# 2018 Nebraska elections

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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.
2018 United States Senate election in Nebraska :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Deb Fischer (inc.) | 403,151 | 57.69% | −0.08% |
| | Democratic | Jane Raybould | 269,917 | 38.62% | −3.61% |
| | Libertarian | Jim Schultz | 25,349 | 3.63 | — |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 466 | 0.07% | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 133,234 | 19.06% | +3.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 698,883 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 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:
| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 141,712 | 60.36% | 93,069 | 39.64% | 0 | 0.00% | 234,781 | 100% | Republican hold |
| District 2 | 126,715 | 51.00% | 121,770 | 49.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 248,485 | 100% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 163,650 | 76.72% | 49,654 | 23.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 213,304 | 100% | Republican hold |
| Total | 432,077 | 62.56% | 264,493 | 35.19% | 0 | 0.00% | 696,570 | 100% | |

## 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.
2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Pete Ricketts (inc.) | 411,812 | 59.00% | +1.85% |
| | Democratic | Bob Krist | 286,169 | 41.00% | +1.77% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125,643 | 18.00% | +0.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 697,981 | 100.0% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Secretary of State

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. 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
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Evnen | 81,371 | 58.48% |
| | Republican | Debra Perrell | 57,816 | 41.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 139,187 | 100.00% |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Spencer Danner, consultant, former head of the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Spencer Danner | 76,769 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,769 | 100.00% |

### General election

2018 Nebraska Secretary of State general election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bob Evnen | 406,632 | 60.64% | −14.55% |
| | Democratic | Spencer Danner | 263,982 | 39.36% | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142,650 | 21.27% | −29.11% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 670,614 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Auditor of Public Accounts

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. 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. Ultimately, though Janssen won re-election, it was by the thinnest margin of any statewide Republican candidate.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Charlie Janssen, incumbent Auditor of Accounts

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charlie Janssen (inc.) | 132,365 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 132,365 | 100.00% |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Jane Skinner, Omaha librarian

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jane Skinner | 75,699 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,699 | 100.00% |

### General election

2018 Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charlie Janssen (inc.) | 380,666 | 57.56% | −1.51% |
| | Democratic | Jane Skinner | 280,669 | 42.44% | +1.51% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99,997 | 15.12% | −3.01% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 661,335 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 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

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Murante | 82,667 | 56.42% |
| | Republican | Taylor Royal | 63,844 | 43.58% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 146,511 | 100.00% |

### General election

2018 Nebraska State Treasurer general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Murante | 516,210 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 516,210 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 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. Though Democrats originally planned on replacing Argyrakis on the ballot, they ultimately did not do so, and Peterson was re-elected unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Doug Peterson, incumbent Attorney General

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Doug Peterson (inc.) | 140,675 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,675 | 100.00% |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Evangelos Argyrakis, Omaha atorney

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Evangelos Argyrakis | 67,022 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,022 | 100.00% |

### General election

2018 Nebraska Attorney General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Doug Peterson (inc.) | 516,777 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 516,777 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## 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. 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. Watermeier ended up narrowly defeating Yoakum with 52% of the vote.

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

* Dan Watermeier, State Senator
* Ron Nolte, former Cass County Commissioner
* Scott Smathers, Executive Director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Watermeier | 15,997 | 59.06% |
| | Republican | Ron Nolte | 6,518 | 24.06% |
| | Republican | Scott Smathers | 4,570 | 16.87% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,085 | 100.00% |

#### Democratic primary
##### Candidates

* Christa Yoakum, community organizer
* John Atkeison, software developer

##### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Christa Yoakum | 18,510 | 76.67% |
| | Democratic | John Atkeison | 5,634 | 23.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,144 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2018 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 1 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Watermeier | 73,891 | 51.68% |
| | Democratic | Christa Yoakum | 70,595 | 48.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 144,486 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 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

