From the Knox Co Clerk
Candidate filings continue for both the 2026 Primary and General Elections.
February 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for incumbents to file for the following Partisan races being Federal, State and County Offices, Supervisors Districts 1,3, 5 and 7 and the following Nonpartisan races being Legislative District 40, State Board of Education District 6, Northeast Community College District 2, Natural Resource Districts, School Boards, City Mayors, City Councilmembers At Large, and City Airport Authority races.
Nonincumbents have until March 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. to file as a candidate for the offices listed above.
An incumbent is anyone serving in an elective office, even if it is not the office for which they are filing.
The following Nonpartisan races will be on the 2026 General Election ballot - Village Board of Trustees, Township Boards, Cedar- Knox Public Power District Subdivision #3 North Central Public Power District Subdivisions #2 and #3, ESU 1 District 9 and ESU 8 Districts 1 and 5. The filing deadlines for these races are July 15, 2026 for incumbents and August 3, 2026 for non-incumbents.
The public can find the Knox County and State candidate filings on the Knox County website, as well as in regular publications in local news. Knox County Clerk Joann Fischer will be updating the Knox County listing of 2026 Primary and General Election candidates throughout the business day.
Recent filings at the Knox County Clerk’s Office for the Primary Election are:
Clerk of District Court – Incumbent Matthew R. Fischer, Democratic
County Sheriff – Mark Duncan, Republican and Incumbent Don Henery, Republican
County Surveyor – Incumbent Michael Skroch, Republican
County Supervisor District 3 – Lance Rudloff, Republican & Incumbent David Pierce, Republican
Creighton School Board – Incumbent Josh Key
Bloomfield City Airport Authority – Incumbent Cindy S Barney
Creighton City Council members At Large – Incumbent Mark Ripp
Filings so far at the Knox County Clerk’s Office for the General Election are:
Harrison Township Board – Incumbent Scott Eisenhauer
Hill Township Board – Incumbent Jeffrey M. Barger
Peoria Township Board – Alexander Jessen and Incumbents Tony Kauth & Neil A. Guenther
Western Township Board – Incumbent Willard Ruzicka
The following are candidates who have filed recently with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office:
United States Senator – Eric Mortimore, Republican
Representative in Congress District 3 – Incumbent Adrian Smith, Republican
Governor – Gary L. Rogge, Republican
Secretary of State - Lee M. Cimfel, Democratic
State Treasurer – Incumbent Joey Spellerberg, Republican
Legislature District 40 – Incumbent Barry DeKay
State Board of Education District 6 – Incumbent Sherry Jones
Northeast Community College Board of Governors District 2 – Incumbent Carol A. Sibbel
Lewis & Clark NRD Subdistrict 1 – Incumbent Jeffrey Steffen
Lewis & Clark NRD Subdistrict 2 – Incumbent David Condon
Lewis & Clark NRD At Large – Incumbent Daniel Kollars
Lower Niobrara NRD Subdistrict 1 – Incumbent Shaun L. Higgins
Lower Niobrara NRD Subdistrict 2 – Incumbent Brenda Wendt
Lower Niobrara NRD Subdistrict 4 – Incumbent Kevin L. Randa
Lower Niobrara NRD Subdistrict 5 (Four Year Term) – Incumbent Deborah Hansen
Lower Niobrara NRD Subdistrict 5 (Two Year Term) – Incumbent Brent R. Fuchtman
Some races require that a filing fee be paid and others require that both a filing fee be paid along with a financial disclosure statement be completed, so it is recommended that candidates contact Knox County Clerk Joann Fischer at clerk@knoxcountyne.gov or call 402-288-5604.