2018 Nebraska elections

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2018 Nebraska elections
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  2016
2020  

The 2018 Nebraska elections were held on November 6, 2018. All of Nebraska's executive were up for election, as well as a United States Senate seat, all three of Nebraska's seats in the United States House of Representatives, half of the seats in the Nebraska Legislature, and seats on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Regents.

Contents

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer ran for re-election to a second term. She defeated former Lancaster County Commissioner Jane Raybould, the Democratic nominee, in the general election with 58% of the vote.

2018 United States Senate election in Nebraska [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Deb Fischer (inc.) 403,151 57.69% −0.08%
Democratic Jane Raybould 269,91738.62%−3.61%
Libertarian Jim Schultz25,3493.63
Write-in 4660.07%
Majority133,23419.06%+3.52%
Total votes698,883 100.00%
Republican hold

United States House of Representatives

All three Republican members of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska ran for re-election. All three won re-election.

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska by district: [1]

District Republican Democratic OthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 141,71260.36%93,06939.64%00.00%234,781100%Republican hold
District 2 126,71551.00%121,77049.00%00.00%248,485100%Republican hold
District 3 163,65076.72%49,65423.28%00.00%213,304100%Republican hold
Total432,07762.56%264,49335.19%00.00%696,570100%

Governor and lieutenant governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Pete Ricketts ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by State Senator Bob Krist, the Democratic nominee. Ricketts defeated Krist with 59% of the vote.

2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Pete Ricketts (inc.) 411,812 59.00% +1.85%
Democratic Bob Krist 286,16941.00%+1.77%
Majority125,64318.00%+0.08%
Total votes697,981 100.0%
Republican hold

Secretary of State

2018 Nebraska Secretary of State election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
 2014November 6, 2018 2022  
  Bob Evnen 1 (cropped).jpg No image.svg
Nominee Bob Evnen Spencer Danner
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote406,632263,982
Percentage60.6%39.4%

2018 Nebraska Secretary of State election.svg
2018 NE Secretary of State Election Results by Precinct.svg
Evnen:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Danner:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%
     No votes

Secretary of State before election

John A. Gale
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Bob Evnen
Republican

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State declined to run for re-election to a fifth term. Bob Evnen, an attorney and former member of the State Board of Education, won the Republican primary against administrative assistant Debra Terrell, with 59% of the vote. In the general election, he was opposed by Spencer Danner, the former head of the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department. [2] Evnen defeated Tanner with 61% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Bob Evnen, attorney and former member of the State Board of Education
  • Debra Terrell, administrative assistant [3]
Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Evnen 81,371 58.48%
Republican Debra Perrell57,81641.52%
Total votes139,187 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Spencer Danner, consultant, former head of the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department

Results

Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Spencer Danner 76,769 100.00%
Total votes76,769 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska Secretary of State general election results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Bob Evnen 406,632 60.64% −14.55%
Democratic Spencer Danner263,98239.36%
Majority142,65021.27%−29.11%
Turnout 670,614
Republican hold

Auditor of Public Accounts

2018 Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
 2014November 6, 20182022 
  No image.svg
Nominee Charlie Janssen Jane Skinner
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote380,666280,669
Percentage57.56%42.44%

2018 Nebraska auditor of public accounts election results map by county.svg
Janssen:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Skinner:     50–60%

Auditor of Public Accounts before election

Charlie Janssen
Republican

Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Charlie Janssen
Republican

Incumbent Republican Auditor Charlie Janssen ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by Omaha librarian Jane Skinner. [5] During the campaign, the Omaha World-Herald reported that, during a three-month investigation, Janssen repeatedly took "three-hour beer drinking lunches at a Lincoln sports bar," prompting calls from the Nebraska Democratic Party that he resign. [6] Ultimately, though Janssen won re-election, it was by the thinnest margin of any statewide Republican candidate.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Charlie Janssen (inc.) 132,365 100.00%
Total votes132,365 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Jane Skinner, Omaha librarian

Results

Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jane Skinner 75,699 100.00%
Total votes75,699 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Charlie Janssen (inc.) 380,666 57.56% −1.51%
Democratic Jane Skinner280,66942.44%+1.51%
Majority99,99715.12%−3.01%
Turnout 661,335
Republican hold

State Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Don Stenberg was unable to seek a third consecutive term. State Senator John Murante defeated public accountant Taylor Royal to win the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John Murante, State Senator
  • Taylor Royal, public accountant, 2017 candidate for Mayor of Omaha [7]

Results

Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Murante 82,667 56.42%
Republican Taylor Royal63,84443.58%
Total votes146,511 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska State Treasurer general election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Murante 516,210 100.00%
Total votes516,210 100.00%
Republican hold

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Doug Peterson ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary unopposed and was originally set to face Democratic nominee Evangelos Argyrakis, an Omaha-area attorney. However, after Argyrakis won the primary unopposed, he was arrested for strangulation after an altercation involving his father, and he dropped out of the race. [8] Though Democrats originally planned on replacing Argyrakis on the ballot, they ultimately did not do so, [9] and Peterson was re-elected unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doug Peterson (inc.) 140,675 100.00%
Total votes140,675 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Evangelos Argyrakis, Omaha atorney

