Who's running in Nebraska's 3rd congressional district
5 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Candidates
5
Incumbent
Adrian Smith
Parties
Republican · Democratic · Legal Marijuana NOW · Nebraska Working People
5 candidates · ballot order · Adrian Smith currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Border security: 'Our border is so much more secure than it was.'
Year-round sales of E15 gasoline.
Strengthening Social Security through bipartisan work before benefits face automatic cuts.
Tariffs as a way to level the playing field on trade: 'I'm not a fan of tariffs, but on trade, the reality is we're either gaining or losing ground.'
Rooting out waste in federal spending.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Nebraska's 3rd District since January 2007; Nebraska Legislature 1999–2007.
Chairman of a House Ways and Means subcommittee and of the Agriculture Trade Caucus; member of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council.
Co-authored and supported the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Won the May 12, 2026 Republican primary over David Huebner; won about 75% in 2024.
Endorsed by President Trump, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
'I feel like I've gotten better able to effectively help Nebraska over time. We've got a lot of work to do on spending. I'm in the best position to ensure the Nebraska voices are heard in Washington.'
— Rep. Adrian Smith (Nebraska Public Media)
President Trump endorsed Smith for re-election.
— President Donald Trump, per Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
'I don't believe Adrian Smith is representing anyone in the 3rd District. He supported the One Big Beautiful Bill. That would raise the debt by several trillion dollars'; he also backed tariffs whose relief payments are 'a drop in the bucket' for farmers.
— Becky Stille, Democratic opponent (Nebraska Public Media)
Smith has grown out of touch: 'Life is very different in western rural Nebraska than it is in D.C. It's very easy to get out of touch up there,' and he is not conservative enough.
— David Huebner, Republican primary opponent (Nebraska Public Media)
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material on Smith was found; the seat is not on a Democratic target list in any loaded source.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Opposing the Trump administration's tariffs and increasing relief for farmers.
Expanding domestic markets for soybeans and other crops to offset lost exports.
Cutting waste, fraud and abuse 'with the government itself', using her auditing background, without 'a chainsaw.'
Lower grocery bills, affordability and lower health care costs.
Moving past partisan labels: 'a lot of traditional Republicans have the same concerns that I do.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office.
Quality manager at Ag Processing Inc.; accounting degree.
Unopposed in the May 12, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published argument for or against Stille by a named outside group, party or opponent was found, so none is listed; her case is in her positions. Searched: 'Becky Stille' with Smith, endorsement, criticism and NRCC; Nebraska Public Media, Nebraska Examiner, KNEB and Grand Island Independent coverage.
'Accountable leadership' without 'political theater or national party agendas.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office.
Filed as the Nebraska Working People Party nominee on September 1, 2026.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No coverage making a case for or against Budke was found. The Nebraska Democratic Party has criticised the Working People Party's chair for launching it, but that criticism is not aimed at Budke.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Nebraska's general election, decided by plurality; there is no runoff. The map did not change for 2026: the 2021 districts remain in use. Gov. Jim Pillen said in October 2025 he was 'open' to mid-decade redistricting, but no redraw was enacted and no pending congressional map case was found. Primaries were held May 12, 2026. The roster matches the Nebraska Secretary of State's final general election candidate filing list (September 11, 2026), which shows five candidates: Republican Rep. Adrian Smith, who beat rancher and former Border Patrol agent David Huebner in the primary; Democrat Becky Kelly Stille; Legal Marijuana NOW nominee David J. Else; Nebraska Working People Party nominee Macey Budke, who had been running as a write-in before the new party nominated her; and nonpartisan Mark Cohen, certified by petition in August. The district covers 80 of Nebraska's 93 counties across central and western Nebraska and parts of the northeast and southeast, including Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, North Platte and Scottsbluff. Smith has won at least 70% in every race for the seat except his first, in 2006. Candidates are listed in the order of the Secretary of State's filing list; that is not necessarily the printed ballot order, and it implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Nebraska ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.