Who's in, who's out; time to update your list

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Remember that list we made last August to keep track of who's running for what in the May primary? Well let's get it updated and see where we stand now that the Legislature has convened its second session and we are heading toward the actual primary where we can considerably shorten certain parts of the list.

If you haven't done it yet, get a large sheet of paper and divide it into grids with a wide column for Governor and one for U.S. Senate. Beside each wide column you should have two narrow columns indicating In and Out. Post the paper in an appropriate place: your garage; your basement; the back of the bathroom door.

Write in the names of the usual suspects, but do it in pencil. These things change quicker than a columnist can keep track. Under Governor you can list Democrats or Republicans in whatever order suits your voter registration card. Hint: leave more space for Republicans since there're more of them in Nebraska. Same routine with the Senate race. If you have some extra time on your hands, you could track the legislative races that are open, but these will be different for different areas of the state and your legislator -- you do know his or her name, right? -- may not even be running this year.

No more than half the body, even or odd district numbers, is up for election unless an appointee faces election regardless of the district number. This year there are 17 legislative races.

Let's look at Governor/Republicans. Three incumbent state Senators still in the race. Senator Tom Carlson of Holdrege, Senator Charlie Janssen of Fremont and Senator Beau McCoy of Elkhorn. Yes, I know that Omaha annexed the community several years ago, but I still call Millard Millard and Ralston Ralston.

State Auditor Mike Foley, a former state senator, is also seeking the Republican nomination as are Omaha businessman Pete Ricketts and, the most recent Republican to join the pack, Omaha tax attorney Bryan Slone. That's slicing the Republican vote six ways.

There's likely going to be one or two who receive the majority of the votes and the others will have a slim piece. There is just one winner.

On the Democrat side, former University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook is all-alone on the list. The Lyons resident is also the former longtime head of the Center for Rural Affairs. You'll have to erase state Senator Annette Dubas of Fullerton -- you remember that I urged you to use pencil -- who said the campaign was taking too much of a toll on her family.

There doesn't appear to be any challenge to Hassebrook and, once again, the Democrats are hoping that the Republican primary battle weakens their chosen one and makes for a more fair fight in the November election. This will be an interesting one to watch.

Now go to the U.S. Senate column, under Republicans. Former State Treasurer and decorated Navy veteran, Shane Osborn, has officially been joined by Midland University President Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services during the last two years of the George W. Bush Administration. Pinnacle Bancorp Chairman Sid Dinsdale of Omaha and Omaha lawyer Bart McLeay are also in the race. There is nothing to write in the Democrat column, yet. But add an Independent column and pencil in Central Nebraska businessman and rancher Jim Jenkins (of Custer County) and Lincoln businessman Todd Watson.

First District Representative Jeff Fortenberry has competition in the Republican primary from church music director Dennis Parker. Democrat attorney Dennis Crawford has also filed. Second District Congressman Lee Terry faces Republican primary opposition from businessman Dan Frei. Third District Republican incumbent Adrian Smith has no primary opponent yet but will face Democrat farmer and feedlot owner Mark Sullivan. There has been talk of a Republican primary challenge from retired military Col. Tom Brewer in this race. And Omaha Democrat David Domina might jump into some race sometime soon.

Keep your pencils ready. Things will be heating up sooner than later.