2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska
The 2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
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 County results Fischer: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Kerrey: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Nebraska |
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Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Nelson chose to retire instead of seeking a third term.[1] Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, a Democrat, and state senator Deb Fischer, a Republican, won their respective parties' primary elections on May 15, 2012.
Fischer won the general election with 58% of the vote. Her election marked the first time since 1970 that a Republican was elected to Nebraska's Class 1 Senate seat, as well as the first time that a woman was elected to a full Senate term in the state's history.
Democratic primary
Declared
- Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator and former governor of Nebraska[2]
- Steven Lustgarten, video production company owner[3]
- Larry Marvin, landlord and perennial candidate[4]
- Sherman Yates[4]
Withdrew
- Chuck Hassebrook, Regent of the University of Nebraska[5]
Declined
- Chris Beutler, Mayor of Lincoln[6]
- Jane Kleeb, founder and director of Bold Nebraska[7]
- Scott Kleeb, businessman, Democratic nominee for the 3rd congressional district in 2006 and for the U.S. Senate in 2008[7]
- Steve Lathrop, state senator[8]
- Ben Nelson, incumbent U.S. senator[9]
- Kim Robak, former lieutenant governor[10]
Endorsements
Bob Kerrey
- Warren Rudman, former Republican United States Senator from New Hampshire.[11]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bob Kerrey | 66,586 | 81.0% | |
| Democratic | Chuck Hassebrook | 9,886 | 12.0% | |
| Democratic | Steven Lustgarten | 2,177 | 2.6% | |
| Democratic | Larry Marvin | 2,076 | 2.5% | |
| Democratic | Sherman Yates | 1,500 | 1.9% | |
| Total votes | 82,225 | 100.0% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jon Bruning, Attorney General of Nebraska[13]
- Sharyn Elander[4]
- Deb Fischer, state senator[14]
- Pat Flynn, financial adviser[15]
- Don Stenberg, treasurer of Nebraska, former attorney general of Nebraska and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000[16]
- Spencer Zimmerman, truck driver and Air Force veteran[4][17]
Declined
- Bob Bennie, businessman[18]
- Rex Fisher, businessman[18]
- Mike Flood, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature[19]
- Jeff Fortenberry, U.S. representative[20]
- Dave Heineman, Governor of Nebraska[21]
- Kay Orr, former governor of Nebraska[22]
- Mike Simmonds, businessman[23]
- Adrian Smith, U.S. Representative[24]
- Lee Terry, U.S. Representative[25]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Jon Bruning |
Sharyn Elander |
Deb Fischer |
Pat Flynn |
Don Stenberg |
Spencer Zimmerman |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | January 26–27, 2011 | 519 | ±4.3% | 47% | – | 6% | 7% | 19% | – | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 30 – October 2, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 37% | – | 14% | 6% | 16% | – | 27% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 22–25, 2012 | 440 | ±4.7% | 46% | 3% | 12% | 4% | 18% | 0% | 18% |
| We Ask America | May 6, 2012 | 1,173 | ±2.9% | 42.2% | 3.4% | 25.9% | 4% | 22.5% | 2% | – |
| We Ask America | May 13, 2012 | 1,109 | ±2.95% | 34% | 4% | 39% | 3% | 18% | 2% | – |
| Public Policy Polling | May 14, 2012 | 272 | ±5.9% | 33% | 1% | 37% | 2% | 17% | 1% | 7% |
Endorsements
Jon Bruning
- Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas[26][27]
- Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania[26]
- Mike Flood, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature[26][28]
- Joe Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona[26][29]
- Bill Schuette, Attorney General of Michigan[30]
- Tea Party Express[26][31]
- American Future Fund[32]
- United States Chamber of Commerce[26]
- Nebraska Right to Life[26]
- Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police[26]
Deb Fischer
- Jeff Fortenberry, U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 1st congressional district[33]
- Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee[34]
- Todd Palin, Sarah Palin's husband[34]
- Herman Cain, former presidential candidate
- Nebraska Right to Life[35]
- Kay Orr, former Governor of Nebraska
- Joe Ricketts, businessman, owner of the Chicago Cubs
Don Stenberg
- Jim DeMint, U.S. Senator from South Carolina[36][37]
- Mike Lee, U.S. Senator from Utah[36][38]
- Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky[36]
- Ken Blackwell, former Secretary of State of Ohio[36][39]
- Edwin Meese, former U.S. Attorney general[36]
- Mark Levin, radio talk show host[36][40]
- Erick Erickson, managing editor of RedState[36]
- FreedomWorks[36][41]
- Club for Growth[36]
- Family Research Council[36]
- Eagle Forum[36]
- Nebraska Right to Life[36]
- Nebraskans United for Life[36]
- Republican National Coalition for Life[36]
- Gun Owners of America[36]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Deb Fischer | 79,941 | 41.0% | |
| Republican | Jon Bruning | 70,067 | 35.9% | |
| Republican | Don Stenberg | 36,727 | 18.8% | |
| Republican | Pat Flynn | 5,413 | 2.8% | |
| Republican | Spencer Zimmerman | 1,601 | 0.8% | |
| Republican | Sharyn Elander | 1,294 | 0.7% | |
| Total votes | 195,043 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Bob Kerrey, (Democrat), former U.S. senator and former governor of Nebraska
- Deb Fischer, (Republican), state senator
Debates
The first debate took place at the Heartland Events Center during the Nebraska State Fair at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 25, 2012. Kerrey and Fischer participated.
