1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election

1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election

←  1978 November 2, 1982 1986  →

Nominee Bob Kerrey Charles Thone Party Democratic Republican Running mate Donald McGinley Roland Luedtke Popular vote 277,436 270,203 Percentage 50.6% 49.3%

County results Kerrey:     50–60%     60–70% Thone:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

Governor before election Charles Thone Republican Elected Governor Bob Kerrey Democratic

The 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, and featured businessman Bob Kerrey, a Democrat, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican governor Charles Thone.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

• George B. Burrows, Nebraska state senator
• Bob Kerrey, businessman and Vietnam War veteran

Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Kerrey	87,913	70.98
	Democratic	George "Bill" Burrows	35,426	28.60
	Democratic	Write-in	514	0.42

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• Edward Conradt, political newcomer who was a tower operator and clerk for Burlington Northern Railroad from Lincoln, Nebraska ^[2]
• Donald F. McGinley, former United States Representative from 1959 to 1961 and former member of the Nebraska Legislature in what was then District 39 from 1955 to 1959 and 1963 to 1965 from Ogallala, Nebraska. ^{[3] [2]}

Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Donald F. McGinley	67,047	65.61
	Democratic	Edward Conradt	34,901	34.15
	Democratic	Write-in	239	0.23

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

• Barton E. Chandler
• Stan Deboer
• Charles Thone, incumbent governor

Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Thone (incumbent)	115,750	62.49
	Republican	Stan Deboer	55,983	30.22
	Republican	Barton E. Chandler	13,086	7.06
	Republican	Write-in	426	0.23

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• Howard A. Lamb, member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 43 since 1977 from Anselmo, Nebraska. ^[3]
• Roland A. Luedtke, incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
• Ken Smith, farmer from Ithaca, Nebraska, and Saunders County supervisor ^[4]

Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roland A. Luedtke (incumbent)	90,922	53.27
	Republican	Howard A. Lamb	57,871	33.90
	Republican	Ken Smith	21,822	12.78
	Republican	Write-in	81	0.05

General election

Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1982 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Kerrey	277,436	50.64%
	Republican	Charles Thone (incumbent)	270,203	49.32%
	Write-in	Others	263	0.05%
Total votes			547,902	100.0%
	Democratic gain from Republican

By County

By county

County Person Democratic Person Republican Various candidates Other parties Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % Adams County Antelope County Arthur County Banner County Blaine County Boone County Box Butte County Boyd County Brown County Buffalo County Burt County Butler County Cass County Cedar County Chase County Cherry County Cheyenne County Clay County Colfax County Cuming County Custer County Dakota County Dawes County Dawson County Deuel County Dixon County Dodge County Douglas County Dundy County Fillmore County Franklin County Frontier County Furnas County Gage County Garden County Garfield County Gosper County Grant County Greeley County Hall County Hamilton County Hayes County Hitchcock County Holt County Hooker County Howard County Jefferson County Johnson County Kearney County Keith County Keya Paha County Kimball County Knox County Lancaster County Lincoln County Logan County Loup County Madison County McPherson County Merrick County Morrill County Nance County Nance County Nemaha County Nuckolls County Otoe County Pawnee County Perkins County Phelps County Pierce County Platte County Polk County Red Willow County Richardson County Rock County Saline County Sarpy County Saunders County Scotts Bluff County Seward County Sheridan County Sioux County Stanton County Thayer County Stanton County Thurston County Valley County Washington County Wayne County Webster County Wheeler County York County Totals

References

1. "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - Primary Election, May 11, 1982 & General Election, November 2, 1982" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State.
2. "Ex-senator, novice seek No. 2 spot". Lincoln Journal Star. May 5, 1982. p. 15. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
3. State of Nebraska, 2020-21 Nebraska Blue Book (PDF), pp. 317–378, retrieved May 29, 2023
4. "Smith cites citizens' activity". Lincoln Journal Star. February 24, 1982. p. 23. Retrieved June 21, 2023.