Results

Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Evangelos Argyrakis 67,022 100.00%
Total votes67,022 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska Attorney General election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doug Peterson (inc.) 516,777 100.00%
Total votes516,777 100.00%
Republican hold

Public Service Commission

District 1

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Frank E. Landis declined to seek a sixth term. State Senator Dan Watermeier ran in the Republican primary against former Cass County Commissioner Ron Nolte and Scott Smathers, the executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation. Community organizer Christa Yoakum and software developer John Atkeison both ran in the Democratic primary. [10] Watermeier won the Republican primary in a landslide, winning 59% of the vote, while Yoakum defeated Atkeison with 77% of the vote. In the general election, Watermeier and Yoakum took opposite positions on whether the Commission should ultimately approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, with Watermeier supporting the project and Yoakum opposing it. [11] Watermeier ended up narrowly defeating Yoakum with 52% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Dan Watermeier, State Senator
  • Ron Nolte, former Cass County Commissioner
  • Scott Smathers, Executive Director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation
Results
Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Watermeier 15,997 59.06%
Republican Ron Nolte6,51824.06%
Republican Scott Smathers4,57016.87%
Total votes27,085 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Christa Yoakum, community organizer
  • John Atkeison, software developer
Results
Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Christa Yoakum 18,510 76.67%
Democratic John Atkeison5,63423.33%
Total votes24,144 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 1 election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Watermeier 73,891 51.68%
Democratic Christa Yoakum70,59548.32%
Total votes144,486 100.00%
Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Tim Schram ran for re-election to a third term. He and his Democratic opponent, retired business executive Mike Forsythe, were both unopposed in their respective primary elections. Schram defeated Forsythe by a wide margin, winning 62% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Tim Schram, incumbent Public Service Commissioner
Results
Republican primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tim Schram 24,596 100.00%
Total votes24,596 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Mike Forsythe, retired business executive
Results
Democratic primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Forsythe 14,439 100.00%
Total votes14,439 100.00%

General election

2018 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 3 election [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tim Schram (inc.) 99,986 62.19%
Democratic Mike Forsythe61,13337.81%
Total votes161,119 100.00%
Republican hold

State Board of Education

District 5

2018 Nebraska State Board of Education District 5 election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
 2014November 6, 20182022 
 
NomineePatricia TimmMaris Bentley
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote38,80022,713
Percentage63.1%36.9%

2018 Nebraska Board of Education District 5 election results.svg
Timm:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Bentley:     50–60%

Board Member before election

Patricia Timm
Republican

Elected Board Member

Patricia Timm
Republican

Incumbent Board member Patricia H. Timm ran for another term. She was challenged by retired teacher Maris Bentley, who founded a conservative advocacy group, Nebraskans for Founders' Values, which opposed changes made to the Omaha Public Schools sex education curriculum. [12] Timm led Bentley in the nonpartisan primary with 70% of the vote and defeated her in a landslide in the general election, winning 63% of the vote.

Candidates

  • Patricia H. Timm, incumbent Board member
  • Maris Bentley, retired Plattsmouth teacher

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Patricia H. Timm (inc.) 21,273 70.22%
Nonpartisan Maris Bentley 9,023 29.78%
Total votes30,296 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Patricia H. Timm (inc.) 38,800 63.08%
Nonpartisan Maris Bentley22,71336.92%
Total votes61,513 100.00%

District 6

Incumbent Board member Maureen Nickels was unopposed for another term.

Candidates

  • Maureen Nickels, incumbent Board member

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Maureen Nickels (inc.) 27,904 100.00%
Total votes27,904 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Maureen Nickels (inc.) 56,395 100.00%
Total votes56,395 100.00%

District 7

Incumbent Board member Molly O'Holleran declined to seek another term. Robin Stevens, the former superintendent of Schuyler Public Schools and O'Holleran's 2018 opponent, ran to succeed her and won unopposed.

Candidates

  • Robin R. Stevens, former superintendent of Schuyler Public Schools, 2018 candidate for Board

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Robin R. Stevens 30,727 100.00%
Total votes30,727 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Robin R. Stevens 58,764 100.00%
Total votes58,764 100.00%

District 8

Incumbent Board member Pat McPherson ran for re-election. He was challenged by retired teacher Bob Meyers, who ran for the position in 2018, and Deborah Neary, the Executive Director of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership. During McPherson's term on the Board, he attracted controversy over a post on a defunct blog that he ran that referred to former President Barack Obama as a "half breed." McPherson denied that he authored the post and disavowed it, keeping a low profile on the Board thereafter. [13] Neary emerged as the frontrunner, winning 51% of the vote in the primary to McPherson's 28%. In the ensuing general election, Neary defeated McPherson with 59% of the vote.

