2018 Nebraska State Legislature election

Last updated
2018 Nebraska State Legislature election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
 2016November 6, 2018 2020  

24 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
25 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Leader Jim Scheer Burke Harr
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 19th 8th
Last election3215
Seats before3116
Seats won3018
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2

 Third partyFourth party
  3x4.svg Laura Ebke by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Leader Laura Ebke
(lost re-election)
Party Independent Libertarian
Leader's seat 32nd
Last election10
Seats before11
Seats won10
Seat changeSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1

Speaker before election

Jim Scheer
Republican

Elected Speaker

Jim Scheer
Republican

The 2018 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators [lower-alpha 1] in the 24 even-numbered seats of the 49 [lower-alpha 2] legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. Nebraska is unique among American states in that there is only one chamber in its state legislature, and this chamber is called the Unicameral and the State Legislature interchangeably. State senators serve four-year terms in the Nebraska Unicameral.

Contents

A top two primary election on May 15, 2018 determined which candidates appear on the November 6 general election ballot. Each candidate technically runs as a non-partisan (i.e., no party preference).

Following the 2016 elections, Republicans maintained effective control of the Nebraska State Legislature with 32 seats. Democrats increased their numbers from 15 to 16 seats when State Senator Bob Krist of the 10th legislative district switched parties from Republican to Democrat. [1] Furthermore, Republican State Senator Jim Smith resigned from office, leaving an open seat for Republicans to defend in the 14th legislative district. [2]

On election day 2018, the Unicameral consisted of 31 Republican seats [lower-alpha 3] , 16 Democratic seats, and 1 seat each for Independent Sen. Ernie Chambers and Libertarian Sen. Laura Ebke. The Democrats net gained 2 seats, while the Republicans net lost one and the chamber's lone Libertarian was defeated.

Summary of Results by State Legislative District

State Legislative District Incumbent PartyElected SenatorParty
2nd Robert Clements RepRobert ClementsRep
4th Robert Hilkemann RepRobert HilkemannRep
6th Theresa Thibodeau Rep Machaela Cavanaugh Dem
8th Burke Harr Dem Megan Hunt Dem
10th Bob Krist Dem Wendy DeBoer Dem
12th Merv Riepe Rep Steve Lathrop Dem
14th Vacant [2] Rep John Arch Rep
16th Lydia Brasch Rep Ben Hansen Rep
18th Brett Lindstrom RepBrett LindstromRep
20th John S. McCollister RepJohn S. McCollisterRep
22nd Paul Schumacher Rep Mike Moser Rep
24th Mark Kolterman RepMark KoltermanRep
26th Matt Hansen DemMatt HansenDem
28th Patty Pansing Brooks DemPatty Pansing BrooksDem
30th Roy Baker Rep Myron Dorn Rep
32nd Laura Ebke Lib Tom Brandt Rep
34th Curt Friesen RepCurt FriesenRep
36th Matt Williams RepMatt WilliamsRep
38th John Kuehn Rep Dave Murman Rep
40th Tyson Larson Rep Tim Gragert Rep
42nd Mike Groene RepMike GroeneRep
44th Dan Hughes RepDan HughesRep
46th Adam Morfeld DemAdam MorfeldDem
48th John Stinner RepJohn StinnerRep

Sources: [3] [4]

Detailed Results

District 2District 4District 6District 8District 10District 12District 14District 16District 18District 20District 22District 24District 26District 28District 30District 32District 34District 36District 38District 40District 42District 44District 46District 48

District 2

Nebraska's 2nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 2,867 47.81
Democratic Susan D. Lorence 2,252 37.55
Republican James Bond [lower-alpha 4] [7] 87814.64
Total votes5,997 100.0
General election
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 7,965 56.96
Democratic Susan D. Lorence6,01943.04
Total votes13,984 100.0
Republican hold

District 4

Nebraska's 4th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert "Bob" Hilkemann (incumbent) 2,842 56.70
Democratic Shannon Coryell 2,170 43.30
Total votes5,012 100.0
General election
Republican Robert "Bob" Hilkemann (incumbent) 8,964 60.95
Democratic Shannon Coryell5,74339.05
Total votes14,707 100.0
Republican hold

