LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Attorney General Jon Bruning has declared his candidacy for Nebraska governor.
The 44-year-old Republican joined the crowded GOP primary field Saturday, about three months before the May 13th primary.
Bruning enters the race with immediate statewide name recognition. He has twice run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate, most recently in 2012. Bruning has been attorney general since 2003 and previously was a state senator.
He says he will hit the campaign trail Monday.
Governor Dave Heineman says it's unusual for someone to join so late and "become the initial front-runner."
The other Republican candidates are Omaha businessman Pete Ricketts, State Auditor Mike Foley, Omaha tax attorney Bryan Slone and Nebraska state Sens. Tom Carlson and Beau McCoy. Former University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
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