Former Nebraska Sen. Pansing Brooks Seeks 2026 Legislature Return

Patty Pansing Brooks, a former Nebraska state senator and 2022 congressional candidate, announced her bid to return to the Nebraska Legislature in 2026, seeking to reclaim the District 28 seat after current Sen. Jane Raybould declared she would not seek reelection. Pansing Brooks, a Democrat who served two terms before being term-limited in 2022, emphasized her commitment to continuing work on juvenile justice reform, human trafficking, workers' rights, public education, small business support, and healthcare equity. She has garnered endorsements from more than 70 current and former elected officials, including bipartisan support from notable figures like former governors Bob Kerrey and Ben Nelson, as well as former Republican senators Tom Brewer and John Stinner. Pansing Brooks highlighted the divisive political climate as motivation to return to public service and hopes to foster civil discourse and bipartisan cooperation in the Legislature. Throughout her previous tenure, she achieved legislative successes such as protecting survivors of human trafficking and improving juvenile confinement standards. No Republicans have yet announced plans to challenge for the reliably Democratic District 28 seat.