Secretary of State of Nebraska · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Nebraska secretary of state race?
Bob Krist has the strongest record in the Nebraska secretary of state race. Bob Krist scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Scott Petersen at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Bob Krist's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Scott Petersen's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Paul Rumbaugh (3 of 15 criteria) and Sarah Slattery (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
America First
Strongest record
Bob Krist
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 69
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Scott Petersen
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Nebraska Working People
Paul Rumbaugh
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Sarah Slattery
On the ballot as Sarah J. Slattery
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
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.
Bob Krist
- On the record2026-06 to 2026-09
Said in June 2026 he would not join a three-way race, then entered the race in September.
- On the record2017 to 2026
Appointed to the Legislature as a Republican in 2009, became an independent in 2017 and the Democratic governor nominee in 2018, then nonpartisan, and in 2026 the America First nominee.
- Credit2013 to 2016
Rated above expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking in 2013 to 2014 and 2015 to 2016, when 28 of 69 bills he sponsored became law.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Scott Petersen
- On the recordbefore 2026
Former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party and a member of the state party's executive committee.
Source: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen
- On the record2026
Says mail-in ballots corrupt elections, especially in Omaha and Lincoln; county election officials say Nebraska elections are secure, and the state's election division has won national awards.
- On the record2026
Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen
Paul Rumbaugh
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Sarah Slattery
- On the record2026
Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey; previously ran for the Legislature in 2022.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sarah Slattery
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Bob Krist. No Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission enforcement action names him.
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Scott Petersen. No Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission enforcement action names him.
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission enforcement action names her.
Source: Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Bob Krist. Left the Republican Party in September 2017 and became the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor against the Republican incumbent; in 2026 criticized the Republican secretary of state for handing voter data to the federal government.
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. Campaigns in person across the state, including the mail-in-only counties, and gave candidate interviews. No 2026 debate found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Bob Krist. Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and state senator for nearly 10 years with no formal conduct finding found.
Scott Petersen. More than 30 years running businesses and leadership posts in his county party with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Bob Krist. Served as an Air Force lieutenant colonel and took the oath as a state senator (2009 to 2019). No official finding of misuse found.
Sources: Nebraska Examiner via Yahoo News, Sept. 1, 2026, Ballotpedia, Bob Krist
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Bob Krist. State senator from 2009 to 2019 (appointed, then elected twice); retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Desert Storm veteran.
Source: Ballotpedia, Bob Krist
Scott Petersen. Omaha businessman with over 30 years operating businesses, by his account, and former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen, Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. Chef and small business owner; ran for the Legislature in District 2 in 2022. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sarah Slattery, Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Bob Krist. Promises to keep current voting rules, focus on youth civic education and press on state finances, in general terms.
Scott Petersen. Proposes restricting mail-in ballots and adding in-person voting in the 11 mail-in-only counties, which he says needs legislative help.
Paul Rumbaugh. Explained general priorities on election trust, voter education and faster business filings in a Nebraska Public Media interview.
Sarah Slattery. Proposes faster business filings and a modernized website, voter education and same-day registration with the Legislature.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Bob Krist. Explained his positions in Nebraska Public Media and Nebraska Examiner interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Bob Krist
Scott Petersen. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and gave a Nebraska Public Media candidate interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen, Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026
Paul Rumbaugh. Gave a Nebraska Public Media candidate interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Paul Rumbaugh
Sarah Slattery. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and gave a Nebraska Public Media candidate interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sarah Slattery, Nebraska Public Media, Sept. 22, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Bob Krist. Represented Omaha's District 10 in the Legislature for nearly a decade and lists Omaha on the official candidate list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bob Krist, Nebraska Secretary of State candidate list
Scott Petersen. Says he has built and run businesses in Nebraska for over 30 years; lists Omaha on the official candidate list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen, Nebraska Secretary of State candidate list
Paul Rumbaugh. Lists Omaha on the official candidate list.
Sarah Slattery. Graduated from Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School and Creighton University; lists Plattsmouth on the official candidate list.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sarah Slattery, Nebraska Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. Has run businesses for over 30 years by his account. No NADC enforcement action names him.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Scott Petersen, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. Small business owner. No NADC enforcement action names her.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sarah Slattery, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, enforcement actions
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Bob Krist. State Legislative Effectiveness Score of 2.82 for 2015 to 2016, above expectations and second in the chamber, with 28 of 69 sponsored bills becoming law; also above expectations in 2013 to 2014.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Bob Krist. No public record found.
Scott Petersen. No public record found.
Paul Rumbaugh. No public record found.
Sarah Slattery. 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 secretary of state race?
Bob Krist has the strongest record in the Nebraska secretary of state race. Bob Krist scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Scott Petersen at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Bob Krist's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Scott Petersen's highest marks are communication and roots in the constituency. Paul Rumbaugh (3 of 15 criteria) and Sarah Slattery (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Nebraska secretary of state race in 2026?
Bob Krist (America First), Scott Petersen (Republican), Paul Rumbaugh (Nebraska Working People), Sarah Slattery (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Bob Krist a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Bob Krist scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 69 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Scott Petersen a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Scott Petersen scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Paul Rumbaugh a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Paul Rumbaugh has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Sarah Slattery a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Sarah Slattery has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
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.