Zach Wendling
Nebraska Examiner
DUNBAR — Two days after launching her campaign, former State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar suspended her 2026 campaign for state treasurer and endorsed Fremont Mayor and State Treasurer-designate Joey Spellerberg.
Slama, in a two-paragraph statement Wednesday, said she sought to bring “new energy and a fresh perspective” to the State Treasurer’s Office. But after speaking with Spellerberg following the resignation of State Treasurer Tom Briese and Gov. Jim Pillen’s subsequent appointment of Spellerberg, she bowed out.
“I believe Joey will bring the energy and perspective needed in the role of state treasurer,” Slama said.
Nebraska’s state treasurer serves a four-year term with an annual salary of $85,000. The treasurer monitors the flow of public dollars for the state, with nearly $20 billion spread among pots of money from the state and federal governments and more. The office maintains a public database on state spending.
Slama on Monday had pledged to work “tirelessly to deliver conservative wins” and prevent tax dollars from going toward “radical liberal investments.” Slama decided not to seek reelection to the Legislature in 2024 after six years as a state senator.
Spellerberg, in a Wednesday statement, said he was “deeply grateful” for Slama’s trust and support. He described her as “instrumental in shaping the next generation of conservative leadership in Nebraska.”
“From her leadership in advancing election integrity with the overwhelming passage of the constitutional amendment for voter ID, to her remarkable advocacy for her district during the historic 2019 floods, Julie has set a strong example of effective and principled leadership,” Spellerberg said.
On Monday, Spellerberg told reporters he would bring his mayoral approach of controlling government spending to the state. He also intends to play a role in Pillen’s continued push to lower property taxes.
Property taxes had been a dividing point between Pillen and Slama in her final legislative year. She opposed Pillen-backed plans that Briese had advocated for and helped create. The plans were heavily dependent on expanded sales taxes.
While the treasurer has no formal role in that regard, Briese served as a lieutenant supporting Pillen’s ideas, such as in broadening the state’s sales tax base and having the state take on more of the burden of funding local schools.
Briese said he was resigning to spend more time with family after seven years as a state lawmaker and two years as treasurer. He is still a member of the state’s new School Financing Review Commission focused on revamping state funding of K-12 schools and lowering property taxes.
Briese’s final day is Thursday. He was appointed to the office Nov. 1, 2023, after the resignation of former State Treasurer John Murante. Spellerberg will be sworn into the office shortly after Briese’s resignation.
Slama would have faced Spellerberg in the May 12 Nebraska GOP primary for treasurer. She said that too often in the Republican Party, primary races can turn into “expensive and bitter feuds with no upside for voters or for our party.”
“This race will not be one of those circumstances,” Slama wrote.
Slama said she plans to refund any donations received in the past 48 hours. She thanked her family, friends and others for their support. She did not immediately respond to a text about how many donations she had received, or whether she intended to run for a different office in 2026.
