# 2022 Nebraska elections

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vte :
Nebraska state elections in 2022 were held in the U.S. state of Nebraska on November 8, 2022. All three of Nebraska's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election; all of the state's executive officers were up for election; half of the seats in the Nebraska Legislature were up; and several seats each were up on the Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and Board of Regents.

## United States Congress

All of Nebraska's three seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2022.

### Results

| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 129,236 | 57.91% | 93,929 | 42.09% | 0 | 0.00% | 223,165 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 2 | 112,663 | 51.33% | 106,807 | 48.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 219,470 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 172,700 | 78.30% | 34,836 | 15.79% | 13,016 | 5.90% | 220,552 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| Total | 411,034 | 62.71% | 231,511 | 35.32% | 13,016 | 1.96% | 663,187 | 100.0% | |
Popular vote
Republican
62.71%
Democratic
35.32%
Other
1.96% :
House seats
Republican
100.00% :

## Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Pete Ricketts was ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as Governor. Jim Pillen, a member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, won the Republican primary to succeed him. He faced State Senator Carol Blood, the Democratic nominee, in the general election and defeated her in a landslide.
2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jim PillenJoe Kelly | 398,334 | 59.22% | +0.22% |
| | Democratic | Carol BloodAl Davis | 242,006 | 35.98% | −5.02% |
| | Libertarian | Scott ZimmermanJason Blumenthal | 26,455 | 3.93% | — |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 5,798 | 0.86% | — |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 672,593 | 100.00% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 682,716 | 54.93% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Attorney General

Incumbent Attorney General Doug Peterson declined to seek a third consecutive term. Mike Hilgers, the Speaker of the Legislature, won the Republican primary to succeed him. The only candidate that Hilgers faced in the general election was Larry Bolinger, the nominee of the Legal Marijuana Now Party. Hilgers defeated Bolinger with nearly 70% of the vote.
2022 Nebraska Attorney General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Hilgers | 434,671 | 69.73% | −30.27% |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Larry Bolinger | 188,649 | 30.27% | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246,022 | 39.47% | −60.53% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 623,320 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Secretary of State

Incumbent Secretary of State Bob Evnen ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary win a 44% plurality and was unopposed in the general election.
2022 Nebraska Secretary of State election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Evnen (inc.) | 500,342 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 500,342 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## State Treasurer

Incumbent State Treasurer John Murante ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary and then faced Libertarian candidate Katrina Tomsen in the general election, winning 72% of the vote.
2022 Nebraska State Treasurer election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John Murante (inc.) | 431,193 | 72.21% | −27.79% |
| | Libertarian | Katrina Tomsen | 165,951 | 27.79% | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265,242 | 44.42% | −55.58% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 597,144 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent Auditor Charlie Janssen declined to seek a third term. Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley, who previously served as Auditor from 2007 to 2015, won the Republican primary to succeed him. He then defeated two independent candidates in the general election.
2022 Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Foley | 429,169 | 68.52% | +10.96% |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | L. Leroy Lopez | 120,987 | 19.32% | — |
| | Libertarian | Gene Siadek | 76,223 | 12.17% | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 308,182 | 49.20% | +34.08% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 597,144 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Public Service Commission
### District 4

Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Rod Johnson ran for re-election. He was opposed in the Republican primary by Geneva Mayor Eric Kamler, who criticized Johnson for his poor attendance record on the Commission. Kamler ultimately defeated Johnson by a wide margin in the primary and was unopposed in the general election.

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

* Eric Kamler, Mayor of Geneva
* Rod Johnson, incumbent Public Service Commissioner

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Eric Kamler | 32,418 | 57.57% |
| | Republican | Rod Johnson (inc.) | 23,901 | 42.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,319 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2022 District 4 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Eric Kamler | 104,862 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 104,862 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Mary Ridder ran for re-election. She was opposed by businessman Kevin Stocker and Dakota Delka in the Republican primary. Stocker narrowly defeated Ridder and faced no opposition in the general election.

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

* Kevin Stocker, Scottsbluff businessman
* Mary Ridder, incumbent Public Service Commissioner
* Dakota Delka

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kevin Stocker | 22,590 | 41.43% |
| | Republican | Mary Ridder (inc.) | 21,154 | 38.78% |
| | Republican | Dakota Delka | 8,260 | 15.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,604 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2022 District 5 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kevin Stocker | 102,665 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,665 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## State Board of Education

Four seats were up on the State Board of Education in 2022: Districts 5, 6, 7, and 8. Across the state, a slate of socially conservative candidates backed by Protect Nebraska Children, a political action committee, ran to win a conservative majority on the Board. The slate was opposed to the teaching of "critical race theory" and to proposed sexual health standards considered by the Board. Three of the four members of the slate were elected, with incumbent Kirk Penner winning re-election in District 5, Sherry Jones winning an open seat in District 6, and Elizabeth Tegtmeier defeating incumbent Board Member Robin Stevens in District 7.

