local and state seats are up this year
BY BECKY UEHLING
GRANT TRIBUNE
The 2026 elections will have several local seats up for grabs, as well as various state positions, including Perkins County’s state senators from Districts 44 and 42 and the governor’s position. This year’s primary election is May 12, while the general election in on Nov. 3.
For the primary election, incumbents, or those who are currently in office, have until Tuesday, Feb. 17 to file for re-election, while the filing for non-incumbents is Monday, March 2. This does not include the villages in the county, which are only on the general election ballot based on state statute. Those wanting to run for a village office have until July 15 to file for incumbents, and Aug. 3 for non-incumbents. Filing for local elections is completed at the county clerk’s office at the courthouse, while statewide candidates file on the Secretary of State’s website or in person in Lincoln..
Local/County Offices up for Reelection
The local and county offices up for reelection this year in Perkins County, and their current office-holders, include the following: Attorney-Rick Roberts, Assessor-Peggy Burton, Clerk-James Brueggeman, Sheriff-Scott Miller, Treasurer-Julie Sestak, Commissioners in District 2-Mark Bottom, and District 3-Steve Tucker, City of Grant Mayor-Lisa Schmitt, two City of Grant Council Members-Andrea Brueggeman and Tierney Petersen, three Perkins County Public Schools Board- Chris Fryzek, Cameron Sis, and Tori Gengenbach, and three Perkins County Hospital Board Members- Jeffrey Skeels, Melissa Wilson, and Marcia Shalla.
The General Election in November will see positions up for all three village boards including the following: Venango-Christina Farnsworth, Cody Miller, and Dennis Ekdahl; Madrid-Kamryn Loy and Jennifer Baumgartner; and Elsie-Doug Curtis and Vic Perez.
Filings
According to County Clerk Brueggeman, the following, all incumbents, have filed so far as of Monday, Jan. 12— Perkins County Attorney, Richard Roberts; Perkins County Assessor, Regina Berry; Perkins County Clerk, James Brueggeman; Perkins County Sheriff, Jeffrey Miller; Perkins County Treasurer, Julie Sestak; and Perkins County Commissioner District 3, Steve Tucker. Non-incumbent filing for the City of Grant’s Mayor position is Sam Sims.
Voter Registration
Voter deadlines for the final day for in-person voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the primary election is May 1. For the general election, the final day for in-person registration and mail-in ballot applications is October 23. For more information in Perkins County contact Brueggeman at 308-352-7560. To contact the Secretary of State’s office logon to https://sos.nebraska.gov/ or call402-471-2554. Watch the Tribune for continual election coverage throughout the year.