District 6

Nebraska's 6th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent) 3,641 51.30
Democratic Machaela Cavanaugh 3,027 42.65
Independent Ricky Fulton4296.04
Total votes7,097 100.0
General election
Democratic Machaela Cavanaugh 7,733 50.95
Republican Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent)7,44549.05
Total votes15,178 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 8

Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 8th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Megan Hunt 3,284 56.38
Democratic Mina Davis 1,299 22.30
Democratic Josh Henningsen1,24221.32
Total votes5,825 100.0
General election
Democratic Megan Hunt 7,634 64.11
Democratic Mina Davis4,27435.89
Total votes11,908 100.0
Democratic hold

District 10

Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 10th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Wendy DeBoer 3,253 57.31
Republican Matt Deaver 2,423 42.69
Total votes5,676 100.0
General election
Democratic Wendy DeBoer 8,306 50.32
Republican Matt Deaver8,20149.68
Total votes16,507 100.0
Democratic hold

District 12

Nebraska's 12th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Lathrop 2,658 53.47
Republican Merv Riepe (incumbent) 2,313 46.53
Total votes4,971 100.0
General election
Democratic Steve Lathrop 7,030 55.84
Republican Merv Riepe (incumbent)5,55944.16
Total votes12,589 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 14

Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 14th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Arch 3,462 60.02
Democratic Jeff Parris 2,306 39.98
Total votes5,768 100.0
General election
Republican John Arch 7,625 55.82
Democratic Jeff Parris6,03544.18
Total votes13,660 100.0
Republican hold

District 16

Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 16th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ben Hansen 4,620 58.77
Democratic Chuck Hassebrook 3,241 41.23
Total votes7,861 100.0
General election
Republican Ben Hansen 9,109 61.59
Democratic Chuck Hassebrook5,68038.41
Total votes14,789 100.0
Republican hold

District 18

Nebraska's 18th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brett Lindstrom (incumbent) 2,922 56.15
Democratic Scott Winkler 1,937 37.22
Democratic Austin Hennrich3456.63
Total votes5,204 100.0
General election
Republican Brett Lindstrom (incumbent) 6,874 53.60
Democratic Scott Winkler5,95046.40
Total votes12,824 100.0
Republican hold

District 20

Nebraska's 20th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John S. McCollister (incumbent) 4,213 63.23
Democratic Jackie Collett 1,968 29.54
Democratic Chris Anne Dienstbier4827.23
Total votes6,663 100.0
General election
Republican John S. McCollister (incumbent) 8,689 58.80
Democratic Jackie Collett6,08941.20
Total votes14,778 100.0
Republican hold

District 22

Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 22nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Moser 3,578 56.12
Republican Doug Oertwich 1,366 21.42
Democratic Francis P. Kuehler1,10217.28
Independent Kenneth G. Leischner3305.18
Total votes6,376 100.0
General election
Republican Mike Moser 7,896 64.30
Republican Doug Oertwich4,38335.70
Total votes12,279 100.0
Republican hold

District 24

Nebraska's 24th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent) 3,795 72.07
Democratic Stephanie Nantkes 1,471 27.93
Total votes5,266 100.0
General election
Republican Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent) 9,501 73.46
Democratic Stephanie Nantkes3,43326.54
Total votes12,934 100.0
Republican hold

District 26

Nebraska's 26th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Matt Hansen (incumbent) 4,223 76.96
Republican Bob Van Valkenburg 1,264 23.04
Total votes5,487 100.0
General election
Democratic Matt Hansen (incumbent) 9,046 73.16
Republican Bob Van Valkenburg3,31926.84
Total votes12,365 100.0
Democratic hold

District 28

Nebraska's 28th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent) 6,263 100.0
Total votes6,263 100.0
General election
Democratic Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent) 11,717 100.0
Total votes11,717 100.0
Democratic hold

