# 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

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The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the three U.S. representatives from the state of Nebraska, one from each of the state's three congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

## Overview

| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 189,006 | 59.52% | 119,622 | 37.67% | 8,938 | 2.81% | 317,566 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 2 | 171,071 | 50.77% | 155,706 | 46.21% | 10,185 | 3.02% | 336,962 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 225,157 | 78.51% | 50,690 | 17.68% | 10,923 | 3.81% | 286,770 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| Total | 585,234 | 62.17% | 326,018 | 34.63% | 30,046 | 3.19% | 941,298 | 100.0% | |
Popular vote
Republican
62.17%
Democratic
34.63%
Other
3.19% :
House seats
Republican
100.00% :

## District 1

The 1st district is located in eastern Nebraska surrounding Omaha and its suburbs, taking in Lincoln, Bellevue, Fremont, and Norfolk. The incumbent was Republican Jeff Fortenberry, who was re-elected with 60.4% of the vote in 2018.

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

* Jeff Fortenberry, incumbent U.S. representative

##### Declined

* Nicholas Oviatt, part-time consultant

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Fortenberry (incumbent) | 84,017 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,017 | 100.0 |

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

* Kate Bolz, state senator
* Barbara "Babs" Ramsey, security analyst

##### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Lincoln Journal Star
Organizations
* American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
* League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
* Lincoln Firefighters Association
* Nebraska Association of Public Employees
* Sierra Club
Organizations
* DUH! Demand Universal Healthcare
* Freethought Equality Fund PAC
* Nebraska Secular Democrats
* Progressive Rising
* Rose Caucus
* Vote Pro Choice

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kate Bolz | 43,400 | 77.6 |
| | Democratic | Barbara Ramsey | 12,497 | 22.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,897 | 100.0 |

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Declared

* Dennis B. Grace, U.S. Navy veteran

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Dennis B. Grace | 1,047 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,047 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Debate

2020 Nebraska's 1st congressional district debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Jeff Fortenberry | Kate Bolz |
| 1 | Oct. 14, 2020 | Nebraska Public Media | Dennis Kellogg | | P | P |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | July 2, 2020 |
| Inside Elections | Safe R | June 2, 2020 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | July 2, 2020 |
| Politico | Likely R | September 9, 2020 |
| Daily Kos | Safe R | June 3, 2020 |
| RCP | Safe R | June 9, 2020 |
| Niskanen | Safe R | June 7, 2020 |

#### Results

Nebraska's 1st congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Fortenberry (incumbent) | 189,006 | 59.5 |
| | Democratic | Kate Bolz | 119,622 | 37.7 |
| | Libertarian | Dennis B. Grace | 8,938 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 317,566 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

The 2nd district covers the Omaha metropolitan area, including all of Douglas County, home to the city of Omaha, and suburban parts of western Sarpy County, including La Vista and Papillon. The incumbent was Republican Don Bacon, who was re-elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2018.
Kara Eastman was the Democratic nominee. She started a nonprofit consulting company in 2019, and was previously the executive director of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance. That organization focuses on reducing lead poisoning, and Lee Terry described it as a nonpartisan project. She is a former member of the Board of Governors of Metropolitan Community College.
President Donald Trump endorsed Bacon, and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden endorsed Eastman.

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

* Paul Anderson, perennial candidate
* Don Bacon, incumbent U.S. representative

##### Endorsements

* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Bacon (incumbent) | 68,531 | 90.6 |
| | Republican | Paul Anderson | 7,106 | 9.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,637 | 100.0 |

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

* Ann Ashford, attorney and wife of former U.S. Representative Brad Ashford
* Kara Eastman, nonprofit executive and nominee for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2018
* Gladys Harrison, general manager of Big Mama's Kitchen

##### Withdrew

* Morgann Freeman, part-time communications consultant and activist (endorsed Ashford)
* Dustin Sedoris, U.S. Marine Corps veteran (endorsed Eastman)

##### Declined

* Heath Mello, chief lobbyist for the University of Nebraska system, former state senator, and nominee for mayor of Omaha in 2017
* Denise Blaya Powell, founder of Women Who Run

