The 2018 Nebraska elections were held on November 6, 2018. All of Nebraska's executive were up for election, as well as a United States Senate seat, all three of Nebraska's seats in the United States House of Representatives, half of the seats in the Nebraska Legislature, and seats on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Regents.
United States Senate
Incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer ran for re-election to a second term. She defeated former Lancaster County Commissioner Jane Raybould, the Democratic nominee, in the general election with 58% of the vote.
United States House of Representatives
All three Republican members of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska ran for re-election. All three won re-election.
Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska by district:[1]
Governor and lieutenant governor
Incumbent Republican Governor Pete Ricketts ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by State Senator Bob Krist, the Democratic nominee. Ricketts defeated Krist with 59% of the vote.
Secretary of State
2018 Nebraska Secretary of State election|
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County results Congressional district results Precinct results Evnen: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%
Danner: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%
Tie: 50%
No votes |
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Incumbent Republican Secretary of State declined to run for re-election to a fifth term. Bob Evnen, an attorney and former member of the State Board of Education, won the Republican primary against administrative assistant Debra Terrell, with 59% of the vote. In the general election, he was opposed by Spencer Danner, the former head of the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department.[2] Evnen defeated Tanner with 61% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Bob Evnen, attorney and former member of the State Board of Education
- Debra Terrell, administrative assistant[3]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Spencer Danner, consultant, former head of the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department
Results
General election
Auditor of Public Accounts
2018 Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts election|
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County results Congressional district results Janssen: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%
Skinner: 50–60% |
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Incumbent Republican Auditor Charlie Janssen ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by Omaha librarian Jane Skinner.[5] During the campaign, the Omaha World-Herald reported that, during a three-month investigation, Janssen repeatedly took "three-hour beer drinking lunches at a Lincoln sports bar," prompting calls from the Nebraska Democratic Party that he resign.[6] Ultimately, though Janssen won re-election, it was by the thinnest margin of any statewide Republican candidate.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jane Skinner, Omaha librarian
Results
General election
State Treasurer
Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Don Stenberg was unable to seek a third consecutive term. State Senator John Murante defeated public accountant Taylor Royal to win the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Murante, state senator
- Taylor Royal, public accountant, 2017 candidate for mayor of Omaha[7]
Results
General election
Attorney General
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Doug Peterson ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary unopposed and was originally set to face Democratic nominee Evangelos Argyrakis, an Omaha-area attorney. However, after Argyrakis won the primary unopposed, he was arrested for strangulation after an altercation involving his father, and he dropped out of the race.[8] Though Democrats originally planned on replacing Argyrakis on the ballot, they ultimately did not do so,[9] and Peterson was re-elected unopposed.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Evangelos Argyrakis, Omaha attorney
Results
General election
Public Service Commission
District 1
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Frank E. Landis declined to seek a sixth term. State Senator Dan Watermeier ran in the Republican primary against former Cass County Commissioner Ron Nolte and Scott Smathers, the executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation. Community organizer Christa Yoakum and software developer John Atkeison both ran in the Democratic primary. [10] Watermeier won the Republican primary in a landslide, winning 59% of the vote, while Yoakum defeated Atkeison with 77% of the vote. In the general election, Watermeier and Yoakum took opposite positions on whether the Commission should ultimately approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, with Watermeier supporting the project and Yoakum opposing it.[11] Watermeier ended up narrowly defeating Yoakum with 52% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Ron Nolte, former Cass County commissioner
- Scott Smathers, executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation
- Dan Watermeier, state senator
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John Atkeison, software developer
- Christa Yoakum, community organizer
Results
General election
District 3
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Tim Schram ran for re-election to a third term. He and his Democratic opponent, retired business executive Mike Forsythe, were both unopposed in their respective primary elections. Schram defeated Forsythe by a wide margin, winning 62% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mike Forsythe, retired business executive
Results
General election
State Board of Education
District 5
2018 Nebraska State Board of Education District 5 election|
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| Nominee
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Patricia Timm
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Maris Bentley
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| Party
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Nonpartisan
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Nonpartisan
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| Popular vote
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38,800
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22,713
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| Percentage
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63.1%
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36.9%
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Timm: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Bentley: 50–60% |
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Incumbent board member Patricia H. Timm ran for another term. She was challenged by retired teacher Maris Bentley, who founded a conservative advocacy group, Nebraskans for Founders' Values, which opposed changes made to the Omaha Public Schools sex education curriculum.[12] Timm led Bentley in the nonpartisan primary with 70% of the vote and defeated her in a landslide in the general election, winning 63% of the vote.
Candidates
- Maris Bentley, retired Plattsmouth teacher
- Patricia H. Timm, incumbent board member
Primary election results
General election results
District 6
Incumbent board member Maureen Nickels was unopposed for another term.
