At least one of the two Democrats who looked at running for Governor earlier this year and said no, is saying no again.

University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook tells Nebraska Watchdog he will not be taking on Republican Governor Dave Heineman in November. Hassebrook says for personal and professional reasons this “would not be a great time for me to run.” 

Last Friday Democrat Mark Lakers pulled out of the race as his beleaguered campaign failed to gain any traction. For the last several weeks Lakers has been under investigation for filing false campaign statements. Several people accused Lakers of listing them as donors who pledged to contribute to his campaign, people who insist they never promised to give Lakers a dime.

One other Democrat, Douglas County Commissioner Mike Boyle, took a look at the race earlier this year but also decided not to run. While some Democrats are hoping Boyle reconsiders, Nebraska Watchdog has been unable to contact the former Omaha Mayor for comment.

Most political insiders believe that whoever, if anyone, the Democrats find to take on Heineman, beating the incumbent Governor is all but impossible.

Hassebrook wouldn’t rule out an upset altogether though telling Nebraska Watchdog it would be “difficult at best, although stranger things have happened.”

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Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org