#### Endorsements

U.S. senators
* Bob Kerrey, former senator from Nebraska and former governor of Nebraska
* Ben Nelson, former senator from Nebraska and former governor of Nebraska
U.S. representatives
* Brad Ashford, former representative from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district and husband of Ann Ashford
* John Joseph Cavanaugh III, former representative from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district
* John Delaney, former representative from Maryland's 6th congressional district
Statewide officials
* Kim Robak, former lieutenant governor of Nebraska
State officials
* Burke Harr, former state senator
* Gwen Howard, former state senator
* Bob Krist, former state senator and Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska in 2018
* Steve Lathrop, state senator
Individuals
* Michael Fahey, former mayor of Omaha
Organizations
* LEAP Forward Project
U.S. senators
* Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts
U.S. representatives
* Lisa Blunt Rochester, Representative from Delaware's at-large congressional district
* Lois Frankel, Representative from Florida's 21st congressional district
* Pramila Jayapal, Representative from Washington's 7th congressional district
* Ro Khanna, Representative from California's 17th congressional district
* Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Representative from New York's 14th congressional district
* Mark Pocan, Representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district
* Jamie Raskin, Representative from Maryland's 8th congressional district
State officials
* Tanya Cook, former state senator
* Brenda Council, Omaha city councilwoman and former state senator
* Megan Hunt, state senator
* Justin Wayne, state senator
Local officials
* Mike Boyle, county commissioner and former mayor of Omaha
* Marian Fey, former member of the Omaha public schools board
* Ben Gray, Omaha city councilman
* Jay Irwin, member of the Ralston school board
* Tim Rouse, former president of the Omaha city council
* Amanda Ryan, member of the Omaha public school board
* Marque Snow, president of the Omaha public school board
* Jim Suttle, former mayor of Omaha
Individuals
* Roger Garcia, member of the Metropolitan Community College board
* Mondaire Jones, 2020 Democratic nominee for New York's 17th congressional district
* Alexander Payne, filmmaker
* Mark Ruffalo, actor
* Barbara Weitz, member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents
* Michael Young, member of the Metropolitan Community College Board
Organizations
* American Progressives in STEM
* Brand New Congress
* Congressional Progressive Caucus
* Courage to Change
* Democracy for America
* Justice Democrats
* National Organization for Women
* Peace Action
* Progressive Change Campaign Committee
* Progressive Rising
* Sierra Club
* Warren Democrats
Parties
* Cannabis Rights Party of Nebraska

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kara Eastman | 45,953 | 62.1 |
| | Democratic | Ann Ashford | 23,059 | 31.2 |
| | Democratic | Gladys Harrison | 4,920 | 6.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,932 | 100.0 |

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Declared

* Tyler Schaeffer

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Tyler Schaeffer | 964 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 964 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Debate

2020 Nebraska's 2nd congressional district debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Don Bacon | Kara Eastman |
| 1 | Oct. 12, 2020 | Nebraska Public Media | Dennis Kellogg | | P | P |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | July 16, 2020 |
| Inside Elections | Tilt D (flip) | October 28, 2020 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 2, 2020 |
| Politico | Tossup | September 9, 2020 |
| Daily Kos | Lean R | June 3, 2020 |
| RCP | Tossup | June 9, 2020 |
| Niskanen | Tossup | June 7, 2020 |

#### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Don Bacon (R) | Kara Eastman (D) | Tyler Schaeffer (L) | Other | Undecided |
| UNLV Lee Business School | October 30 – November 2, 2020 | 191 (LV) | ± 7% | 47% | 46% | – | – | – |
| Change Research | October 29 – November 2, 2020 | 920 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 47% | 48% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
| Emerson College | October 29–30, 2020 | 806 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 50% | 47% | – | 2% | – |
| FM3 Research (D) | October 1–4, 2020 | 450 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 45% | 47% | 6% | – | – |
| Siena College/NYT Upshot | September 25–27, 2020 | 420 (LV) | ± 5.3% | 45% | 43% | 3% | 1% | 8% |
| Global Strategy Group (D) | September 14–16, 2020 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 45% | 45% | 4% | – | 7% |
| Global Strategy Group (D) | July 27–29, 2020 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 47% | 42% | 4% | – | 7% |
| GQR Research (D) | June 30 – July 5, 2020 | 502 (LV) | ± 4.37% | 49% | 50% | – | – | – |
| DCCC Targeting and Analytics Department (D) | May 7–10, 2020 | 448 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 47% | 48% | – | – | – |
| GQR Research (D) | September 9–12, 2019 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 50% | 49% | – | – | – |
with Ann Ashford
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Don Bacon (R) | Ann Ashford (D) | Undecided |
| GQR Research (D) | September 9–12, 2019 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 53% | 46% | – |
with Gladys Harrison
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Don Bacon (R) | Gladys Harrison (D) | Undecided |
| GQR Research (D) | September 9–12, 2019 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 55% | 44% | – |