Candidates
- Maureen Nickels, incumbent board member
Primary election results
General election results
District 7
Incumbent board member Molly O'Holleran declined to seek another term. Robin Stevens, the former superintendent of Schuyler Public Schools and O'Holleran's 2018 opponent, ran to succeed her and won unopposed.
Candidates
- Robin R. Stevens, former superintendent of Schuyler Public Schools, 2018 candidate for board
Primary election results
General election results
District 8
Incumbent board member Pat McPherson ran for re-election. He was challenged by retired teacher Bob Meyers, who ran for the position in 2018, and Deborah Neary, the Executive Director of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership. During McPherson's term on the board, he attracted controversy over a post on a defunct blog that he ran that referred to former President Barack Obama as a "half breed." McPherson denied that he authored the post and disavowed it, keeping a low profile on the board thereafter.[13] Neary emerged as the frontrunner, winning 51% of the vote in the primary to McPherson's 28%. In the ensuing general election, Neary defeated McPherson with 59% of the vote.
Candidates
- Pat McPherson, incumbent board member
- Bob Meyers, retired teacher, 2018 candidate for board
- Deborah Neary, executive director of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership
Primary election results
General election results
Board of Regents
Incumbent Regent Jim Pillen was unopposed for re-election.
District 3
Candidates
Primary election results
General election results
District 4
Incumbent Regent Bob Whitehouse declined to seek re-election. Two Democrats, attorney Elizabeth O'Connor and adjunct professor Larry Bradley, who ran for this seat in 2012, ran to succeed him.[14] O'Connor defeated Bradley in a landslide.
Candidates
- Larry Bradley, adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, member of the Papio Missouri Natural Resources District, 2012 regent candidate
- Elizabeth O'Connor, attorney
Primary election results
General election results
District 5
Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer ran for re-election. He was challenged by former Regent Robert J. Prokop and photographer Joshua Redwine.[15] Schafer and Prokop advanced to the general election from the primary, winning 43% and 24% of the vote, respectively. Schafer defeated Prokop in the general election by a wide margin, winning 61% of the vote to Prokop's 39%.
Candidates
- Robert J. Prokop, former regent
- Joshua Redwine, Lincoln photographer
- Rob Schafer, incumbent regent
Primary election results
General election results
District 8
Incumbent Regent Hal Daub, the former Mayor of Omaha and former Congressman, ran for re-election to a second term on the Board of Regents. He was challenged by Barbara Weitz, a retired faculty member at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and attorney Ryan Wilkins.[16] Weitz and Daub placed first and second in the primary election and advanced to the general election, where Weitz narrowly defeated Daub with 53% of the vote.
Candidates
Primary election results
General election results
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Gale, John A. (2018). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers, General Election, November 6, 2018 (PDF).
- ^ Martin, Brent (February 8, 2018). "Democrat Spencer Danner running for Nebraska Secretary of State". Nebraska Radio Network. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Liewer, Steve (April 22, 2018). "Hershey woman challenging ex-Ed Board member in Republican sec. of state race". Associated Press. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Gale, John A. (2018). Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Primary Election, May 15, 2018 (PDF).
- ^ Moring, Roseann (February 3, 2018). "Omaha librarian Jane Skinner to run for Nebraska auditor". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Knapp, Fred (September 17, 2018). "Dems call for Janssen to resign; Repubs attack Krist over drinking". Nebraska Public Radio. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Earl, David (April 30, 2018). "Royal, Murante want state treasurer's job, a battle between GOP rising stars". KETV. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Moring, Roseann (June 25, 2018). "Attorney general candidate steps down amid strangulation charge; Democrats plan a replacement". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Moring, Roseann (October 13, 2018). "Democrats have no state attorney general candidate". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Hammel, Paul (March 31, 2018). "Five candidates vie for open seat representing southeast Nebraska". Omaha World-Herald. p. 3B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Hammel, Paul (September 29, 2018). "Keystone XL divides four who are vying for two seats". Omaha World-Herald. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
- ^ Reist, Margaret (November 8, 2018). "Neary, Timm elected to state ed board". Lincoln Journal Star. p. A12. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Dejka, Joe (March 23, 2018). "2 run to replace McPherson". Omaha World-Herald. p. 5A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Nohr, Emily (November 7, 2018). "Weitz builds lead on Daub in only tight regent race". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Ruggles, Rick (May 16, 2018). "Incumbent Hal Daub and Barbara Weitz will compete for seat on Nov. 6". Omaha World-Herald. p. 5A. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Ruggles, Rick (April 8, 2018). "District 5, 8 incumbents each face 2 challengers". Omaha World-Herald. p. 2B. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
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