NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - Nebraska’s primary election on Tuesday, May 12, will narrow the field of candidates going into the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Polling locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will need to present an acceptable photo identification such as a driver’s license or state ID issued by the State of Nebraska, or another acceptable form of photo identification before they will be issued a ballot.

Which candidates voters can choose depends on which party ballot they submit on election day.

To see what’s on your specific ballot, check your voter registration, find your polling place and view candidate profiles, go to voter411.org.

Election results will be available on News 2’s Election Results page starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.

The top local races News 2 is following are the contested North Platte City Council and North Platte School Board races. View interviews with the candidates below.

North Platte City Council - Ward 3

• Scott Young
• Jim Riewe
• Timothy Sanders

North Platte City Council - Ward 4

• Incumbent Ed Rieker
• Tracy Martinez
• Chester Smith
• Dave Vigil

North Platte School Board - Ward 3

• Incumbent Emily Garrick: “After spending a couple of years in our district here, I experienced some things that just caused me to change that career path. And so when I left education, the passion didn’t leave me, and the hope to see it improve did not leave me. So that’s really what drove me to run the first time. And so I’ve really seen in these last couple of years a lot of momentum. Seeing all of that progress that we’ve had, I feel like I’d love to have four more years to keep that work up,” Garrick said.
• Kyle Nichols: “It is something that I want to do for the school district. It is like I went back to. This district built who I am. It laid the foundation of my entire life. And I feel like there’s many kids in the district that are starting those same steps. We want those kids to come back and start businesses here, start jobs here, do all those fun things. I feel like that’s something that’s very important to all of us. It’s the way our community keeps growing. It’s the way our community takes the next steps,” Nichols said.
• Jenny Lantis: “I chose to run for North Platte Public School Board of Education because I care deeply about our schools and our community. And as a parent and a professional, I understand the importance of strong and steady leadership. So I felt that it was necessary for me to take a step and put my foot in the race to be able to help move our school district forward,” Lantis said.

U.S. Senate

Five Republican candidates are running against each other on this year’s red ballot:

• Incumbent Pete Ricketts. The current Senator and former Governor says he’s running for re-election to, “continue making energy and groceries more affordable...keep fighting to stop Communist China from buying farmland, stealing technology, and threatening our way of life...”
• Mac Stevens, who, “currently works as a Nutritionist and owner of Stevens Livestock Consulting,” according to his website. Stevens’ main issues include addressing childhood hunger, agriculture, manufacturing, community safety, protecting jobs, protecting Social Security, Medicare and SNAP, and supports “Make America Cancer Absent” (MACA).
• Todd Knobel, who was the CEO behind a handful of entrepreneurial ventures over the past two decades, now operates as the CEO and Founder of Foogal, according to his LinkedIn. His main platform includes advocating for the current generation of kids, and being a “statesman” rather than a career politician.
• Debb Axtell Schultz, who is a, “lifelong Nebraskan, and small-business owner from Grand Island,” according to her website. Schultz’s platform is run on the fact that she is not a career politician, and her main issues include: defending the second amendment, mental health advocacy, reforming the postal service, and ending daylight saving time.
• Eric Mortimore, who hails from Kearney, Nebraska. His Facebook page says he wants to, “represent the local people and promote their true Nebraska values not the rich Nebraska people value.”

On the Democratic ballot, only two candidates are facing off:

• Cindy Burbank, from Omaha, is a, “PTCB-certified Pharmacy Technician since 1996,″ who has practiced across multiple states and taught at Iowa Western Community College. Burbank is running to directly oppose Sen. Ricketts, William Forbes, and has a platform looking to address government and corporate accountability, empowering the Federal Railroad Administration, term limits, and healthcare for all.
• William J. Forbes is a pastor. While running as a Democrat, he has come under scrutiny by the Nebraska Democratic Party for supporting Trump and being, “a political maneuver engineered by Pete Ricketts to split the opposition vote.” Forbes has not answered back any campaign questions raised by Vote411.org

And on the Legal Marijuana NOW ballot, two candidates are also facing off:

• Mike Marvin, the former Executive Director of the NAPE/AFSCME union. His platform includes advocating for Nebraska’s public employees and legal marijuana in Nebraska and across the country.
• Earl Starkey, who is from Minatare, Nebraska. From his Facebook page, he supports legal marijuana, and is in opposition of both Sen. Ricketts and Dan Osborn.

