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B By Petition · U.S. House 3, Nebraska · Nov 3, 2026

Mark
Cohen

Independent candidate Mark Cohen is running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District seat in 2026 against Republican incumbent Adrian Smith.

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
14
positions
12
endorsements
10
markfornebraska.org ↗(opens in a new tab) YouTube(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Adrian Smith R+ 2 more Compare race →

Background

Mark Cohen is an independent candidate running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District in 2026. He is a resident of Lemoyne, Nebraska, who grew up in Colorado and made Lemoyne his primary home during the pandemic. He holds an economics degree from Whitman College and an LL.M. in agricultural law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. 12

Cohen served four years as an Air Force judge advocate at Offutt Air Force Base, including two years as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for Nebraska. After active duty, he practiced law in Omaha for eight years, representing an agricultural lender during the late-1980s farm crisis, and later served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Arkansas School of Law. He also previously served as a municipal judge and spent three years on the Colorado Boxing Commission. 12

At the time of his campaign, Cohen teaches karate in Ogallala and occasionally handles legal matters in Colorado; he is not licensed to practice law in Nebraska. He was certified as an independent candidate for the NE-03 race in 2026, challenging the nonpartisan label in a district where Republican incumbent Adrian Smith holds the seat. 81112

At a glance

Party
By Petition
Running for
U.S. House · District 3, Nebraska
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
markfornebraska.org(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 8
    debate
    Cohen tours ten Sandhills towns and stages mock 'debate' against cardboard cutout of Adrian Smith

    According to a campaign press release, Cohen visited ten Sandhills towns on October 8 with his dog, then attended a fundraiser at Johnson Lake that concluded with a 'debate' against a cardboard cutout of incumbent Adrian Smith, who had declined invitations to debate Cohen or other candidates. The campaign said it planned to post video of the event. This account comes from the campaign's own release; no actual debate between candidates took place.

    Nebraska Congressional Candidate and His Giant Dog Visit Ten Towns in One Day · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sep 30
    news
    Southeast News Channel Nebraska covers Cohen's pitch for independence from two-party system

    Southeast News Channel Nebraska reported on Cohen's campaign message emphasizing independence from the two-party system as a central theme of his congressional run.

    Independent NE-03 candidate Mark Cohen pitching ‘independence’ from two-party system - Southeast News Channel Nebraska · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 29
    endorsement
    NEBFARMPAC endorses Cohen — first independent it has backed in NE-03

    The Nebraska Farmers Union's political action committee announced its endorsement of Cohen for the general election. The PAC's secretary noted Cohen was the first independent candidate it had supported for the district since its formation, citing his agricultural-law experience and military legal service.

    NEBFARMPAC Endorses Mark Cohen for Third Congressional District | Country 96.5 - KRGI-FM · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sep 25
    news
    Cohen called Iran war 'unnecessary' during late-August livestream Q&A

    Courier Nebraska reported that Cohen, during a late-August Q&A livestream, echoed Democratic candidate Becky Stille's description of the Iran war as 'unnecessary.' The account is a reported characterization of his remarks, not a full transcript.

    Nebraska Republicans run on affordability, support Iran war · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 24
    news
    Lexington Clipper-Herald quotes Cohen aiming to hold both parties 'feet to the fire'

    The Lexington Clipper-Herald reported on Cohen's campaign message, quoting his stated aim to put both parties' feet to the fire as an independent candidate for NE-03.

    Independent Mark Cohen aims to hold both parties’ ‘feet to the fire’ · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 22
    news
    KETV reports five candidates running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District

    KETV identified Cohen as one of five candidates in the NE-03 race. It described him as a former Air Force judge advocate and attorney whose priorities include rural health care, agriculture, and affordability. He said he would seek to reverse Medicaid cuts and reduce regulatory burdens on rural hospitals.

    Five candidates running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 18
    filing
    Kearney County election notice confirms Cohen on November ballot

    Kearney County's official Notice of Election listed Mark Cohen among candidates who had fulfilled the legal requirements to appear on that county's November 3 general election ballot.

    Notice of Election · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jul 31
    filing
    Mark Cohen submits petition signatures for NE-03 ballot access

    Cohen submitted petition signatures to secure a place on the November 3 general election ballot as a nonpartisan candidate. County election notices, including Kearney County's September 18 notice, list him as a candidate 'By Petition' who fulfilled legal requirements to appear on the ballot.

    Nebraska's 3rd district · 2026 election | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Owen Palm other
    Former commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and former Western Sugar Cooperative CEO. markfornebraska.org · Oct 8, 2026
  • Rick Medema other
    Former Valentine city manager. markfornebraska.org · Oct 7, 2026
  • Nebraska Farmers Union PAC (NEBFARMPAC) organization
    The PAC endorsed Cohen for the general election in Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District. Nebraska Farmers Union's secretary said it was the first time the PAC had supported an independent candidate for the district seat. (Campaign gives date as September 28; a radio report gives September 29.) krgi.com · Sep 28, 2026
  • Jim Jenkins other
    Former independent U.S. Senate candidate; currently serves as an elected board member of Callaway District Hospital. markfornebraska.org · Sep 27, 2026
  • Trent Loos other
    Agricultural activist and broadcaster. markfornebraska.org · Sep 26, 2026
  • Midwest Nebraska Central Labor Council union
    The labor council endorsed Cohen. Its president, Jeff Cooley, said the council was "proud to endorse him." The campaign describes the CLC as one of nearly 500 state and local AFL-CIO labor councils. markfornebraska.org · Sep 12, 2026
  • Stand Up Nebraska organization
    The group said it was backing Cohen and that his campaign "offers the best prospects for pro-democracy results." Its district page describes a decision to invest pro-democracy resources in his campaign. standupnebraska.org · Jun 7, 2026
  • Jerry Kuenning other
    Former president of the Nebraska Cattlemen. The campaign published two endorsement announcements for him; a later announcement is dated September 30, 2026. markfornebraska.org · Apr 4, 2026
  • Matt Beat ("Mr. Beat") other
    History and civics educator and video creator. markfornebraska.org · Feb 25, 2026
  • Cella Quinn other
    Former Lincoln Journal Star reporter and co-founder of the Nebraska ACLU. markfornebraska.org · Dec 9, 2025

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$33K
Spent
$31K
Cash on hand
$5,975

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6NE03198(opens in a new tab)

Sources 14

  1. [1] News(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
  2. [2] Nebraska Congressional Candidate and His Giant Dog Visit Ten Towns in One Day(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  3. [3] 3rd Cong Dist — Stand Up Nebraska Campaign(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  4. [4] Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  5. [5] 3rd Congressional District voter guide: Meet the ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  6. [6] Independent NE-03 candidate Mark Cohen pitching ‘independence’ from two-party system - Southeast News Channel Nebraska(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
  7. [7] NEBFARMPAC Endorses Mark Cohen for Third Congressional District | AM 1430 KRGI/105.5 FM(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
  8. [8] NEBFARMPAC Endorses Mark Cohen for Third Congressional District | Country 96.5 - KRGI-FM(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
  9. [9] Nebraska's 3rd district · 2026 election | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
  10. [10] Nebraska Republicans run on affordability, support Iran war(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
  11. [11] Independent Mark Cohen aims to hold both parties’ ‘feet to the fire’(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  12. [12] Five candidates running for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
  13. [13] Notice of Election(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  14. [14] Nebraska's 3rd District boasts crowded field, new ideas(opens in a new tab) Mar 26, 2026
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