concern for Krist in the race is Republican nominee Scott Petersen’s opposition to widespread use of mail-in ballots. “I believe in the institution of mail-in votes,” Krist said. “It goes back to 2005, and my colleague then, State Senator Deb Fischer, now Senator Fischer, introduced a bill that allowed for counties to do 100% voting. And that’s important. It’s important to some geographic areas. It’s important to some areas both to save money on the county side, and she did a good job of presenting that. I don’t want to go backwards.”

Pledges not to provide the Trump administration with individual voters’ registration information and addresses.

Supports maintaining mail-in voting, including countywide voting options.

- Pledges not to provide the Trump administration with individual voters’ registration information and addresses.
- Supports maintaining mail-in voting, including countywide voting options.

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- The secretary of state is the chief election officer, overseeing elections within their state. They provide information for candidates seeking elected office, accept candidate filings, certify a ballot initiative’s title, and review statewide and local election results. They also conduct programs and activities to promote civics education to encourage young people to become lifelong voters.
- The secretary of state serves as the state records administrator, storing official state documents and assisting state and local government agencies on the creation and updating of records retention and disposal schedules.
- The secretary of state helps provide business registrations, licensing or registering occupations like debt management agencies, private detectives, and athlete agents, and file and certify state agency rules and regulations.
- The secretary of state serves as the state’s chief protocol officer for international relations, developing contacts and expertise to connect the state with the world.
- The secretary of state is elected in a partisan, statewide election to a four-year term. They must be a registered voter in the state and affiliated with the political party they run under immediately preceding the election.
- The secretary of state earns a yearly salary of $85,000.

Oversees record keeping, business-related operations, and elections.