Are they refunded?
In British national elections a candidate has to put a deposit down (to discourage frivolous candidates) of £500, but this is refunded if he gains more than 5% of the votes. Nominating signatures are also needed, but a very low number (think about 10 qualified electors for the election concerned).
I don't think so; I've never heard of filing fees being refunded.
The thing that involves no fees, but a collection of petitions, is to put a minor political party on the ballot (and then its candidates pay the appropriate filing fees).
Once it's on the ballot, as long as its candidates get circa 5% of the vote, it's okay to go.
But if the candidates don't get 5% in a general election, the party "disappears" from recognition, and they have to start all over again. In my lifetime, this has happened to the Libertarian party at least once, and some fringe left parties.....but damn it, the Green Party always manages to get 5%, and so they don't have to start all over again.
But of course the Green Party cuts into the (D) vote, not the (R) vote.
I'm not sure if one of the Socialist parties (there's lots and lots of them) has ever been recognized by Nebraska, but I think this is a better avenue for Chief Weeping Bulls' energies.
But as that would involve a lot of work and there's nothing in it personally for Chief Weeping Bull, forget it.