Another political party files paperwork to form in Nebraska

It is the second party to start organizing in the state within the last week, as allegations of outside attempts to influence close races for the U.S. House and Senate fly.

"The purpose of the America First Party is to provide voters with a political organization committed to putting Americans and Nebraskans ahead of all others by cracking down on out-of-control government spending and wasteful foreign aid, getting tough on illegal immigrants, standing up against abortion and rigidly defending the Second Amendment," the party's written purpose states. 

America First organizers will join organizers for the Nebraska Working People Party in an attempt to gather signatures to join Nebraska's November ballot. The Working People Party filed paperwork with the state to start gathering signatures on June 25, and organizers started collecting signatures in Omaha this weekend. 

Mysterious new political party begins collecting signatures in Nebraska

Creating a new political party requires signatures from 1% of the number of voters participating in Nebraska's last election for governor, or roughly 6,700, by July 15. But it requires that the 1% mark be hit in all three congressional districts, which would require more than 2,200 signatures in each.

Who's behind both party-organizing efforts is not yet clear. 

John Cartier, an attorney who also serves as the attorney general of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, submitted the paperwork for the America First Party.

He declined to speak about the party's motivations or which races, if any, it might field candidates for this fall. 

Cartier told The World-Herald in an email: "People are angry and tired of the bull. ... The America First Party is here to give voters options."

The rise of new political parties has again sparked speculation about spoilers and plants in Nebraska. Both Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and registered nonpartisan challenger Dan Osborn have accused each other of influencing candidates to run in party primaries to confuse voters. 

Cartier is also listed as the treasurer for Legal Marijuana NOW party's Senate candidate Mike Marvin. Party members have accused Marvin of being a plant to support Osborn in his bid to unseat Ricketts. Osborn's camp has denied working with Marvin.

Cartier also served as the treasurer for Kerry Eddy, the LMN party nominee for Senate in 2024, who dropped out because she said Osborn, who also ran for Senate in 2024, was a viable candidate to beat Sen. Deb Fischer. 

People have accused the Ricketts team and Nebraska Republicans of backing a candidate, Paxton pastor and anti-abortion activist Bill Forbes, in the Democratic primary. Forbes denied being a Ricketts plant and lost in the primary.

Representatives from the state's Republican and Democratic parties denied involvement in the America First Party. 

"We had no idea this party was being formed," Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a text message. "We are laser focused on the hundreds of Democrats running across the state up and down the ballot."

Kleeb suggested parties are being formed with "billionaire backers," whereas Democrats are forming a coalition to "end corrupt one-party Republican rule." 

Earlier this week, Kleeb accused Ricketts or his backers of being involved in the Working Families effort and of trying to divide voters.

Nebraska Republican Party Chair Mary Jane Treumper shot back at Kleeb.

"Rigging primaries wasn't enough for Jane Kleeb. Now her Nebraska Democrats are behind a fraudulent 'America First Party,' filed by Democrat lawyer and Dan Osborn associate John Cartier, designed to trick conservative voters into splitting their vote," she said in a written statement. 

Neither Ricketts' team nor Osborn's has publicly addressed the push for new parties. 

The America First Party was last a national party during World War II that focused on isolationist policies. It operated from 1943 to 1947. A modern-day version of the party has a website, but it was not immediately clear whether that group is affiliated with the one petitioning in Nebraska.

Robin Richards of Ralston, who recently ran a write-in campaign for the Legislature's District 12 seat, filed the paperwork for the Working Families Party. Richards serves on the Ralston school board and ran for Legislature as a Democrat in 2022. She ran a write-in campaign for Legislature in this year's primary.  

Spoiler allegations fly as five Nebraskans join US Senate race just before deadline

This weekend, political observers shared theories with The World-Herald about the Working Families Party's motivations. Some speculated about a handful of angry Democrats who ran for office and want to make the party pay. Others talked about an organized internal fight. Still others said it might be a GOP conspiracy to siphon votes and make the math harder for non-Republicans.

Some speculated Wednesday that the newest party push might be a Democratic-backed effort to claw back any mathematical advantage the Republicans might have gained with the workers' party. 

The general election in Nebraska is Nov. 3.