2020 Nebraska Legislature election

The 2020 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators[lower-alpha 1] in the 25 odd-numbered seats of the 49[lower-alpha 2] legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. State senators serve four-year terms in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.

2020 Nebraska Legislature election
November 3, 2020
Officially nonpartisan
25 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature
25 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Rep
Dem
Ind
Party Republican Democratic Independent Democrat
Seats before 30 18 1
Seats won 32 17 0
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 1 Decrease1
Popular vote 245,639 166,676
Percentage 58.98% 40.02%
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
     50–60%      60–70%     70–80%      >90%
Speaker before election

Jim Scheer
Republican

 Elected Speaker

Mike Hilgers
Republican

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A top two primary election on May 12, 2020 determined which candidates appear on the November 3 general election ballot.[1][2] 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.[3]

Following the 2018 elections, the Republicans maintained effective control of the Nebraska State Legislature with 30 seats. The Democrats increased their numbers from 16 to 18.

Republicans flipped three seats from Democrats; Democrats flipped one seat from Republicans and one from nonpartisan Ernie Chambers.[4]

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans
  1. District 31: Won by Rich Pahls.
  2. District 45: Won by Rita Sanders.

Nonpartisan seats won by Democrats
  1. District 11: Won by Terrell McKinney.

Incumbents defeated

Democrats
  1. District 35: Dan Quick (elected in 2016) lost to Raymond Aguilar.

Republicans
  1. District 49: Andrew LaGrone (appointed in 2019) lost to Jen Day.

Close races
District Winner Party Margin
3 Carol Blood Democratic 0.8%
49 Jen Day Democratic (flip) 1.0%
31 Rich Pahls Republican (flip) 5.4%
29 Eliot Bostar Democratic 6.2%
35 Raymond Aguilar Republican (flip) 7.2%
45 Rita Sanders Republican (flip) 7.6%
9 John Cavanaugh Democratic 8.2%
21 Mike Hilgers Republican 9.92%

Detailed results
  • 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:[5]
    • Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party:[6]

District 1
Nebraska's 1st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Julie Slama (incumbent) 6,553 60.5
Republican Janet Palmtag 2,244 20.7
Republican Dennis Schaardt 1,954 18.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Julie Slama (incumbent) 12,033 68.1
Republican Janet Palmtag 5,627 31.9
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 3
Nebraska's 3rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carol Blood (incumbent) 4,851 57.1
Republican Rick Holdcroft 3,646 42.9
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Carol Blood (incumbent) 9,196 50.4
Republican Rick Holdcroft 9,036 49.6
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 5
Nebraska's 5th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike McDonnell (incumbent) 3,578 70.0
Republican Gilbert Ayala 1,536 30.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Mike McDonnell (incumbent) 6,947 63.2
Republican Gilbert Ayala 4,053 36.8
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 7
Nebraska's 7th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tony Vargas (incumbent) 3,281 81.8
Republican Jorge Sotolongo 731 18.1
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Tony Vargas (incumbent) 7,386 77.9
Republican Jorge Sotolongo 2,098 22.1
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 9

Sara Howard (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 9th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Cavanaugh 3,911 46.0
Democratic Marque Snow 3,435 40.4
Democratic Mark Vondrasek 1,152 13.6
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic John Cavanaugh 8,461 54.1
Democratic Marque Snow 7,170 45.9
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 11

Ernie Chambers (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 11th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred Conley 1,444 35.1
Democratic Terrell McKinney 767 18.7
Democratic Dennis Womack 611 14.9
Democratic Teela Mickles 503 12.2
Democratic Gwen Easter 346 8.4
Democratic Cornelius Williams 300 7.3
Republican John Sciara 139 3.4
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Terrell McKinney 6,359 63.8
Democratic Fred Conley 3,601 36.2
Total votes 100.0
Democratic gain from Independent Democrat

District 13
Nebraska's 13th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Justin Wayne (incumbent) 6,477 100.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Justin Wayne (incumbent) 11,771 100.0
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 15
Results by precinct:
  Bostar
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Campbell
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Nebraska's 15th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lynne Walz (incumbent) 6,197 68.7
Republican David Rogers 2,817 31.3
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Lynne Walz (incumbent) 9,186 59.6
Republican David Rogers 6,223 40.4
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 17
Nebraska's 17th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joni Albrecht (incumbent) 3,963 72.7
Democratic Sheryl Lindau 1,489 27.3
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Joni Albrecht (incumbent) 8,310 68.0
Democratic Sheryl Lindau 3,907 32.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 19