#### Post-primary endorsements

Federal officials
* Brad Ashford, former U.S. representative from NE-02 (Democratic)
* Deb Fischer, U.S. senator from Nebraska
* Joe Lieberman, former U.S. senator from Connecticut (1989–2013) (Independent / Democratic)
* Jim Moran, former U.S. representative (VA-08) (1991–2015) (Democratic)
State officials
* Bob Krist, former state senator (2009–2019) and 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee (Democratic)
* Pete Ricketts, Governor
Local officials
* Carroll Smith, mayor of Valley (Democratic)
* Jean Stothert, mayor of Omaha
Organizations
* National Right to Life Committee
Individuals
* Barry Rubin, former Nebraska Democratic Party executive director (2003–2006) (Democratic)
Former US Executive Branch officials
* Joe Biden, 47th vice president of the United States and 2020 Democratic nominee for President
* Barack Obama, former president of the United States (2009–2017, former senator from Illinois (2005–2008)
Federal officials
* Judy Chu, U.S. representative (CA-27)
* John Delaney, former U.S. representative (MD_06)
* Debbie Dingell, U.S. representative from (MI-12)
* Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator from New York and former 2020 presidential candidate
* Deb Haaland, U.S. representative (NM-01)
* Kamala Harris, U.S. senator from California; 2020 vice presidential nominee
* Bob Kerrey, former U.S. senator from Nebraska (1989–2001) and Governor (1983–1987)
* Andy Levin, U.S. representative (MI-09)
* Ted Lieu, U.S. representative (CA-33)
* Katie Porter, U.S. representative (CA-45)
* Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont and former 2016 and 2020 presidential candidate
* Jan Schakowsky, U.S. representative (IL-09)
* Eric Swalwell, U.S. representative (CA-15)
* Mark Takano, U.S. representative (CA-41)
State officials
* Kate Bolz, state senator and 2020 Democratic nominee in NE-01
* John S. McCollister, Nebraska state senator (Republican)
Local officials
* Chris Jerram, Omaha City Council president
Individuals
* Jamaal Bowman, 2020 Democratic nominee for New York's 16th congressional district
* Gladys Harrison, local business owner and 2020 Democratic candidate in NE-02
* Mondaire Jones, 2020 Democratic nominee for New York's 17th congressional district
* Jim Simon, business owner and 2002 Democratic nominee in NE-02
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
* EMILY's List
* End Citizens United
* Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
* League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
* Let America Vote
* Nebraska Democratic Party
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund

#### Results

Despite Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden winning the district by 6.5 points, Bacon defeated Eastman by 4.6 points. Eastman underperformed Biden by over 11 points.
Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Don Bacon (incumbent) | 171,071 | 50.8 |
| | Democratic | Kara Eastman | 155,706 | 46.2 |
| | Libertarian | Tyler Schaeffer | 10,185 | 3.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 336,962 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### By county

| County | Don Bacon Republican | Don Bacon Republican | Kara Eastman Democratic | Kara Eastman Democratic | Tyler Schaeffer Libertarian | Tyler Schaeffer Libertarian | Total votes |
| County | % | # | % | # | % | # | Total votes |
| Douglas | 48.20% | 132,230 | 48.79% | 133,827 | 3.01% | 8,252 | 274,309 |
| Sarpy | 61.99% | 38,841 | 34.92% | 21,879 | 3.09% | 1,933 | 62,653 |

## District 3

The 3rd district covers most of the rural western part of the state, and includes Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, North Platte, Alliance, and Scottsbluff. The incumbent was Republican Adrian Smith, who was re-elected with 76.7% of the vote in 2018.

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

* Larry Lee Scott Bolinger, veteran, graduate from UNO, business owner in property preservation, author of 16 books, and self-defense instructor
* William Elfgren, grocery worker
* Arron Kowalski, farmer
* Justin Moran, architectural draftsman, firefighter and welder
* Adrian Smith, incumbent U.S. representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Adrian Smith (incumbent) | 96,260 | 82.6 |
| | Republican | Arron Kowalski | 6,424 | 5.5 |
| | Republican | Justin Moran | 6,374 | 5.5 |
| | Republican | William Elfgren | 4,063 | 3.5 |
| | Republican | Larry Lee Scott Bolinger | 3,389 | 2.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 116,510 | 100.0 |

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

* Mark Elworth, Jr., acting chair of the Cannabis Rights Party of Nebraska, former Legal Marijuana Now nominee for president in 2020

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Elworth, Jr. | 26,772 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,776 | 100.0 |

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Declared

* Dustin C. Hobbs, reality television show participant

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Dustin C. Hobbs | 561 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 561 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | July 2, 2020 |
| Inside Elections | Safe R | June 2, 2020 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | July 2, 2020 |
| Politico | Safe R | September 9, 2020 |
| Daily Kos | Safe R | June 3, 2020 |
| RCP | Safe R | June 9, 2020 |
| Niskanen | Safe R | June 7, 2020 |

#### Results

Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Adrian Smith (incumbent) | 225,157 | 78.5 |
| | Democratic | Mark Elworth Jr. | 50,690 | 17.7 |
| | Libertarian | Dustin C. Hobbs | 10,923 | 3.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 286,770 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |