# 2016 Nebraska elections

Elections in Nebraska :
Federal offices
Presidential elections
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1867
1869
1870
1875
1877
1880
1883
1886
1888
1889
1893
1895
1899
1899 sp
1901
1901 sp
1905
1907
1911
1913
1916
1918
1922
1924
1928
1930
1934
1934 sp
1936
1940
1942
1946
1948
1952
1952 sp
1954
1954 sp
1958
1960
1964
1966
1970
1972
1976
1978
1982
1984
1988
1990
1994
1996
2000
2002
2006
2008
2012
2014
2018
2020
2024
2024 sp
2026
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1866
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1889
2nd sp
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1899
6th sp
1900
1902
1904
1905
1st sp
1906
1908
1910
1911
3rd sp
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1st sp
6th sp
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1st sp
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1951
3rd sp
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
1st sp
2024
2026 :
State government
State elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1866
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
Secretary of State elections
2022
Attorney General elections
2022
State Legislature elections
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2000
Initiative 416
2008
Initiative 424
2024
Initiative 434
Initiative 439 :
Lincoln
Mayoral elections
2019
2023 :
Omaha
Mayoral elections
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025 :
Government :
vte :
The 2016 Nebraska state elections were held on November 8, 2016. Voters elected all three of Nebraska’s representatives to the United States House of Representatives, along with half of the members of the Nebraska Legislature. Elections were also held for seats on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and Board of Regents. Additionally, judicial retention elections took place for the Nebraska Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Workers' Compensation Court, and lower courts. Local district elections were also on the ballot, as was a referendum on repealing the state's death penalty.

## United States Congress

All three of Nebraska's U.S. Representatives ran for re-election. Republicans Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith successfully won re-election, but Democrat Brad Ashford was defeated for re-election.
| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 189,771 | 69.45% | 83,467 | 30.55% | 0 | 0.00% | 273,238 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 2 | 141,066 | 48.93% | 137,602 | 47.73% | 9,640 | 3.34% | 288,308 | 100.0% | Republican gain |
| District 3 | 226,720 | 100.0% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 226,720 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| Total | 557,557 | 70.74% | 221,069 | 28.04% | 9,640 | 1.22% | 788,266 | 100.0% | |

## Public Service Commission
### District 4

Incumbent Commissioner Rod Johnson ran for re-election. He was challenged in the Republican primary by Tammy Cheatum and Dakota Della, but defeated both easily, winning 64% of the vote. In the general election, Johnson faced no challenger and won uncontested.

#### Republican primary
##### Candidates

* Rod Johnson, incumbent Public Service Commissioner
* Tammy Cheatum, high school guidance counselor
* Dakota Delka, McCook farmer

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rod Johnson | 24,009 | 63.72% |
| | Republican | Tammy Cheatum | 7,867 | 20.89% |
| | Republican | Dakota Delka | 4,972 | 13.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,848 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2016 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 4 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rod Johnson (inc.) | 126,758 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 126,758 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Jerry Vap ran for re-election to another term. He was challenged in the Republican primary by rancher Mary Ridder. Vap campaigned for re-election on his experience, arguing that he was "the most qualified person to serve the citizens of Nebraska on the Public Service Commission," and pointed to his work in upgrading 911 services and expanding broadband internet coverage. Ridder, meanwhile, argued that she would bring a "valuable rural and landowner perspective" to the Commission. The race between Vap and Ridder was too close to call on election night, with Ridder in a slight lead, and produced an automatic recount, which confirmed that she defeated Vap for nomination by 46 votes. In the general election, Ridder faced no challenger and won unopposed.

#### Republican primary
##### Candidates

* Mary Ridder, rancher
* Jerry Vap, incumbent Public Service Commissioner

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Ridder | 21,925 | 50.05% |
| | Republican | Jerry Vap (inc.) | 21,879 | 49.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,804 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2016 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 5 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mary Ridder | 127,050 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 127,050 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## State Board of Education
### District 1

Incumbent Board member Lillie Larsen declined to run for re-election in the 1st district, which included most of metropolitan Lincoln. Two retired educators—Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte and Patricia A. Koch Johns—ran against physician Bob Rauner. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Bohlke-Schulte ran as a Republican, Koch Johns as a Democrat, and Rauner as a "nonpartisan." During the campaign, the candidates agreed on their opposition to charter schools and standardized testing, and the sharpest divide was over comprehensive sex education. Koch Johns and Rauner favored comprehensive sex education, while Bohlke-Schulte opposed it. Koch Johns and Bohlke-Schulte narrowly defeated Rauner to win first and second place in the nonpartisan primary, and advanced to the general election, where Koch Johns narrowly defeated Bohlke-Schulte, 52-48%, to win her first term on the Board.

#### Candidates

* Patricia A. Koch Johns, retired teacher
* Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte, retired school principal, former member of the Grand Island School Board
* Bob Rauner, physician

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Patricia A. Koch Johns | 13,679 | 34.20% |
| | Nonpartisan | Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte | 13,330 | 33.31% |
| | Nonpartisan | Bob Rauner | 12,657 | 32.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,666 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Patricia A. Koch Johns | 47,386 | 52.20% |
| | Nonpartisan | Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte | 43,378 | 47.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 90,764 | 100.00% |

### District 2

Incumbent Board member Glen A. Flint, who was appointed to the Board in 2014 by then-Governor Dave Heineman, ran for re-election to a full term. He was challenged by teacher Lisa Fricke, who had the support of the Nebraska State Education Association. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Flint ran as a Republican and Fricke as a Democrat. Fricke outpaced Flint in the nonpartisan primary and then defeated him in a landslide in the general election, winning 65% of the vote.

#### Candidates

* Lisa Fricke, teacher
* Glen A. Flint, incumbent Board member

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Lisa Fricke | 16,324 | 60.20% |
| | Nonpartisan | Glen A. Flint | 10,786 | 39.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,110 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Lisa Fricke | 31,384 | 64.72% |
| | Nonpartisan | Glen A. Flint | 17,111 | 35.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,495 | 100.00% |

### District 3

Incumbent Board member Rachel Wise ran for re-election and won another term unopposed.

#### Candidates

* Rachel Wise, incumbent Board member

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Rachel Wise | 29,458 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,458 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Rachel Wise | 70,797 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,797 | 100.00% |

### District 4

Incumbent Board member John Witzel ran for re-election and was elected unopposed.

#### Candidates

* John Witzel, incumbent Board member

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | John Witzel | 16,498 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,498 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | John Witzel | 57,477 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,477 | 100.00% |

## Board of Regents
### District 6

Incumbent Regent Kent Schroeder declined to run for re-election. Agribusiness executive Paul Kenney, businesswoman Mary George, and attorney Marsha Fangmeyer ran to succeed him. In the nonpartisan primary, Kenney placed first and Fangmeyer narrowly defeated George for second place, enabling her to advance to the general election. Kenney defeated Fangmeyer with 58% of the vote.

#### Candidates

* Paul Kenney, agribusiness executive
* Marsha E. Fangmeyer, attorney
* Mary George, businesswoman

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Paul Kenney | 18,105 | 43.93% |
| | Nonpartisan | Marsha E. Fangmeyer | 8,769 | 21.29% |
| | Nonpartisan | Mary George | 8,601 | 20.88% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,475 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Paul Kenney | 45,836 | 57.89% |
| | Nonpartisan | Marsha E. Fangmeyer | 33,357 | 42.11% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,193 | 100.00% |

### District 7

Incumbent Regent Bob Phares ran for re-election and faced no opposition.

#### Candidates

* Bob Phares, incumbent Regent

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Bob Phares | 33,549 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,549 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Bob Phares | 76,158 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,158 | 100.00% |