| 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.
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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% |
| 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 |
Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.
Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.
Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.
Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.
Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.
Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.
John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.
Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.