District 30

Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 30th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Myron Dorn 3,161 40.50
Democratic Don Schuller 2,977 38.15
Republican Joe Murray1,66621.35
Total votes7,804 100.0
General election
Republican Myron Dorn 7,923 52.98
Democratic Don Schuller7,03247.02
Total votes14,955 100.0
Republican hold

District 32

Nebraska's 32nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Brandt 3,514 44.45
Libertarian Laura Ebke (incumbent) 2,612 33.04
Republican Al Riskowski1,78022.51
Total votes7,906 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Brandt 8,154 56.42
Libertarian Laura Ebke (incumbent)6,29943.58
Total votes14,453 100.0
Republican gain from Libertarian

District 34

Nebraska's 34th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Curt Friesen (incumbent) 5,784 100.0
Total votes5,784 100.0
General election
Republican Curt Friesen (incumbent) 10,796 100.0
Total votes10,796 100.0
Republican hold

District 36

Nebraska's 36th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Williams (incumbent) 4,520 100.0
Total votes4,520 100.0
General election
Republican Matt Williams (incumbent) 9,816 100.0
Total votes9,816 100.0
Republican hold

District 38

John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 38th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dave Murman 3,206 45.76
Democratic Marsha Fangmeyer 1,633 23.31
Democratic Thomas Osborn1,05915.12
Republican Ronald L. Johnson4165.94
Democratic Michael D. Combs3915.58
Republican Andrew Murphy3014.30
Total votes7,006 100.0
General election
Republican Dave Murman 9,114 64.27
Democratic Marsha Fangmeyer5,06735.73
Total votes14,181 100.0
Republican hold

District 40

Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 40th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Timothy J. Gragert 1,666 20.38
Republican Keith F. Kube 1,590 19.45
Republican Shane Greckel1,48718.19
Republican Thomas E. Ferry1,33116.28
Republican Michael A. Sobotka1,15114.08
Republican Julie Thomsen95111.63
Total votes8,176 100.0
General election
Republican Timothy J. Gragert 7,222 51.63
Republican Keith F. Kube6,76748.37
Total votes13,989 100.0
Republican hold

District 42

Nebraska's 42nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Groene (incumbent) 4,242 100.0
Total votes4,242 100.0
General election
Republican Mike Groene (incumbent) 8,180 67.13
Republican Judy Pederson4,00532.87
Total votes12,185 100.0
Republican hold

District 44

Nebraska's 44th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Hughes (incumbent) 5,251 76.23
Independent Stephanie L. Malcolm 1,637 23.77
Total votes6,888 100.0
General election
Republican Dan Hughes (incumbent) 9,872 77.31
Independent Stephanie L. Malcolm2,89822.69
Total votes12,770 100.0
Republican hold

District 46

Nebraska's 46th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Adam Morfeld (incumbent) 2,360 100.0
Total votes2,360 100.0
General election
Democratic Adam Morfeld (incumbent) 5,776 100.0
Total votes5,776 100.0
Democratic hold

District 48

Nebraska's 48th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John P. Stinner (incumbent) 3,773 100.0
Total votes3,773 100.0
General election
Republican John P. Stinner (incumbent) 9,041 100.0
Total votes9,041 100.0
Republican hold
  1. Although Nebraska's legislature is unicameral, the officeholders are called Senators.
  2. The odd-numbered districts were elected in 2016 and will be up for election again in 2020.
  3. Including Sen. Smith's vacated seat in the 14th legislative district.
  4. Endorsed Susan Lorence, the Democrat.

See also

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References

  1. "Sen. Krist makes it official: He's switching party affiliation..." Omaha World-Herald . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Jim Smith Resigns as Senator; Ricketts Will Leave Seat Open". Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  3. "Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018". Ballotpedia . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  4. "Official Results: Primary Election -- May 15, 2018". Nebraska Secretary of State . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  5. "Candidates for State Legislature". Nebraska Republican Party . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  6. "Candidates". Nebraska Democratic Party . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  7. "James Bond for Nebraska" . Retrieved September 3, 2018.