2020 Nebraska Legislature election

Last updated

2020 Nebraska Legislature election
Flag of Nebraska.svg
←  2018 November 3, 2020
Officially nonpartisan		 2022  →
25 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
25 [a] seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
 
Rep
Dem
 Ernie Chambers - Nebraska Senator for District 11.jpg
Leader Jim Scheer
(term-limited)		None Ernie Chambers
(term-limited)
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Leader sinceJanuary 4, 2017
Leader's seat19th district
Seats before30181
Seats won32170
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg1
Popular vote245,639166,676
Percentage58.98%40.02%
Nebraska Unicameral 2020 Election.svg
Nebraska Unicameral 2020 Results by voteshare.svg
     Democratic gain     Republican gain
     Democratic hold     Republican hold
     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%
     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%
Speaker before election

Jim Scheer
Republican

Elected Speaker

Mike Hilgers
Republican

The 2020 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators [b] in the 25 odd-numbered seats of the 49 [c] legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. State senators serve four-year terms in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.

Contents

A top two primary election on May 12, 2020 determined which candidates appear on the November 3 general election ballot. [2] [3] Each candidate technically runs as a non-partisan (i.e., no party preference). The Nebraska State Legislature's website offers a statewide map of the 49 legislative districts here and maps for each individual district can be found on the website. [4]

Following the 2018 elections, the Republicans maintained effective control of the Nebraska State Legislature with 30 seats. The Democrats increased their numbers from 16 to 18.

Republicans flipped three seats from Democrats; Democrats flipped one seat from Republicans and one from nonpartisan Ernie Chambers. [5]

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

  1. District 31: Won by Rich Pahls.
  2. District 45: Won by Rita Sanders.

Nonpartisan seats won by Democrats

  1. District 11: Won by Terrell McKinney.

Incumbents defeated

In general elections

Democrats

  1. District 35: Dan Quick (elected in 2016) lost to Raymond Aguilar.

Republicans

  1. District 49: Andrew LaGrone (appointed in 2019) lost to Jen Day.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [6] Safe ROctober 21, 2020

Close races

DistrictWinnerPartyMargin
3Carol BloodDemocratic0.8%
49Jen DayDemocratic (flip)1.0%
31Rich PahlsRepublican (flip)5.4%
29Eliot BostarDemocratic6.2%
35Raymond AguilarRepublican (flip)7.2%
45Rita SandersRepublican (flip)7.6%
9John CavanaughDemocratic8.2%
21Mike HilgersRepublican9.92%

Detailed results

District 1

Nebraska's 1st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Julie Slama (incumbent) 6,553 60.5
Republican Janet Palmtag 2,244 20.7
Republican Dennis Schaardt1,95418.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Julie Slama (incumbent) 12,033 68.1
Republican Janet Palmtag5,62731.9
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 3

Nebraska's 3rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carol Blood (incumbent) 4,851 57.1
Republican Rick Holdcroft 3,646 42.9
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Carol Blood (incumbent) 9,196 50.4
Republican Rick Holdcroft9,03649.6
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 5

Nebraska's 5th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike McDonnell (incumbent) 3,578 70.0
Republican Gilbert Ayala 1,536 30.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Mike McDonnell (incumbent) 6,947 63.2
Republican Gilbert Ayala4,05336.8
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 7

Nebraska's 7th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tony Vargas (incumbent) 3,281 81.8
Republican Jorge Sotolongo 731 18.1
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Tony Vargas (incumbent) 7,386 77.9
Republican Jorge Sotolongo2,09822.1
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 9

Sara Howard (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 9th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Cavanaugh 3,911 46.0
Democratic Marque Snow 3,435 40.4
Democratic Mark Vondrasek1,15213.6
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic John Cavanaugh 8,461 54.1
Democratic Marque Snow7,17045.9
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 11

Ernie Chambers (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 11th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Fred Conley 1,444 35.1
Democratic Terrell McKinney 767 18.7
Democratic Dennis Womack61114.9
Democratic Teela Mickles50312.2
Democratic Gwen Easter3468.4
Democratic Cornelius Williams3007.3
Republican John Sciara1393.4
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Terrell McKinney 6,359 63.8
Democratic Fred Conley3,60136.2
Total votes100.0
Democratic gain from Independent Democrat

District 13

Nebraska's 13th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Justin Wayne (incumbent) 6,477 100.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Justin Wayne (incumbent) 11,771 100.0
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 15

Results by precinct: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Walz 50-60% 60-70% Rogers 50-60% 60-70% 2020 NE SD-15 Precinct results.svg
Results by precinct:
  Walz
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Rogers
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Nebraska's 15th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Lynne Walz (incumbent) 6,197 68.7
Republican David Rogers 2,817 31.3
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Lynne Walz (incumbent) 9,186 59.6
Republican David Rogers6,22340.4
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 17

Nebraska's 17th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Joni Albrecht (incumbent) 3,963 72.7
Democratic Sheryl Lindau 1,489 27.3
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Joni Albrecht (incumbent) 8,310 68.0
Democratic Sheryl Lindau3,90732.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 19

Jim Scheer (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 19th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Flood 8,346 100.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Mike Flood 15,519 100.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 21

