2018 Nebraska Legislature election

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2018 Nebraska Legislature election

← 2016 November 6, 2018
Officially nonpartisan
2020 →

24 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
25 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 32 15
Seats before 31 16
Seats won 30 18
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 2

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Independent Libertarian
Last election 1 0
Seats before 1 1
Seats won 1 0
Seat change Steady Decrease 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[a] in the 24 even-numbered seats of the 49[b] 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.

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,[c] 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[]

  • Note: All elections are technically non-partisan in the Nebraska State Legislature; therefore, parties listed here are from candidates' websites and official party endorsement lists. Candidates all appear on the ballot without party labels.
  • Districts not shown are not up for election until 2020.
State Legislative District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
2nd Robert Clements Rep Robert Clements Rep
4th Robert Hilkemann Rep Robert Hilkemann Rep
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 Rep
16th Lydia Brasch Rep Rep
18th Brett Lindstrom Rep Brett Lindstrom Rep
20th John S. McCollister Rep John S. McCollister Rep
22nd Paul Schumacher Rep Rep
24th Mark Kolterman Rep Mark Kolterman Rep
26th Matt Hansen Dem Matt Hansen Dem
28th Patty Pansing Brooks Dem Patty Pansing Brooks Dem
30th Roy Baker Rep Rep
32nd Laura Ebke Lib Rep
34th Curt Friesen Rep Curt Friesen Rep
36th Matt Williams Rep Matt Williams Rep
38th John Kuehn Rep Rep
40th Tyson Larson Rep Rep
42nd Mike Groene Rep Mike Groene Rep
44th Dan Hughes Rep Dan Hughes Rep
46th Adam Morfeld Dem Adam Morfeld Dem
48th John Stinner Rep John Stinner Rep

Sources:[3][4]

Close races[]

District Winner Party Margin
6 Machaela Cavanaugh Democratic (flip) 1.9%
10 Wendy DeBoer Democratic 0.64%
18 Brett Lindstrom Republican 7.2%
30 Myron Dorn Republican 5.96%

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

Sources:[5][6]

District 2[]

Nebraska's 2nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Robert Clements (incumbent) 2,867 47.81
Susan D. Lorence 2,252 37.55
James Bond 878 14.64
Total votes 5,997 100.0
General election
Robert Clements (incumbent) 7,965 56.96
Susan D. Lorence 6,019 43.04
Total votes 13,984 100.0

District 4[]

Nebraska's 4th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Bob Hilkemann (incumbent) 2,842 56.70
Shannon Coryell 2,170 43.30
Total votes 5,012 100.0
General election
Bob Hilkemann (incumbent) 8,964 60.95
Shannon Coryell 5,743 39.05
Total votes 14,707 100.0

District 6[]

Nebraska's 6th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent) 3,641 51.30
Machaela Cavanaugh 3,027 42.65
Ricky Fulton 429 6.04
Total votes 7,097 100.0
General election
Machaela Cavanaugh 7,733 50.95
Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent) 7,445 49.05
Total votes 15,178 100.0

District 8[]

Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 8th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Megan Hunt 3,284 56.38
Mina Davis 1,299 22.30
Josh Henningsen 1,242 21.32
Total votes 5,825 100.0
General election
Megan Hunt 7,634 64.11
Mina Davis 4,274 35.89
Total votes 11,908 100.0

District 10[]

Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 10th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Wendy DeBoer 3,253 57.31
Matt Deaver 2,423 42.69
Total votes 5,676 100.0
General election
Wendy DeBoer 8,306 50.32
Matt Deaver 8,201 49.68
Total votes 16,507 100.0

District 12[]

Nebraska's 12th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Steve Lathrop 2,658 53.47
Merv Riepe (incumbent) 2,313 46.53
Total votes 4,971 100.0
General election
Steve Lathrop 7,030 55.84
Merv Riepe (incumbent) 5,559 44.16
Total votes 12,589 100.0

District 14[]

Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 14th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
John Arch 3,462 60.02
Jeff Parris 2,306 39.98
Total votes 5,768 100.0
General election
John Arch 7,625 55.82
Jeff Parris 6,035 44.18
Total votes 13,660 100.0

District 16[]

Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 16th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Ben Hansen 4,620 58.77
Chuck Hassebrook 3,241 41.23
Total votes 7,861 100.0
General election
Ben Hansen 9,109 61.59
Chuck Hassebrook 5,680 38.41
Total votes 14,789 100.0

District 18[]

Nebraska's 18th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Brett Lindstrom (incumbent) 2,922 56.15
Scott Winkler 1,937 37.22
Austin Hennrich 345 6.63
Total votes 5,204 100.0
General election
Brett Lindstrom (incumbent) 6,874 53.60
Scott Winkler 5,950 46.40
Total votes 12,824 100.0

District 20[]

