LINCOLN- Between March 1 and April 1, registered Republicans grew by 1,985 voters while Democrats lost 1,787.

That number could make a difference in a close primary race, said political consultant Perre Neilan, pointing out that Gov. Pete Ricketts won his first GOP gubernatorial primary, in a six-way race, by only 2,300 votes.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor Randy Adkins said that “savvy Democrats” probably realize that the race for governor will be decided in the GOP primary and that they may have the motivation to switch if there’s a clear difference between the candidates.

Former State Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, who switched from Republican to Democrat to run for governor in 2018 against Ricketts, recently switched back to the GOP.

Krist said that statistically speaking, the winner of the GOP primary has become the governor in Nebraska, so changing parties was a way to have an influence on the race.

He said he’s voting for Lindstrom, with whom he served in the State Legislature because Lindstrom is a “consensus seeker” and the only qualified candidate.

He added that Lindstrom’s politics are more moderate than either of the other front-runners in the Republican race, Falls City businessman Charles Herbster and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen.

Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively said it’s not unusual for voters to change party registrations ahead of a primary election.

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