Representative in Congress (District 3)

Republican Adrian Smith has a primary challenger: David Huebner. There is one Democrat in the race: Becky Kelly Stille and one Legal Marijuana NOW candidate: David Else.

Governor

In this year’s most crowded race, six candidates are running on this year’s Republican ballot:

• Incumbent Jim Pillen. Elected back in 2022, his platform of “We’re not done yet!” includes focus on pointing to tax relief, the passage of constitutional carry, efforts to support border security citing actions like banning transgender participation in school sports, restricting gender-affirming care for minors and passing anti-abortion legislation.
• Gary L. Rogge, from Auburn, says he spent summers working on his family farm, and attended UNL, according to his website. Rogge wants to address “real” property tax relief, protecting social programs, and defending state’s rights from government overreach.
• Jacy Todd, who has lived all across the state, has been a small business owner for decades. In recent headlines, he was convicted of official misconduct related to the medical marijuana petition, during his time as a York notary. His platform includes supporting veterans, government transparency, legalizing cannabis, no foreign land ownership, ending high taxes, and election integrity.
• Sal Holguin, who is from Omaha, according to the Nebraska Examiner and has not responded to platform questions from Vote411.org
• John Walz, who previously ran to represent Nebraska’s Third Congressional District. His values emphasize Christianity, patriotism, and conservatism, according to Vote411.org
• Sheila J. Korth-Focken, from Randolph, has most recently worked as the City Administrator/Treasurer in Randolph, according to her website. Korth-Focken’s main platform includes protecting Nebraskans, “especially children, veterans & military families,” as well as cutting spending and lowering taxes.

On the Democratic ballot, two candidates are facing off:

• Larry Marvin, from Fremont, an Air Force veteran. He has told 10/11 NOW, ““I think too many of our American people, especially here in Nebraska, are criminally ignorant...So I’m throwing my name out here so we can talk about things.”
• Lynne Walz, who lives in Fremont, most recently served as a state senator for almost a decade, representing District 15. Walz’s eight-point platform includes unifying Nebraska, respecting voters, government transparency, growing Nebraska, and addressing affordability, among other priorities.

And on the Legal Marijuana NOW ballot, two candidates are also facing off:

• James J. Charvat III, attended Dairy Queen franchise school and comes from a small business family that has owned and operated a Dairy Queen franchise in his hometown for 53 years, according to the Nebraska Examiner. Charvat emphasizes his top three Nebraska values as, “peace, presence, and a good strong heart,” according to Vote411.org
• Rick Beard, of Omaha, temporarily lived in Norman, Oklahoma, looking into licensing, growing, and navigating regulations during the state’s inaugural year of cannabis legalization. His priorities include addressing, “...giant budget gaps with no tax relief in sight. Full access cannabis taxation and a strong industrial hemp business,” according to his website.

Secretary of State

On the Republican ballot, two candidates are facing off:

• Incumbent Bob Evnen. Serving as the Secretary of State since 2019, Evnen cites his help in growing economic opportunities for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers as well as his work to cut burdensome red tape as some of his highest achievements during his past two terms. “I’m running for re-election so I can continue to fight for our conservative values and our Nebraska way of life,” Evnen said. “I’m proudly pro-life, proudly pro-second amendment, pro-family and pro-Nebraska.”
• Scott Petersen, from Omaha, touts himself as a lifelong business owner, who previously worked as a business and compliance manager for Don Bacon, according to his LinkedIn. His main priorities include restore confidence for secure, accurate elections, full transparency, efficient business services, saving taxpayer dollars, and enforcing accountability, according to his website.

On the Democratic ballot, two candidates are facing off:

• Sarah J. Slattery, from Plattsmouth, is a chef and local business owner, who ran for the legislature back in 2022, and currently serves on both the Plattsmouth Library Board and the Plattsmouth Bridge Commission, according to her website. Slattery’s top priorities include public trust, business growth, and voter education.
• Lee Cimfel, who has a general education degree, looks to protect constitutional rights through the national guard, and believes states are responsible for running elections, according to Vote411.org