Attorney General of Nebraska · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Nebraska attorney general race?
Mike Hilgers has the strongest record in the Nebraska attorney general race. Mike Hilgers scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jocelyn Brasher at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Hilgers's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jocelyn Brasher's highest marks are command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Jocelyn Brasher
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Mike Hilgers
65 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jocelyn Brasher
- On the recordbefore 2026
Spent five years as an assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection Bureau, the office she now seeks to lead.
Sources: KCAU via AOL, May 2026, Brasher for Attorney General
Mike Hilgers
- On the record2026-09
The Nebraska Supreme Court unanimously upheld the voter-approved medical cannabis laws, rejecting fraud arguments he and the Secretary of State had made.
- On the record2024-07 to 2024-10
Issued a July 2024 opinion that the law restoring felons' voting rights was unconstitutional; the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in October 2024 that it was not.
Source: KLKN, Oct. 16, 2024
- Credit2026-10
Joined the FTC and 11 other attorneys general in a $35 million settlement with Corteva over crop protection loyalty programs.
Source: KLKN, Oct. 2, 2026
- Credit2021 to 2022
Served as speaker of the Nebraska Legislature for two years during six years as a state senator.
Source: KCAU via AOL, May 2026
- Credit2021 to 2022
Rated above expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for 2021 to 2022, with 13 of 19 sponsored bills becoming law.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jocelyn Brasher. No Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission enforcement action names her.
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Mike Hilgers. No current official ethics or campaign finance finding found. The NADC lists a 2013 settlement in a case naming him (Case 12-16), older than 10 years and not scored (E1); its scanned text could not be read.
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jocelyn Brasher. Holds public campaign events across the state, including a May 2026 South Sioux City stop. No 2026 debate with Hilgers was found.
Source: KCAU via AOL, May 2026
Mike Hilgers. Takes reporters' questions at news conferences as attorney general. No 2026 debate or forum with his opponent was found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jocelyn Brasher. Years as a deputy county attorney and assistant attorney general with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: KCAU via AOL, May 2026
Mike Hilgers. Six years as a state senator, including two as speaker, and attorney general since 2023 with no formal censure or conduct finding found.
Source: KCAU via AOL, May 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jocelyn Brasher. Served as a deputy county attorney in Dawson and Dodge counties and as an assistant attorney general. No finding of misuse found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jocelyn Brasher
Mike Hilgers. Took the oaths of state senator and attorney general. The Nebraska Supreme Court rejected his 2024 opinion on felon voting and his 2026 petition-fraud arguments on medical cannabis; no finding of misuse of office.
Sources: KLKN, Oct. 16, 2024, Nebraska Examiner via Yahoo News, Sept. 4, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jocelyn Brasher. Five years as an assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection Bureau, a former deputy county attorney in two counties and a private attorney. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Brasher for Attorney General, Ballotpedia, Jocelyn Brasher
Mike Hilgers. Attorney general since 2023 and earlier a state senator for six years (two elections), including two years as speaker; founded a law firm.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jocelyn Brasher. Proposes a day-one task force on online crimes against children and draws on consumer protection work in the office she seeks.
Source: KCAU via AOL, May 2026
Mike Hilgers. Sitting attorney general and former speaker of the Legislature (E5); his campaign lists office priorities and accomplishments.
Sources: KCAU via AOL, May 2026, Mike Hilgers for Attorney General
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jocelyn Brasher. Publishes priorities on her campaign site and gives interviews at campaign stops. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Brasher for Attorney General, Ballotpedia, Jocelyn Brasher
Mike Hilgers. Publishes campaign priorities and speaks at news conferences. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Mike Hilgers for Attorney General, Ballotpedia, Mike Hilgers
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jocelyn Brasher. Lists Omaha on the official candidate list; law degree from Creighton.
Mike Hilgers. Born in Omaha and a Creighton Prep graduate; lists Lincoln on the official candidate list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. Heads the attorney general's office and founded a law firm. No current NADC enforcement action names him.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. State Legislative Effectiveness Score of 1.54 for 2021 to 2022, above expectations (13 of 19 bills became law). As attorney general joined a $35 million Corteva antitrust settlement in October 2026.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file, KLKN, Oct. 2, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jocelyn Brasher. No public record found.
Mike Hilgers. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Nebraska attorney general race?
Mike Hilgers has the strongest record in the Nebraska attorney general race. Mike Hilgers scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Jocelyn Brasher at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Hilgers's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jocelyn Brasher's highest marks are command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Nebraska attorney general race in 2026?
Jocelyn Brasher (Democratic), Mike Hilgers (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jocelyn Brasher a good candidate for Attorney General?
Jocelyn Brasher scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 56 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mike Hilgers a good candidate for Attorney General?
Mike Hilgers scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Nebraska race scored, and the Nebraska 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.