Jim Scheer (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 19th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Flood 8,346 100.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Mike Flood 15,519 100.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 21
Nebraska's 21st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Hilgers (incumbent) 5,150 59.1
Democratic Brodey Weber 2,379 27.3
Democratic Joseph Couch 1,184 13.6
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Mike Hilgers (incumbent) 10,157 54.96
Democratic Brodey Weber 8,325 45.04
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 23
Nebraska's 23rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Bostelman (incumbent) 5,703 62.4
Democratic Helen Raikes 3,430 37.6
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Bruce Bostelman (incumbent) 11,337 62.1
Democratic Helen Raikes 6,905 37.9
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 25
Nebraska's 25th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Suzanne Geist (incumbent) 10,407 71.5
Democratic Stephany Pleasant 4,151 28.5
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Suzanne Geist (incumbent) 16,443 66.7
Democratic Stephany Pleasant 8,207 33.3
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 27
Nebraska's 27th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anna Wishart (incumbent) 5,803 71.3
Republican Brenda Bickford 2,340 28.7
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Anna Wishart (incumbent) 10,173 64.4
Republican Brenda Bickford 5,612 35.6
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 29
Results by precinct:
  Bostar
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Campbell
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

Kate Bolz (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 29th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jacob Campbell 3,886 32.4
Democratic Eliot Bostar 3,236 27.0
Democratic Jennifer Carter 2,702 22.5
Democratic Neal Clayburn 1,023 8.5
Republican Lisa Lee 881 7.3
Nonpartisan Michael Connely 263 2.2
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Eliot Bostar 11,167 53.1
Republican Jacob Campbell 9,869 46.9
Total votes 100.0
Democratic hold

District 31

Rick Kolowski (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 31st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rich Pahls 4,156 37.9
Democratic Tim Royers 3,925 35.8
Democratic Melanie Williams 1,487 13.6
Republican Mark Gruenewald 1,069 9.7
Democratic Alexander Martin 337 3.1
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Rich Pahls 10,727 52.8
Democratic Tim Royers 9,608 47.4
Total votes 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 33
Nebraska's 33rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Halloran (incumbent) 6,653 100.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Steve Halloran 12,893 100.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 35
Nebraska's 35th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Quick (incumbent) 4,009 62.5
Republican Raymond Aguilar 2,401 37.5
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Raymond Aguilar 6,683 53.6
Democratic Dan Quick (incumbent) 5,777 46.4
Total votes 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 37
Nebraska's 37th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Lowe (incumbent) 6,286 77.1
Libertarian Mercadies Damratowski 1,865 22.9
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican John Lowe (incumbent) 12,903 75.7
Libertarian Mercadies Damratowski 4,134 24.3
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 39
Nebraska's 39th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lou Ann Linehan (incumbent) 8,355 61.7
Independent Democrat Allison Heimes 5,176 38.3
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Lou Ann Linehan (incumbent) 15,367 56.0
Independent Democrat Allison Heimes 12,087 44.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 41
Nebraska's 41st Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Briese (incumbent) 8,355 100.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Briese (incumbent) 15,855 100.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 43
Nebraska's 43rd Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Brewer (incumbent) 8,043 61.2
Republican Tanya Storer 5,100 38.8
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Tom Brewer (incumbent) 10,688 57.9
Republican Tanya Storer 7,760 42.1
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 45

Sue Crawford (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 45th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Hester 4,158 51.0
Republican Rita Sanders 3,999 49.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Rita Sanders 9,224 53.8
Democratic Susan Hester 7,919 46.2
Total votes 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47
Nebraska's 47th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Erdman (incumbent) 4,158 100.0
Total votes 100.0
General election
Republican Steve Erdman (incumbent) 14,964 100.0
Total votes 100.0
Republican hold

District 49
Results by precinct:
  Day
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  LaGrone
  •   50–60%

John Murante (elected in 2016) resigned when elected Treasurer of Nebraska in 2018. Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Andrew LaGrone to fill the vacancy.[7]

Nebraska's 49th Legislative District Election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jen Day 5,414 53.1
Republican Andrew LaGrone (incumbent) 4,787 46.9
Total votes 100.0
General election
Democratic Jen Day 12,524 50.5
Republican Andrew LaGrone (incumbent) 12,258 49.5
Total votes 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Notes
  1. Although Nebraska's legislature is unicameral, the officeholders are called Senators.
  2. The even-numbered districts were elected in 2018 and will be up for election again in 2022.

References
  1. "Nebraska State Primary Election Results 2020". The New York Times. May 12, 2020.
  2. "OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS" (PDF).
  3. "Nebraska Legislature:Legislature - Maps Clearinghouse". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  4. "OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS" (PDF).
  5. "Candidates for State Legislature". Nebraska Republican Party. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. "Candidates". Nebraska Democratic Party. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. "La Grone, '16, Appointed to Nebraska Legislature | Nebraska College of Law". law.unl.edu. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
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