LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Democratic Party and the national Working Families Party asked a Lancaster County judge Monday to block the state from recognizing the Working People Party as an official political party, arguing the group’s name and petition tactics were designed to confuse voters and alter the outcome of competitive races.
The Democratic Party filed for a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction in Lancaster County District Court aimed at preventing Secretary of State Bob Evnen from certifying the Working People Party after it submitted petitions earlier this month.
What the suit alleges
The complaint, filed against Evnen, party leader Robin Richards and the Nebraska Working People Party, lays out several central claims. Among them are accusations that the name and messaging were deliberately crafted to mimic the decades-old brand of the Working Families Party and to echo themes used by independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
- The lawsuit says the party’s name could be mistaken for the Working Families Party and therefore mislead voters.
- It references a paid petition circulator recorded telling a potential signer that the Working People Party would "take votes away from the Democrats."
- An open letter from unions linked to Nebraska’s AFL-CIO warns the party used outside, right-leaning signature-gathering firms and could cause vote splitting in close races.
“This isn’t a political party - it’s a con job cooked up by right-wing dark money and a sore-loser candidate to trick Nebraska voters and hand Pete Ricketts an easier path to reelection,” said Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
Leaders for the Working Families Party, which is not pursuing ballot access in Nebraska at this time, told state Democrats they are concerned the Working People Party’s name appropriates decades of brand-building and could block the Working Families Party from registering under its own name in Nebraska in the future.
Petition timeline and certification status
According to state filings and a statement from the secretary of state’s office, the Working People Party submitted completed petitions on July 14. Secretary Evnen said last week the petitions surpassed the statutory threshold; state verification of signatures stopped once the review reached 110% of the required number. The new lawsuit seeks a court ruling before Evnen finalizes party certification.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 14 | Working People Party submitted petitions |
| Early August | Secretary of State reported petitions reached statutory threshold; verification halted at 110% |
| Monday (filing date) | Democrats and Working Families Party filed motion for temporary restraining order and injunction |
The complaint asks the court to prevent certification, arguing that allowing the Working People Party to register now could cause irreversible harm to ballot integrity and to the branding rights of other organizations. The precise schedule for court proceedings has not been disclosed in the filings made public Monday.
Local impact and political context
State Democrats contend that the move could shift results in critical contests this fall by drawing votes away from Democratic and progressive nominees, potentially aiding Republicans. Nebraska political observers say any third party that gains official recognition can complicate electoral math in competitive districts, particularly in statewide contests where margins can be narrow.
The dispute also reflects growing national tensions between established progressive groups and more recently formed organizations that challenge existing party structures or endorse alternative candidates. In Nebraska, the suit highlights the intersection of ballot-access law, party branding and campaign strategy.
Secretary Evnen’s office confirmed the petitions met the threshold but has not yet acted to finalize certification while the legal action is pending. The Working People Party and representatives listed in the lawsuit did not immediately provide public responses to the filing Monday.
The case will be watched closely by parties and political operatives across the state, as court timing and rulings could affect ballot preparation and campaign strategy in the weeks ahead.
Nathan Ackerman is the state correspondent for WE NEWS.
