Jim Pillen

Where Pillen stands

Grouped by topic by Vote Book; headings and quoted words are the candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” items are a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote.

Abortion

Protecting Life

I am proudly prolife . I believe life begins at conception and that Nebraska should advance a culture of life and protect the unborn. I am committed to protecting Nebraska’s most vulnerable. I oppose taxpayer money funding organizations that commit abortions, and support adoption options for mothers and families in …

I am proudly prolife

I believe life begins at conception and that Nebraska should advance a culture of life and protect the unborn. I am committed to protecting Nebraska’s most vulnerable. I oppose taxpayer money funding organizations that commit abortions, and support adoption options for mothers and families in crisis

Education

Education

My parents insisted that education would open doors for our future. They sacrificed so we would have the opportunity to pursue our dreams. One of the reasons I am running for governor is to give every child the chance to pursue their dreams right here in Nebraska.

I am fully committed to K-12 education

in Nebraska. Our schools must prepare our kids to compete in a global workforce. I support options for parents and making sure our students have a pathway to a great job in Nebraska's workforce upon graduation. That could mean learning a trade or getting a degree at NU or one of our great state or private colleges

Rejecting Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory should not be taught in our K-12 schools, and it shouldn't ever be forced on a student at the University of Nebraska. That's why I proposed a resolution to prevent the imposition of Critical Race Theory on NU campuses:

Taxes & spending

Property Taxes

We have to fix our broken property tax system. Governor Ricketts has made good on his promise to address property taxes every year he has been in office, putting hundreds of millions of dollars into the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund. And yet property taxes are still too high and remain a top concern for families and …

How would you manage the state budget while protecting services that support Nebraska families and communities?

As Governor, I've made it my mission to run government like a business. That means cutting spending while improving services. In my first year in office, I worked with the Legislature to pass and sign historic tax relief for Nebraskans, and we're taking aggressive steps to solve the property tax crisis. I'm proud that during my time as Governor our state has achieved the highest credit rating possible (AAA) and been consistently graded highly for fiscal responsibility. With another term, our administration will continue to prioritize rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, so that we can deliver the efficiency and effectiveness in government that Nebraskans demand, deserve, and model in their own lives.

Jobs, wages & cost of living

How would you pitch Nebraska to a business looking to locate here?

There's no place like Nebraska and no one can outcompete Nebraskans. Over the last three years, we've made major strides in attracting businesses to and investment in our state and in keeping born and bred Nebraskans here at home for the long-term. Our economy grew by 5% in the latter quarter of 2025 and through initiatives like our Grow the Good Life Incentive are rewarding companies for hiring top talent for good-paying jobs. Nebraska is blessed with tremendous natural resources and recently became #1 in ethanol and #1 in cattle. The sky is the limit for our business-friendly economic environment, and that means better affordability and increased standard of living for all of our people.

Farms & rural

Describe your top three Nebraska values.

Kids - Our kids are our future and they must be the center of our focus in government. As Governor, I've signed legislation protecting the unborn, banning sex changes for minors, and keeping boys out of girls' sports - we lead with common sense and are building a culture of life and love. Taxes - I believe in low taxes so that Nebraskans keep more of their hard-earned income. We're running government like a business and maximizing efficiency in our state agencies. Agriculture - Nebraska farmers and ranchers feed and fuel the world. As the first farmer Governor in over 100 years, I'm proud to advance policies that bolster our agriculture industry - from prohibiting foreign adversaries from buying land here to banning bioreactor-grown "meat."

Elections, ethics & government

What is your approach to balancing states’ rights and federal authority?

I believe in state solutions and local control - especially when it comes to education. We were the first state in the nation to opt-in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, opening the door for Nebraskans to send their kids to the school that best fits them and helps unlock their potential. As Governor, I've also developed relationships and partnerships with President Trump and his team. It's made a real difference for Nebraska, from bringing over $200 million in federal funding for rural healthcare (the 8th highest in the country) as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program to meaningful relief in disaster aid after last year's destructive storms.