Candidates

  • Deborah Neary, Executive Director of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership
  • Pat McPherson, incumbent Board member
  • Bob Meyers, retired teacher, 2018 candidate for Board

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Deborah Neary 15,018 50.86%
Nonpartisan Pat McPherson (inc.) 8,137 27.56%
Nonpartisan Bob Meyers6,37321.58%
Total votes29,528 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Deborah Neary 46,697 59.12%
Nonpartisan Pat McPherson (inc.)32,29240.88%
Total votes78,989 100.00%

Board of Regents

Incumbent Regent Jim Pillen was unopposed for re-election.

District 3

Candidates

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Jim Pillen (inc.) 29,077 100.00%
Total votes29,077 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Jim Pillen (inc.) 55,440 100.00%
Total votes55,440 100.00%

District 4

Incumbent Regent Bob Whitehouse declined to seek re-election. Two Democrats, attorney Elizabeth O'Connor and adjunct professor Larry Bradley, who ran for this seat in 2012, ran to succeed him. [14] O'Connor defeated Bradley in a landslide.

Candidates

  • Elizabeth O'Connor, attorney
  • Larry Bradley, adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, member of the Papio Missouri Natural Resources District, 2012 Regent candidate

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Elizabeth O'Connor 15,418 72.14%
Nonpartisan Larry Bradley 5,958 27.86%
Total votes21,376 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Elizabeth O'Connor 38,304 72.58%
Nonpartisan Larry Bradley14,47827.42%
Total votes52,782 100.00%

District 5

Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer ran for re-election. He was challenged by former Regent Robert J. Prokop and photographer Joshua Redwine. [15] Schafer and Prokop advanced to the general election from the primary, winning 43% and 24% of the vote, respectively. Schafer defeated Prokop in the general election by a wide margin, winning 61% of the vote to Prokop's 39%.

Candidates

  • Rob Schafer, incumbent Regent
  • Robert J. Prokop, former Regent
  • Joshua Redwine, Lincoln photographer

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Rob Schafer (inc.) 16,354 43.30%
Nonpartisan Robert J. Prokop 9,047 23.97%
Nonpartisan Joshua Redwine6,96218.43%
Total votes32,363 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Rob Schafer (inc.) 39,538 60.57%
Nonpartisan Robert J. Prokop25,73239.43%
Total votes65,270 100.00%

District 8

Incumbent Regent Hal Daub, the former Mayor of Omaha and former Congressman, ran for re-election to a second term on the Board of Regents. He was challenged by Barbara Weitz, a retired faculty member at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and attorney Ryan Wilkins. [16] Weitz and Daub placed first and second in the primary election and advanced to the general election, where Weitz narrowly defeated Daub with 53% of the vote.

Candidates

Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Barbara Weitz 14,487 41.23%
Nonpartisan Hal Daub (inc.) 13,774 39.22%
Nonpartisan Ryan Wilkins4,84413.78%
Total votes35,105 100.00%

General election results

Nonpartisan general results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Barbara Weitz 48,265 52.92%
Nonpartisan Hal Daub (inc.)42,94147.08%
Total votes91,206 100.00%

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Gale, John A. (2018). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers, General Election, November 6, 2018 (PDF).
  2. Martin, Brent (February 8, 2018). "Democrat Spencer Danner running for Nebraska Secretary of State". Nebraska Radio Network. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  3. Liewer, Steve (April 22, 2018). "Hershey woman challenging ex-Ed Board member in Republican sec. of state race". Associated Press. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Gale, John A. (2018). Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Primary Election, May 15, 2018 (PDF).
  5. Moring, Roseann (February 3, 2018). "Omaha librarian Jane Skinner to run for Nebraska auditor". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  6. Knapp, Fred (September 17, 2018). "Dems call for Janssen to resign; Repubs attack Krist over drinking". Nebraska Public Radio. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  7. Earl, David (April 30, 2018). "Royal, Murante want state treasurer's job, a battle between GOP rising stars". KETV . Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  8. Moring, Roseann (June 25, 2018). "Attorney general candidate steps down amid strangulation charge; Democrats plan a replacement". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  9. Moring, Roseann (October 13, 2018). "Democrats have no state attorney general candidate". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  10. Hammel, Paul (March 31, 2018). "Five candidates vie for open seat representing southeast Nebraska". Omaha World-Herald. p. 3B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  11. Hammel, Paul (September 29, 2018). "Keystone XL divides four who are vying for two seats". Omaha World-Herald . pp. 1, 2. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  12. Reist, Margaret (November 8, 2018). "Neary, Timm elected to state ed board". Lincoln Journal Star. p. A12. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  13. Dejka, Joe (March 23, 2018). "2 run to replace McPherson". Omaha World-Herald. p. 5A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  14. Nohr, Emily (November 7, 2018). "Weitz builds lead on Daub in only tight regent race". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  15. Ruggles, Rick (May 16, 2018). "Incumbent Hal Daub and Barbara Weitz will compete for seat on Nov. 6". Omaha World-Herald. p. 5A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  16. Ruggles, Rick (April 8, 2018). "District 5, 8 incumbents each face 2 challengers". Omaha World-Herald. p. 2B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.