Jim Pillen
Jim Pillen (R), the incumbent Nebraska governor first elected in 2022, is the Republican nominee for the November 3, 2026 general election, having won the May 12, 2026 Republican primary. He is a strongly pro-Israel governor. In October 2025 he led a four-day state 'trade and solidarity mission' to Israel, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, promoting Nebraska beef exports and, notably, advocating for 'Nebraska-built defense technologies,' touring the Palmachim Air Force Base and framing Nebraska companies as contributing to Israel's Arrow, David's Sling and Iron Dome missile-defense systems used against Iranian and Hamas rocket fire. He issued a statement on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks pledging Nebraska's 'steadfast support of our ally Israel,' and in May 2026 signed an executive order requiring Nebraska schools to track and report antisemitism using the IHRA definition. At the signing, asked about First Amendment implications for critics of Israel's Gaza policies, Pillen said Palestinians 'are born to kill Jews and Christians,' drawing significant criticism. On state-level Israel measures: Nebraska has NOT enacted an anti-boycott/anti-boycott law; Sen. Julie Slama's LB343 (introduced 2023, carried over to 2024), a bill to 'prohibit public contracts with companies that boycott Israel,' was indefinitely postponed on April 18, 2024 without a recorded floor vote. Nebraska's exports to Israel reached about $54 million in 2024. No evidence was found of Nebraska purchasing Israel Bonds under Pillen.
But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page is sourced. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.