The 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Nebraska. Incumbent Republican Governor Pete Ricketts was term-limited and unable to seek a third term. In the general election, Republican Jim Pillen went on to win the gubernatorial election by a 23-point margin. Nebraska's primary elections were held on May 10. Former University of Nebraska Board of Regents chair Jim Pillen won the Republican nomination, while state senator Carol Blood won the Democratic nomination. The race took on increased importance in October 2022, when U.S. Senator Ben Sasse announced he would resign and Ricketts said he would allow the winner of the 2022 gubernatorial election to appoint Sasse's replacement. In the end Jim Pillen appointed former Republican Governor Pete Ricketts in Sasse's place. Republican primary Candidates Nominated Jim Pillen, member and former chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Running mate: Joe Kelly, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Eliminated in primary Donna Carpenter, contractor Michael Connely, educational advisor, quality assurance director, small-scale agribusiness, USMC veteran Charles Herbster, agribusiness executive and candidate for governor in 2014 Brett Lindstrom, financial advisor, state senator and candidate for in 2012 Running mate: Dave Rippe, real estate broker and former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Lela McNinch Breland Ridenour, information technology manager Theresa Thibodeau, former state senator and former chair of the Douglas County Republican Party Running mate: Trent Loos, agriculture advocate and podcast host Declined Don Bacon, U.S. Representative for (running for re-election) Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator Mike Flood, state senator, former Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, and candidate for governor in 2014 Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, former Nebraska State Auditor, and candidate for governor in 2014 (running for State Auditor; endorsed Herbster) Jeff Fortenberry, former U.S. Representative for Dave Heineman, former governor Mike Hilgers, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature (running for Attorney General) Greg Ibach, former U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture Dave Nabity, financial adviser, talk show host, and candidate for governor in 2006 Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and candidate for governor in 2014 Adrian Smith, U.S. Representative for (running for re-election) John Stinner, state senator Jean Stothert, Mayor of Omaha (endorsed Lindstrom) Endorsements Polling Graphical summary Results Pillen, Herbster, and Lindstrom all won their respective home counties – Pillen won