The second debate took place on September 28, 2012, KETV-TV, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Omaha. Kerrey and Fischer participated.
The third debate took place on October 1, 2012, NET-TV. Kerrey and Fischer participated. Topics included agriculture policy, the economy, taxes and education.
- External links
- Complete video at Grand Island Independent, first debate, August 25, 2012
- Complete video of debate, September 28, 2012 - C-SPAN
- Complete video of debate, October 1, 2012 - C-SPAN
Fundraising
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Kerrey (D) | $4,877,704 | $4,582,224 | $295,480 | $0 |
| Deb Fischer (R) | $4,536,837 | $3,472,721 | $1,458,122 | $65,000 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[42][43][44] | ||||
Top contributors
| Bob Kerrey | Contribution | Deb Fischer | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Media Group | $62,500 | Elliott Management Corporation | $29,413 |
| MacAndrews & Forbes | $51,000 | Hawkins Construction | $20,000 |
| Tenet Healthcare | $25,650 | Kelly PAC | $20,000 |
| Nix, Patterson & Roach | $25,000 | Tenaska Energy | $17,500 |
| Allen & Company | $22,500 | Werner Enterprises | $15,250 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | $21,500 | T&L Irrigation | $13,200 |
| Level 3 Communications | $17,000 | Union Pacific | $11,500 |
| Genworth Financial | $16,000 | Pinnacle Financial Partners | $10,500 |
| Williams Kherkher | $16,000 | 21st Century Majority Fund | $10,000 |
| Bank of America | $15,250 | AG Processing | $10,000 |
Top industries
| Bob Kerrey | Contribution | Deb Fischer | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $293,434 | Leadership PACs | $165,500 |
| Retired | $219,224 | Retired | $124,546 |
| Leadership PACs | $203,500 | Agribusiness | $105,052 |
| Financial Institutions | $182,150 | Commercial Banks | $54,990 |
| Entertainment Industry | $119,000 | Financial Institutions | $54,416 |
| Lobbyists | $104,400 | General Contractors | $54,300 |
| Real Estate | $87,675 | Real Estate | $38,000 |
| Manufacturing & Distributing | $61,700 | Insurance | $36,000 |
| Education | $53,000 | Health Professionals | $31,850 |
| Insurance | $51,500 | Electric Utilities | $29,900 |
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[47] | Lean R (flip) | November 1, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[48] | Likely R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[49] | Likely R (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
| RealClearPolitics[50] | Lean R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Bob Kerrey (D) |
Deb Fischer (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | March 5, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 34% | 46% | 10% | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 22–25, 2012 | 1,028 | ±3.1% | 38% | 48% | — | 14% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 16, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 38% | 56% | 2% | 3% |
| WeAskAmerica | August 14, 2012 | 1,273 | ±2.8% | 34% | 55% | — | 11% |
| Omaha World-Herald | September 17–20, 2012 | 800 | ±3.5% | 42% | 52% | — | 6% |
| Pharos Research | October 19–21, 2012 | 783 | ±3.5% | 46% | 48% | — | 6% |
| Omaha World-Herald | October 23–25, 2012 | 800 | ±3.5% | 45% | 48% | — | 7% |
| We Ask America | November 1, 2012 | 1,178 | ±3.0% | 41% | 54% | — | 5% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Deb Fischer | 455,593 | 57.77% | +21.65% | |
| Democratic | Bob Kerrey | 332,979 | 42.23% | -21.65% | |
| Total votes | 788,572 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
See also
References
- "Ben Nelson retiring from Senate". Politico. December 27, 2011.
