1976 United States Senate election in Nebraska

1976 United States Senate election in Nebraska

←  1970 November 2, 1976 1982  →

Nominee Edward Zorinsky John Y. McCollister Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 313,805 279,284 Percentage 52.89% 47.07%

County results Zorinsky:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% McCollister:      50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

U.S. senator before election Roman Hruska Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky Democratic

The 1976 United States Senate election in Nebraska took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Republican senator Roman Hruska decided to retire instead of seeking another term. Omaha Mayor Edward Zorinsky, a Republican, switched to the Democratic Party and narrowly won the Democratic primary, and then defeated Congressman John Y. McCollister, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Zorinsky became the first Democrat to win a Senate election in Nebraska since 1934, and the first Jewish person elected to statewide office in the state.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Edward Zorinsky, Mayor of Omaha
• Hess Dyas, former Chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, 1974 Democratic nominee for Nebraska's 1st congressional district ^[1]
• Leonore Etchison, economics graduate student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln ^[2]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward Zorinsky	79,988	48.58%
	Democratic	Hess Dyas	77,384	46.99%
	Democratic	Lenore R. Etchison	7,194	4.37%
	Democratic	Scattering	102	0.06%
Total votes			164,668	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Y. McCollister, U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district
• Richard Proud, former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature

Results

Republican primary ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Y. McCollister	150,732	78.35%
	Republican	Richard Proud	41,519	21.58%
	Republican	Scattering	122	0.06%
Total votes			192,373	100.00%

General election

1976 United States Senate election in Nebraska ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward Zorinsky	313,805	52.89%	+5.46%
	Republican	John Y. McCollister	279,284	47.07%	−5.42%
	Write-in		221	0.04%	—
Majority			34,521	5.82%	+0.76%
Total votes			593,310	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1976 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Hess Dyas Will File For Senate Tuesday". Lincoln Journal Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. January 11, 1976. p. 3B. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
2. "Candidate for senate nomination". Beatrice Dailiy Sun. Beatrice, Nebraska. February 24, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
3. Beerman, Allen J. (1976). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (PDF).