LINCOLN — Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen on Tuesday picked Joe Kelly, one of the state’s top prosecutors, as his running mate.

Kelly served as U.S. attorney for Nebraska from 2018 to 2021, Lancaster County attorney from 2011 to 2018, and currently leads the Criminal Bureau for the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.

Kelly and Pillen have known one another since they were students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where Pillen is now a regent.

“Jim is somebody who I’ve known for 40 years … and he’s just a perfect fit for the job,” Kelly said. “A job-creating veterinarian, ag producer, built a large organization.”

The Pillen team highlighted Kelly's 25 years of work as a prosecutor, trial attorney, and government administrator.

“Joe Kelly has dedicated his career to enforcing our laws, pursuing justice, and serving the people of Nebraska,” Pillen said in a statement. “As his friend for over 40 years, I know Joe to be a leader of the highest integrity who gets results and always puts service before self.”

Pillen is currently in a close race for the Republican nomination for governor with Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha.

Kelly hopes to "take the facts as they are" as lieutenant governor, similar to his approach as a prosecutor.

He went on to say that Nebraskans are getting the chance to meet Pillen in more than 300 events across the state. They are getting to know the real Pillen, not the man on TV ads, he said.

“He is easygoing,” Kelly said of Pillen. “He’s loyal to his friends and family. He cares deeply about his community. He’s got a very good sense of humor. He can laugh at himself.”

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