# Petersen upsets Evnen in GOP race for Nebraska secretary of state  
**Published:** 2026-05-13T06:15:22.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/13/scott-petersen-wins-gop-primary-race-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state-against-incumbent-bob-evnen/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/petersen-upsets-evnen-in-gop-race-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state

LINCOLN, Neb. — [Nebraska's Republican primary for secretary of state delivered a significant upset Tuesday as Omaha businessman Scott Petersen defeated incumbent Bob Evnen](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/13/scott-petersen-wins-gop-primary-race-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state-against-incumbent-bob-evnen/). As of 11:55 p.m., Petersen led statewide by more than 16,000 votes, or 55 percent to Evnen's 45 percent, after initially trailing in early results.

The race highlighted a deepening divide within the state's Republican Party over election security. Petersen, who serves on the state party's executive committee, largely focused his campaign on criticizing Evnen's handling of Nebraska's election systems. He questioned whether the state's ballot-counting machines could access the internet and be hacked, argued for restricting mail-in voting, and promised to conduct full hand counts of races.

Evnen countered by describing Nebraska's elections as the "gold standard" and conducted a five-day transparency tour across multiple counties to demonstrate the state's [rigorous testing procedures for voting equipment](https://www.wowt.com/2026/05/11/nebraska-secretary-state-announces-election-security-task-force/). Lancaster County election officials stated the machines cannot access the internet and that the computer used to upload results is connected only when transferring data via flash drive.

Most voting experts have found hand counting less reliable, costlier and more time-consuming than machine counting. A 2024 Texas hand count required nearly 24 hours and 200 people.

Petersen consolidated support that previously split among Evnen's challengers. He secured endorsements from at least 18 county Republican parties and has ties to the faction that recently took control of the state Republican Party. Evnen, seeking a third term, held endorsements from Republican elected officials including U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer and all three House members.

The race was contentious, with [U.S. Rep. Don Bacon vocally backing Evnen and calling Petersen the "President of the TinFoil Hat Club"](https://www.1011now.com/2026/05/11/can-nebraskas-secretary-state-survive-another-challenge-right/) for his election concerns. Petersen criticized that characterization and described it as "dirty politics."

In 2022, Evnen overcame two primary challengers who claimed widespread fraud cost former President Donald Trump the 2020 election. However, his opponents that year split the vote against him. This time, Petersen consolidated their support.

[Petersen will face Democrat Sarah Slattery, a school nutrition director and small business owner from Plattsmouth, in the November general election](https://www.1011now.com/2026/05/11/can-nebraskas-secretary-state-survive-another-challenge-right/). Slattery said she was "overwhelmed with gratitude" for her primary win and ready to campaign against Petersen in the fall.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/13/scott-petersen-wins-gop-primary-race-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state-against-incumbent-bob-evnen/)
- [WOWT: Nebraska secretary of state announces election security task force](https://www.wowt.com/2026/05/11/nebraska-secretary-state-announces-election-security-task-force/)
- [1011now: Can Nebraska's secretary of state survive another challenge from the right?](https://www.1011now.com/2026/05/11/can-nebraskas-secretary-state-survive-another-challenge-right/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/13/scott-petersen-wins-gop-primary-race-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state-against-incumbent-bob-evnen/.