2026 Election season underway; several local seats up this year

By Becky Uehling
Republican Correspondent
The 2026 elections will have several local seats up for grabs, as well as various state positions, including Chase County’s state senator from Districts 44 and the governor’s position. This year’s primary election is May 12, while the general election in on Nov. 3.
For the primary election, incumbents, or those who are currently in office, have until Tuesday, Feb. 17 to file for re-election, while the filing for non-incumbents is Monday, March 2. This does not include the three seats that are up on the Wauneta Village Board. Village elections are only on the general election ballot based on state statute. Those wanting to run for a board position for the Village of Wauneta have until July 15 to file for incumbents, and Aug. 3 for non-incumbents. Filing for local elections is completed at the county clerk’s office at the Chase County Courthouse, while statewide candidates file on the Secretary of State’s website or in person in Lincoln.
Local/County Offices up for Reelection
The local and county offices up for reelection this year in Chase County, and their current office-holders, include the following: County Assessor, Tori Mueller; County Attorney, Joel Burke; County Clerk, Wendy Moe; County Treasurer, Rebecca Bernard; County Sheriff, Kevin Mueller; County Commissioner District 2, Jacci Brown; County Commissioner District 3, Kurt Bernhardt; Mayor – City of Imperial, Craig Loeffler; City of Imperial Council Member (two seats) Nick Colton and Jan Elliott; Imperial Airport Authority, David Hanna; Wauneta Village Board (three seats), Page Johnston, Beau Kramer, Crystal Walgren; Chase County School District (four seats), Steve Wallin, Jeff Olsen, Dan Reeves, Cindy Arterburn; Wauneta Palisade School District (three seats) Allison Sandman, Laurie Maris, Marty Wheeler.
The following are those incumbents who have filed for office as of 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16: Jacci Brown, Commissioner District 2; Jan Elliott, Imperial City Council; Rebecca Bernard, Chase County Treasurer; Tori Mueller, Chase County Assessor; Kurt Bernhardt, Commissioner District 3; Marty Wheeler, WP School Board; Craig Loeffler, Imperial Mayor. Nonincumbents who have filed, and the offices they have filed for, are as follows: Justin Mueller, Chase County Sheriff; Rob Browning, Chase County Sheriff.
Chase County Clerk Wendy Moe said she has posted the updated filings to the county’s website, and will update the list each Friday until the filing deadline.
Voter Registration
Voter deadline for the final day for in-person voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the primary election is May 1. For the general election, the final day for in-person registration and mail-in ballot applications is October 23.  For more information in Chase County contact Moe at 308-882-7500. To contact the Secretary of State’s office logon to https://sos.nebraska.gov/ or call 402-471-2554. Watch the Republican for continual election coverage throughout the year.