Nebraska's 21st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Hilgers (incumbent) 5,150 59.1
Democratic Brodey Weber 2,379 27.3
Democratic Joseph Couch1,18413.6
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Mike Hilgers (incumbent) 10,157 54.96
Democratic Brodey Weber8,32545.04
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 23

Nebraska's 23rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bruce Bostelman (incumbent) 5,703 62.4
Democratic Helen Raikes 3,430 37.6
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Bruce Bostelman (incumbent) 11,337 62.1
Democratic Helen Raikes6,90537.9
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 25

Nebraska's 25th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Suzanne Geist (incumbent) 10,407 71.5
Democratic Stephany Pleasant 4,151 28.5
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Suzanne Geist (incumbent) 16,443 66.7
Democratic Stephany Pleasant8,20733.3
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 27

Nebraska's 27th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Anna Wishart (incumbent) 5,803 71.3
Republican Brenda Bickford 2,340 28.7
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Anna Wishart (incumbent) 10,173 64.4
Republican Brenda Bickford5,61235.6
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 29

Results by precinct: Bostar 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Campbell 50-60% 60-70% 2020 Nebraska SD-29 Precinct Results.svg
Results by precinct:
  Bostar
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Campbell
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

Kate Bolz (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 29th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jacob Campbell 3,886 32.4
Democratic Eliot Bostar 3,236 27.0
Democratic Jennifer Carter2,70222.5
Democratic Neal Clayburn1,0238.5
Republican Lisa Lee8817.3
Nonpartisan Michael Connely2632.2
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Eliot Bostar 11,167 53.1
Republican Jacob Campbell9,86946.9
Total votes100.0
Democratic hold

District 31

Rick Kolowski (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 31st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rich Pahls 4,156 37.9
Democratic Tim Royers 3,925 35.8
Democratic Melanie Williams1,48713.6
Republican Mark Gruenewald1,0699.7
Democratic Alexander Martin3373.1
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Rich Pahls 10,727 52.8
Democratic Tim Royers9,60847.2
Total votes100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 33

Nebraska's 33rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Steve Halloran (incumbent) 6,653 100.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Steve Halloran 12,893 100.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 35

Nebraska's 35th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dan Quick (incumbent) 4,009 62.5
Republican Raymond Aguilar 2,401 37.5
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Raymond Aguilar 6,683 53.6
Democratic Dan Quick (incumbent)5,77746.4
Total votes100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 37

Nebraska's 37th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Lowe (incumbent) 6,286 77.1
Libertarian Mercadies Damratowski 1,865 22.9
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican John Lowe (incumbent) 12,903 75.7
Libertarian Mercadies Damratowski4,13424.3
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 39

Nebraska's 39th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lou Ann Linehan (incumbent) 8,355 61.7
Independent Democrat Allison Heimes 5,176 38.3
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Lou Ann Linehan (incumbent) 15,367 56.0
Independent Democrat Allison Heimes12,08744.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 41

Nebraska's 41st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Briese (incumbent) 8,355 100.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Tom Briese (incumbent) 15,855 100.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 43

Nebraska's 43rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Brewer (incumbent) 8,043 61.2
Republican Tanya Storer 5,100 38.8
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Tom Brewer (incumbent) 10,688 57.9
Republican Tanya Storer7,76042.1
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 45

Sue Crawford (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 45th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Susan Hester 4,158 51.0
Republican Rita Sanders 3,999 49.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Rita Sanders 9,224 53.8
Democratic Susan Hester7,91946.2
Total votes100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

Nebraska's 47th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Steve Erdman (incumbent) 4,158 100.0
Total votes100.0
General election
Republican Steve Erdman (incumbent) 14,964 100.0
Total votes100.0
Republican hold

District 49

Results by precinct: Day 50-60% 60-70% LaGrone 50-60% 2020 Nebraska SD-49 Election Results.svg
Results by precinct:
  Day
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  LaGrone
  •   50–60%

John Murante (elected in 2016) resigned when elected Treasurer of Nebraska in 2018. Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Andrew LaGrone to fill the vacancy. [9]

Nebraska's 49th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jen Day 5,414 53.1
Republican Andrew LaGrone (incumbent) 4,787 46.9
Total votes100.0
General election
Democratic Jen Day 12,524 50.5
Republican Andrew LaGrone (incumbent)12,25849.5
Total votes100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Notes

  1. ↑ In Nebraska, a two-thirds vote of all members is required to overcome a filibuster. Thus, 33 votes are required to hold a filibuster-proof majority. [1]
  2. ↑ Although Nebraska's legislature is unicameral, the officeholders are called Senators.
  3. ↑ The even-numbered districts were elected in 2018 and will be up for election again in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Metzler, Brandon (January 19, 2023), "Rule 7, Section 10", Rules of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature (PDF), p. 53, A two-thirds majority of the elected members shall be required for the cloture motion to be successful.
  2. ↑ "Nebraska State Primary Election Results 2020". The New York Times . May 12, 2020.
  3. ↑ "OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Nebraska Legislature:Legislature - Maps Clearinghouse". Nebraska Legislature . Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  5. ↑ "OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report . Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Candidates for State Legislature". Nebraska Republican Party . Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Candidates". Nebraska Democratic Party . Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ "La Grone, '16, Appointed to Nebraska Legislature | Nebraska College of Law". law.unl.edu. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
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