- "Bob Kerrey will run for U.S. Senate". Omaha World-Herald. February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- "Omahan files as Democratic Senate candidate". Lincoln Journal Star. January 23, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- Scalora, Christine (May 6, 2012). "Alternative candidates: Issues drew them to Senate race". North Platte Bulletin. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- "Nebraska: Democratic Field Clears for Bob Kerrey | At the Races". Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- Beutler brushes off Senate speculation; Nelson staff mulls campaign funds
- Shefte, Jordan (December 28, 2011). "Jane Kleeb comments on Senator Nelson's retirement". KHAS-TV. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- Sullivan, Sean (February 13, 2012). "Lathrop Won't Run for Ben Nelson's Seat". National Journal. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- Ben Nelson retiring from Senate - John Bresnahan - POLITICO.com
- Robak out of Senate race, too - Omaha.com
- "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska" (PDF). Secretary of State of Nebraska. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- Tysver, Robynn (January 5, 2011). "Bruning makes Senate bid official". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- Fischer kicks off U.S. Senate bid - Omaha.com
- Walton, Don (November 19, 2010). "Pat Flynn launches GOP Senate campaign". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- Nebraska Treasurer to Enter GOP Senate Primary : Roll Call Politics
- Walton, Don (June 18, 2011). "Republican Senate field becoming crowded". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- Tysver, Robynn (December 15, 2010). "More Republicans eyeing Senate?". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- Warneke, Kent (November 9, 2010). "Senate race doesn't interest Flood". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- Walton, Don (January 9, 2012). "Fortenberry won't seek Senate seat". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- Paul HammelWORLD-HERALD BUREAU. "Heineman: No Senate bid in 2012". Omaha.com. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- Nebraska Senate GOP Primary Gets a New Candidate : Roll Call Politics
- Walton, Don (January 3, 2011). "Don Walton: Electoral vote battle looms". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- Beck, Margery A. (November 14, 2010). "US Senate race wide open for Neb. GOP candidates". Associated Press. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
- No Senate bid for Fortenberry - Omaha.com
- "Jon Bruning for Senate - Endorsements". Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- Walton, Don (May 25, 2011). "Mike Huckabee endorses Jon Bruning". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- Walton, Don (June 30, 2011). "Mike Flood endorses Bruning Senate bid". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
- "Arizona sheriff endorses Bruning". Lincoln Journal Star. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=11548
- Toeplitz, Shira (May 11, 2011). "Tea Party Express Endorses Jon Bruning in Nebraska". Roll Call. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- "American Future Fund Political Action". Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- Walton, Don (May 10, 2012). "Fortenberry endorsement adds to Fischer surge". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- Livingston, Abby (May 9, 2012). "Sarah Palin Endorses Deb Fischer in Nebraska Senate Race". Roll Call. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- "Protecting Life : Deb Fischer 2012". Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- "Endorsements | Stenberg for Senate 2012". Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
- Walton, Don (November 8, 2011). "DeMint endorses Stenberg, sponsors fundraising drive". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- Pershing, Ben (October 18, 2011). "Mike Lee looks to carve a niche on the campaign trail". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
- Ken Blackwell, an NRA & Club for Growth Board Member, Endorses Don Stenberg in Nebraska
- Stenberg wins Mark Levin primary - David Catanese - POLITICO.com
- FreedomWorks PAC Endorses Don Stenberg in the Nebraska Senate Race | Business Wire
- |Bob Kerrey Campaign Finances
- |Deb Fischer
- |Russell Anderson
- [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=NES1%7CCenter for Responsive Politics
- contributors by industry (opensecrets.org)
- "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- "Official Results of Nebraska General Election - November 6, 2012". Nebraska Secretary of State. p. 12. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
External links
- Elections from the Nebraska Secretary of State
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation
- Candidate issue positions at On the Issues
- Election news coverage at the Omaha World-Herald
- Official campaign websites
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