* Tim Schram, incumbent Public Service Commissioner

##### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Schram | 24,596 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,596 | 100.00% |

#### Democratic primary
##### Candidates

* Mike Forsythe, retired business executive

##### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Forsythe | 14,439 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,439 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2018 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 3 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Schram (inc.) | 99,986 | 62.19% |
| | Democratic | Mike Forsythe | 61,133 | 37.81% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 161,119 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## State Board of Education
### District 5

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. 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

* Patricia H. Timm, incumbent Board member
* Maris Bentley, retired Plattsmouth teacher

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Patricia H. Timm (inc.) | 21,273 | 70.22% |
| | Nonpartisan | Maris Bentley | 9,023 | 29.78% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,296 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Patricia H. Timm (inc.) | 38,800 | 63.08% |
| | Nonpartisan | Maris Bentley | 22,713 | 36.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,513 | 100.00% |

### District 6

Incumbent Board member Maureen Nickels was unopposed for another term.

#### Candidates

* Maureen Nickels, incumbent Board member

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Maureen Nickels (inc.) | 27,904 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,904 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Maureen Nickels (inc.) | 56,395 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,395 | 100.00% |

### 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

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Robin R. Stevens | 30,727 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,727 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Robin R. Stevens | 58,764 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 58,764 | 100.00% |

### 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. 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

* Deborah Neary, Executive Director of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership
* Pat McPherson, incumbent Board member
* Bob Meyers, retired teacher, 2018 candidate for Board

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Neary | 15,018 | 50.86% |
| | Nonpartisan | Pat McPherson (inc.) | 8,137 | 27.56% |
| | Nonpartisan | Bob Meyers | 6,373 | 21.58% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,528 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Neary | 46,697 | 59.12% |
| | Nonpartisan | Pat McPherson (inc.) | 32,292 | 40.88% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,989 | 100.00% |

## Board of Regents

Incumbent Regent Jim Pillen was unopposed for re-election.

### District 3
#### Candidates

* Jim Pillen, incumbent Regent

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Pillen (inc.) | 29,077 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,077 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Pillen (inc.) | 55,440 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,440 | 100.00% |

### 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. O'Connor defeated Bradley in a landslide.

#### Candidates

* Elizabeth O'Connor, attorney
* Larry Bradley, adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, member of the Papio Missouri Natural Resources District, 2012 Regent candidate

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Elizabeth O'Connor | 15,418 | 72.14% |
| | Nonpartisan | Larry Bradley | 5,958 | 27.86% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,376 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Elizabeth O'Connor | 38,304 | 72.58% |
| | Nonpartisan | Larry Bradley | 14,478 | 27.42% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,782 | 100.00% |

### District 5

Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer ran for re-election. He was challenged by former Regent Robert J. Prokop and photographer Joshua Redwine. 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

* Rob Schafer, incumbent Regent
* Robert J. Prokop, former Regent
* Joshua Redwine, Lincoln photographer

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Rob Schafer (inc.) | 16,354 | 43.30% |
| | Nonpartisan | Robert J. Prokop | 9,047 | 23.97% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joshua Redwine | 6,962 | 18.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,363 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Rob Schafer (inc.) | 39,538 | 60.57% |
| | Nonpartisan | Robert J. Prokop | 25,732 | 39.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,270 | 100.00% |

### 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. 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

* Barbara Weitz, retired social work professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha
* Hal Daub, incumbent Regent
* Ryan Wilkins, attorney

#### Primary election results

Nonpartisan primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Barbara Weitz | 14,487 | 41.23% |
| | Nonpartisan | Hal Daub (inc.) | 13,774 | 39.22% |
| | Nonpartisan | Ryan Wilkins | 4,844 | 13.78% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,105 | 100.00% |

#### General election results

Nonpartisan general results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Barbara Weitz | 48,265 | 52.92% |
| | Nonpartisan | Hal Daub (inc.) | 42,941 | 47.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 91,206 | 100.00% |