# Two new political parties race to get on Nebraska's November ballot  
**Published:** 2026-07-01T17:11:17.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/07/01/party-fever-another-political-party-is-gathering-signatures-to-get-on-nebraskas-ballot/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/two-new-political-parties-race-to-get-on-nebraska-s-november-ballot

LINCOLN, Neb. — Two separate political parties are in a race against the clock to gather enough signatures to secure spots on Nebraska's November general election ballot, each with dramatically different political platforms.

The [America First Party, sponsored by Omaha Tribe Attorney General John Cartier](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/07/01/party-fever-another-political-party-is-gathering-signatures-to-get-on-nebraskas-ballot/), aims to focus on curbing government spending, combating illegal immigration, opposing abortion, and defending Second Amendment rights. In a statement, Cartier said, "People are angry and tired of the bulls—. The America First Party is here to give voters options."

Simultaneously, the Nebraska Working People Party, led by Robin Richards, is collecting signatures with a mission focused on advancing the interests of working families, rural communities, and small businesses. Richards is a registered Democrat who lost a write-in campaign for Legislative District 12 earlier this year.

Both parties face an identical deadline: July 15. To secure ballot access, each organization must gather signatures representing at least one percent of votes cast for governor in the last election—approximately 6,726 signatures. If successful, the new parties can place candidates directly on the general election ballot, bypassing the primary election process under Nebraska state law.

The efforts have sparked controversy. [Democratic Party officials have accused the Working People Party of being a "spoiler" effort](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/a-new-political-party-could-be-coming-to-nebraska-state-democratic-party-officials-call-foul/) designed to divide the vote in key races. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb claimed the petition effort is "the work of Pete Ricketts," suggesting wealthy Republican backing. GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper denied the allegations, stating "No 'top' Republican would ever try to undermine our nominees."

This marks the latest episode in what has become a contentious 2026 election cycle in Nebraska, marked by recurring accusations of candidates running strategically to influence major races. The state already recognizes four official parties: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Legal Marijuana NOW. The Nebraska Liberal Party has also been seeking official status since 2024.

The November 3 general election will determine control of statewide offices and the state's U.S. Senate seat, which Republican Pete Ricketts is defending against registered nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/07/01/party-fever-another-political-party-is-gathering-signatures-to-get-on-nebraskas-ballot/)
- [Nebraska Examiner article on Nebraska Working People Party and Democratic concerns](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/29/a-new-political-party-could-be-coming-to-nebraska-state-democratic-party-officials-call-foul/)

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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/2026/07/01/party-fever-another-political-party-is-gathering-signatures-to-get-on-nebraskas-ballot/.