### District 5

Incumbent member Kirk Penner, who was appointed to the Board of Education in 2021 by Governor Pete Ricketts, ran for re-election to a full term. He was opposed by retired professor Helen Raikes, whom he defeated.

#### Candidates

* Kirk Penner, incumbent Board Member
* Helen Raikes, retired University of Nebraska–Lincoln early childhood studies professor

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Kirk Penner (inc.) | 32,492 | 60.73% |
| | Nonpartisan | Helen Raikes | 21,007 | 39.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,499 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Kirk Penner (inc.) | 43,050 | 54.71% |
| | Nonpartisan | Helen Raikes | 35,631 | 45.29% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,681 | 100.00% |

### District 6

Incumbent Board Member Maureen Nickels declined to seek re-election to a third term. Two retired teachers, Sherry Jones and Danielle Helzer, ran to succeed her. Jones, who was part of the conservative slate of candidates, defeated Helzer in a landslide.

#### Candidates

* Sherry Jones, retired teacher and school counselor
* Danielle Helzer, retired English teacher and writing coach

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Sherry Jones | 29,756 | 69.17% |
| | Nonpartisan | Danielle Helzer | 13,267 | 30.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,023 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Sherry Jones | 41,463 | 66.13% |
| | Nonpartisan | Danielle Helzer | 21,196 | 33.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 62,659 | 100.00% |

### District 7

Incumbent Board Member Robin Stevens ran for re-election to a second term. He was opposed by former public school teacher Elizabeth Tegtmeier and retired pastor Pat Moore. Tegtmeier was part of the conservative slate of candidates for the Board, and placed first in the primary election by a wide margin. In the general election, Tegtmeier defeated Stevens for re-election in a landslide.

#### Candidates

* Elizabeth Tegtmeier, former public school teacher
* Robin Stevens, incumbent Board Member
* Pat Moore, retired pastor

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Elizabeth Tegtmeier | 33,304 | 59.73% |
| | Nonpartisan | Robin Stevens (inc.) | 10,698 | 19.12% |
| | Nonpartisan | Pat Moore | 9,149 | 16.31% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,151 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Elizabeth Tegtmeier | 53,088 | 70.53% |
| | Nonpartisan | Robin Stevens (inc.) | 22,195 | 29.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,283 | 100.00% |

### District 8

Incumbent Board Member Deborah Neary ran for re-election to a second term. She was opposed in the primary election by massage therapist Marni Hodges, who was a part of the conservative slate of candidates, and former Board Member John Sieler. At the primary election, Neary placed first, and Hodgen narrowly edged out Sieler for the second slot. The ensuing general election became one of the most contentious races statewide, and Neary narrowly defeated Hodges, winning re-election with 52% of the vote.

#### Candidates

* Deborah Neary
* Marni Hodgen
* John Sieler

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Neary (inc.) | 23,843 | 44.92% |
| | Nonpartisan | Marni Hodgen | 13,291 | 25.07% |
| | Nonpartisan | John Sieler | 11,748 | 22.13% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 48,882 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Neary (inc.) | 41,717 | 51.89% |
| | Nonpartisan | Marni Hodgen | 38,660 | 48.11% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,377 | 100.00% |

## University of Nebraska Board of Regents
### District 6

Incumbent Regent Paul Kenney ran for re-election to a second term. Former Grand Island City Councilwoman Julie Hehnke ran against him. Kenney narrowly won re-election.

#### Candidates

* Paul R. Kenney
* Julie Hehnke

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Paul R. Kenney (inc.) | 22,399 | 51.97% |
| | Nonpartisan | Julie Hehnke | 21,184 | 48.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,583 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Paul R. Kenney (inc.) | 34,705 | 54.13% |
| | Nonpartisan | Julie Hehnke | 29,420 | 45.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,125 | 100.00% |

### District 7

Incumbent Regent Bob Phares declined to seek re-election to a fourth term, creating an open seat. State Senator Matt Williams, former State Board of Education member Kathy Wilmot, and Nolan Gurnsey ran to succeed him. Williams and Wilmot placed first and second in the primary election and advanced to the general election. Williams was endorsed by Regent Jim Pillen, the Republican nominee for Governor, as well as several other regents, while Wilmot was endorsed by Governor Pete Ricketts. The Nebraska Future Fund, a political action committee funded by the Ricketts family, spent several hundred thousand dollars attacking Williams as a "Republican in Name Only (RINO)," and elevating Wilmot, who claimed that the courses in the university system were "liberal leaning." Ultimately, Wilmot defeated Williams, winning 54% of the vote.

#### Candidates

* Matt Williams, State Senator
* Kathy Wilmot, former State Board of Education Member
* Nolan Gurnsey

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Matt Williams | 22,380 | 39.48% |
| | Nonpartisan | Kathy Wilmot | 20,532 | 36.46% |
| | Nonpartisan | Nolan Gurnsey | 6,079 | 10.79% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,991 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Kathy Wilmot | 39,539 | 54.39% |
| | Nonpartisan | Matt Williams | 33,121 | 45.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,660 | 100.00% |