Nebraska's 20th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
John S. McCollister (incumbent) 4,213 63.23
Jackie Collett 1,968 29.54
Chris Anne Dienstbier 482 7.23
Total votes 6,663 100.0
General election
John S. McCollister (incumbent) 8,689 58.80
Jackie Collett 6,089 41.20
Total votes 14,778 100.0

District 22[]

Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 22nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Mike Moser 3,578 56.12
Doug Oertwich 1,366 21.42
Francis P. Kuehler 1,102 17.28
Kenneth G. Leischner 330 5.18
Total votes 6,376 100.0
General election
Mike Moser 7,896 64.30
Doug Oertwich 4,383 35.70
Total votes 12,279 100.0

District 24[]

Nebraska's 24th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent) 3,795 72.07
Stephanie Nantkes 1,471 27.93
Total votes 5,266 100.0
General election
Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent) 9,501 73.46
Stephanie Nantkes 3,433 26.54
Total votes 12,934 100.0

District 26[]

Nebraska's 26th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Matt Hansen (incumbent) 4,223 76.96
Bob Van Valkenburg 1,264 23.04
Total votes 5,487 100.0
General election
Matt Hansen (incumbent) 9,046 73.16
Bob Van Valkenburg 3,319 26.84
Total votes 12,365 100.0

District 28[]

Nebraska's 28th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent) 6,263 100.0
Total votes 6,263 100.0
General election
Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent) 11,717 100.0
Total votes 11,717 100.0

District 30[]

Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 30th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Myron Dorn 3,161 40.50
Don Schuller 2,977 38.15
Joe Murray 1,666 21.35
Total votes 7,804 100.0
General election
Myron Dorn 7,923 52.98
Don Schuller 7,032 47.02
Total votes 14,955 100.0

District 32[]

Nebraska's 32nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
3,514 44.45
Laura Ebke (incumbent) 2,612 33.04
Al Riskowski 1,780 22.51
Total votes 7,906 100.0
General election
8,154 56.42
Laura Ebke (incumbent) 6,299 43.58
Total votes 14,453 100.0

District 34[]

Nebraska's 34th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Curt Friesen (incumbent) 5,784 100.0
Total votes 5,784 100.0
General election
Curt Friesen (incumbent) 10,796 100.0
Total votes 10,796 100.0

District 36[]

Nebraska's 36th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Matt Williams (incumbent) 4,520 100.0
Total votes 4,520 100.0
General election
Matt Williams (incumbent) 9,816 100.0
Total votes 9,816 100.0

District 38[]

John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 38th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Dave Murman 3,206 45.76
Marsha Fangmeyer 1,633 23.31
Thomas Osborn 1,059 15.12
Ronald L. Johnson 416 5.94
Michael D. Combs 391 5.58
Andrew Murphy 301 4.30
Total votes 7,006 100.0
General election
Dave Murman 9,114 64.27
Marsha Fangmeyer 5,067 35.73
Total votes 14,181 100.0

District 40[]

Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 40th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Timothy J. Gragert 1,666 20.38
Keith F. Kube 1,590 19.45
Shane Greckel 1,487 18.19
Thomas E. Ferry 1,331 16.28
Michael A. Sobotka 1,151 14.08
Julie Thomsen 951 11.63
Total votes 8,176 100.0
General election
Timothy J. Gragert 7,222 51.63
Keith F. Kube 6,767 48.37
Total votes 13,989 100.0

District 42[]

Nebraska's 42nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Mike Groene (incumbent) 4,242 100.0
Total votes 4,242 100.0
General election
Mike Groene (incumbent) 8,180 67.13
Judy Pederson 4,005 32.87
Total votes 12,185 100.0

District 44[]

Nebraska's 44th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Dan Hughes (incumbent) 5,251 76.23
Stephanie L. Malcolm 1,637 23.77
Total votes 6,888 100.0
General election
Dan Hughes (incumbent) 9,872 77.31
Stephanie L. Malcolm 2,898 22.69
Total votes 12,770 100.0

District 46[]

Nebraska's 46th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
Adam Morfeld (incumbent) 2,360 100.0
Total votes 2,360 100.0
General election
Adam Morfeld (incumbent) 5,776 100.0
Total votes 5,776 100.0

District 48[]

Nebraska's 48th Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Candidate Votes %
John P. Stinner (incumbent) 3,773 100.0
Total votes 3,773 100.0
General election
John P. Stinner (incumbent) 9,041 100.0
Total votes 9,041 100.0
  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.

See also[]

  • United States elections, 2018
  • United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2018
  • United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2018
  • Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2018
  • Nebraska Attorney General election, 2018
  • Nebraska Secretary of State election, 2018
  • Nebraska elections, 2018

References[]

  1. ^ "Sen. Krist makes it official: He's switching party affiliation..." Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ Nebraska Secretary of State (11 June 2018). "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – May 15, 2018 Primary Election" (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. ^ Nebraska Secretary of State (11 December 2018). "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – November 6, 2018 General Election" (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
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