Country
before party.

“For most of my adult life, I've had the privilege of serving my country and the people of Nebraska,” Krist said. “I wore the uniform of the United States Air Force for 21 years and served Nebraskans in the Legislature for nearly a decade. Those experiences taught me a lesson that has guided me throughout my life: the mission comes before the individual, and country comes before party. That is the kind of leadership I believe Nebraska needs in its next Secretary of State.”

Krist served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 until retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2000. His military career included service during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and assignments associated with Strategic Air Command and the Looking Glass airborne command post mission at Offutt Air Force Base. His decorations include the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Aerial Achievement Medal. In 2014, Krist was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame.

Krist continued his public service in 2009 when Republican Gov. Dave Heineman appointed him to represent District 10 in the Nebraska Legislature. Voters elected him to a full term in 2010 and reelected him in 2014. During his legislative tenure, Krist served on committees including Government, Judiciary, General Affairs and Urban Affairs, and his fellow senators elected him chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board.

“The Secretary of State should not be the chief election officer for Republicans, Democrats or any political movement,” Krist said. “The Secretary of State works for every Nebraska voter. The job is to administer elections fairly, enforce the law consistently, protect the ballot, make it easy to vote legally and difficult to cheat — and then have the courage to accept and certify the results, regardless of who wins.”

Krist said election security and confidence in legitimate election results should go hand in hand. “We should verify that our elections are secure. We should maintain strong safeguards against fraud and abuse, and we should demand transparency and accountability,” Krist said. “And when those safeguards demonstrate that an election was conducted fairly and lawfully, public officials have an obligation to respect the will of the voters. Trust and verify. Then respect the result. That shouldn't be a Republican principle or a Democratic principle. It should be an American principle.”

Krist's candidacy follows a political path that has crossed traditional party lines. He was appointed and elected to the Legislature as a Republican, later became an independent and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2018. He subsequently returned to being a nonpartisan voter. “I've been called a Republican. I've been called a Democrat. I've been an independent,” Krist said. “Those labels have changed. My values haven't. I believe in a strong America. I believe in responsible government and the rule of law. I believe public officials should tell people the truth. And I believe elected officials should have the courage to put their country and their state ahead of their political party.”

Krist said his decision to run with the newly qualified America First Party reflects his belief that Nebraska voters deserve more choices. “Competition is healthy in business, and it is healthy in democracy,” Krist said. “Nebraska voters shouldn't have to choose between two political parties simply because those are the choices they've always been given. For me, America First means exactly what the words say: America before political party, Nebraska before political party, and public service before personal ambition.”

Krist said the Secretary of State race may receive less attention than campaigns for governor, Congress or the U.S. Senate, but few offices have a more fundamental responsibility to Nebraska's democracy. “Every other election depends upon Nebraskans having confidence in the system that counts their votes,” Krist said. “If people stop believing elections are administered competently, honestly and impartially, everything else in our democracy becomes harder. This isn't an office for political theater. It isn't an office for someone looking for the next rung on the political ladder. It is an office for a public servant.”

Krist said his campaign will emphasize election integrity and transparency, strong safeguards against fraud, modernization where appropriate, support for Nebraska's county election officials and confidence that the state's chief election officer serves voters rather than a political party.

“I've flown missions where failure wasn't an option. I've sat across the table from Republicans and Democrats trying to solve difficult problems for Nebraska. I've made tough decisions and taken positions that weren't always politically convenient,” Krist said. “At this point in my life, I'm not looking for another title. I'm looking for another opportunity to serve. And I believe my experience, independence and record of service have prepared me to serve as Nebraska's next Secretary of State.”