2018 Nebraska Legislature election explained

Election Name:2018 Nebraska Legislature election
Country:Nebraska
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Nebraska Legislature election
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2020 Nebraska Legislature election
Next Year:2020
Seats For Election:24 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
Majority Seats:25
Election Date:November 6, 2018
Color1:E81B23
Party1:Republican
Last Election1:32
Seats Before1:31
Seats1:30
Seat Change1: 1
Image1: Rep
Color2:3333FF
Party2:Democratic
Last Election2:15
Seats Before2:16
Seats2:18
Seat Change2: 2
Party3:Independent Democrat
Last Election3:1
Seats Before3:1
Seats3:1
Image3: Ind
Color4:FED105
Party4:Libertarian
Last Election4:0
Seats Before4:1
Seats4:0
Seat Change4: 1
Image4: Lib
Speaker
Before Party:Republican
After Election:Jim Scheer
After Party:Republican

The 2018 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators in the 24 even-numbered seats of the 49 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, 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 district

State Legislative DistrictIncumbentPartyElected SenatorParty
2ndRobert ClementsRepRobert ClementsRep
4thRobert HilkemannRepRobert HilkemannRep
6thTheresa ThibodeauRepMachaela CavanaughDem
8thBurke HarrDemMegan HuntDem
10thBob KristDemWendy DeBoerDem
12thMerv RiepeRepSteve LathropDem
14thVacantRepJohn ArchRep
16thLydia BraschRepBen HansenRep
18thBrett LindstromRepBrett LindstromRep
20thJohn S. McCollisterRepJohn S. McCollisterRep
22ndPaul SchumacherRepMike MoserRep
24thMark KoltermanRepMark KoltermanRep
26thMatt HansenDemMatt HansenDem
28thPatty Pansing BrooksDemPatty Pansing BrooksDem
30thRoy BakerRepMyron DornRep
32ndLaura EbkeLibTom BrandtRep
34thCurt FriesenRepCurt FriesenRep
36thMatt WilliamsRepMatt WilliamsRep
38thJohn KuehnRepDave MurmanRep
40thTyson LarsonRepTim GragertRep
42ndMike GroeneRepMike GroeneRep
44thDan HughesRepDan HughesRep
46thAdam MorfeldDemAdam MorfeldDem
48thJohn StinnerRepJohn StinnerRep
Sources:[3] [4]

Close races

!District!Winner!Party!Margin
6Machaela CavanaughDemocratic (flip)1.9%
10Wendy DeBoerDemocratic0.64%
18Brett LindstromRepublican7.2%
30Myron DornRepublican 5.96%

Detailed results

align=center 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

Sources:[5] [6]

District 8

Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 10

Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 14

Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 16

Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 22

Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 30

Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.

District 38

John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.

District 40

Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.

District 48

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sen. Krist makes it official: He's switching party affiliation... . . September 3, 2018.
  2. Web site: Jim Smith Resigns as Senator; Ricketts Will Leave Seat Open . . September 3, 2018.
  3. Web site: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018 . . September 3, 2018.
  4. Web site: Official Results: Primary Election -- May 15, 2018. . September 3, 2018.
  5. Web site: Nebraska Secretary of State . Secretary of State of Nebraska . Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – May 15, 2018 Primary Election . 23 November 2021 . 11 June 2018.
  6. Web site: Nebraska Secretary of State . Secretary of State of Nebraska . Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – November 6, 2018 General Election . 23 November 2021 . 11 December 2018.