2018 Nebraska State Legislature election

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.

2018 Nebraska State Legislature election
November 6, 2018
24 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
25 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Jim Scheer Burke Harr Ernie Chambers
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Leader's seat 19th 8th 11th
Last election 32 15 1
Seats before 31 16 1
Seats won 30 18 1
Seat change 1 2
  Fourth party
 
Leader Laura Ebke
(lost re-election)
Party Libertarian
Leader's seat 32nd
Last election 1
Seats before 1
Seats won 0
Seat change 1
Speaker before election

Jim Scheer
Republican

 Elected Speaker

Jim Scheer
Republican

Elections in Nebraska
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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). 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.[1]

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.[2] Furthermore, Republican State Senator Jim Smith resigned from office, leaving an open seat for Republicans to defend in the 14th legislative district.[3]

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
  • 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 as nonpartisan.
  • 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[3] Rep John Arch Rep
16th Lydia Brasch Rep Ben Hansen Rep
18th Brett Lindstrom Rep Brett Lindstrom Rep
20th John S. McCollister Rep John S. McCollister Rep
22nd Paul Schumacher Rep Mike Moser 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 Myron Dorn Rep
32nd Laura Ebke Lib Tom Brandt Rep
34th Curt Friesen Rep Curt Friesen Rep
36th Matt Williams Rep Matt Williams Rep
38th John Kuehn Rep Dave Murman Rep
40th Tyson Larson Rep Tim Gragert 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:[4][5]

Detailed Results

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

  • Note: All elections are technically non-partisan in the State Legislature; therefore, parties listed here are from candidates' websites and official party endorsement lists. Candidates all appear on the ballot as nonpartisan.
    • Candidates endorsed by the Republican Party:[6]
    • Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party:[7]

District 2
Nebraska's 2nd Legislative District Election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 2,867 47.81
Democratic Susan D. Lorence 2,252 37.55
Republican James Bond[lower-alpha 4][8] 878 14.64
Total votes 5,997 100.0
General election
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 7,965 56.96
Democratic Susan D. Lorence 6,019 43.04
Total votes 13,984 100.0
Republican hold

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

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

District 8

Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

District 10

Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

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

District 14

Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

District 16

Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

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

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

District 22

Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

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

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

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

District 30

Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.

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

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

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

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

District 38

John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.

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

District 40

Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.

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

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

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

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

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

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