Nebraska elections, 2014
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2015 →
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The state of Nebraska held elections in 2014. Below are the dates of note:
| 2014 elections and events in Nebraska | ||||
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| Local ballot measure election (1) | February 11, 2014 
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| Filing deadline for incumbent candidates seeking re-election | February 18, 2014
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| Filing deadline for non-incumbent candidates | March 3, 2014
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| Filing deadline for state legislature candidates | March 10, 2014
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| Voter registration deadline for primary election | April 25, 2014
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| Primary election date | May 13, 2014
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| Petition drive deadline for initiatives | July 4, 2014
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| Filing deadline for independents filing for office by petition and new party candidates | September 2, 2014
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| Voter registration deadline for general election | October 17, 2014
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| General election date | November 4, 2014
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| Statewide ballot measures | November 4, 2014
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| School board elections (4) | November 4, 2014
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Below are the types of elections that were scheduled in Nebraska in 2014:
2014 elections
Races to watch in Nebraska
U.S. Congress
The retirement of Sen. Mike Johanns (R) left an open seat in Nebraska. Because the district was a safe Republican seat, much of the campaigning happened in the primary election. The two frontrunners, Ben Sasse and Shane Osborn, both received early endorsements from conservative organizations. Sasse hit the ground running with record breaking fundraising early in the cycle. Sasse defeated Osborn in the primary, and Democratic candidate Dave Domina in the general election on November 4, 2014.
Nebraska State Senate
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day. The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6, 2012, general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Nebraska State Senate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 21 | Ken Haar | 0.6% | 13,653 | Mike Hilgers |
| District 29 | Kate Bolz | 1.8% | 17,823 | Larry Zimmerman |
| District 2 | Bill Kintner | 2.3% | 15,969 | Paul Lambert |
| District 45 | Sue Crawford | 2.8% | 13,840 | Richard Carter |
| District 43 | Al Davis | 3.6% | 16,887 | John Ravenscroft |
| District 31 | Rick Kolowski | 4% | 17,534 | Acela Turco |
| District 37 | Galen Hadley | 4.3% | 14,148 | Josiah Woodward |
| District 23 | Jerry Johnson | 7.3% | 14,966 | Vern Barrett |
| District 1 | Dan Watermeier | 11.6% | 15,663 | Jerry Joy |
| District 3 | Scott Price | 12.1% | 12,487 | Suzanne McNamara |
Elections by type
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate elections in Nebraska
Voters in Nebraska elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the election on November 4, 2014.
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, a top-two primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races. All other primaries are semi-closed.[1]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by either April 25, 2014, by mail or carrier, or by May 2, 2014, in person. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 17, 2014.[2]
- See also: Nebraska elections, 2014
Incumbent: The election filled the Senate seat previously held by Mike Johanns (R). Johanns was first elected in 2008. He announced in February 2013 that he would not seek re-election in 2014.[3] He joined a long list of U.S. Congress incumbents who did not run for re-election in 2014.
Candidates
Note: The filing deadline for candidates was March 3, 2014.
General election candidates
May 13, 2014, primary results
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Independent candidates
Declined to run
Failed to file
U.S. House
U.S. House of Representatives elections in Nebraska
The 2014 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Nebraska took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected three candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's three congressional districts.
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, a top-two primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races. All other primaries are semi-closed.[1]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by either April 25, 2014, by mail or carrier, or by May 2, 2014, in person. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 17, 2014.[17]
- See also: Nebraska elections, 2014
Partisan breakdown
Heading into the November 4 election, Republicans held all three of the congressional seats from Nebraska.
| Members of the U.S. House from Nebraska -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2014 | After the 2014 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 0 | 1 | |
| Republican Party | 3 | 2 | |
| Total | 3 | 3 | |
Incumbents
Heading into the 2014 election, the incumbents for the three congressional districts were:
| Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Fortenberry | 1 | |
| Lee Terry | 2 | |
| Adrian Smith | 3 |
List of candidates by district
1st Congressional District
General election candidates
Jeff Fortenberry - Incumbent
Dennis Crawford
May 13, 2014, primary results
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2nd Congressional District
General election candidates
Steven Laird
May 13, 2014, primary results
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Libertarian Primary
Withdrew from race
Declined to run
3rd Congressional District
General election candidates
May 13, 2014, primary results
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State Executives
State executive official elections in Nebraska
Seven state executive positions were up for election in 2014 in the state of Nebraska.
The following offices were elected in 2014 in Nebraska:
- Governor of Nebraska
- Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
- Nebraska Attorney General
- Nebraska Secretary of State
- Nebraska Treasurer
- Nebraska Auditor
- Nebraska Public Service Commissioner
List of candidates by office
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
In Nebraska, gubernatorial nominees select their lieutenant governor running mate after the primary.[27]
Note: Lavon Heidemann's name did not appear on the ballot after an appeal by Pete Ricketts to add running mate Mike Foley following Heidemann's withdrawal on September 9, 2014. State law required gubernatorial candidates to select their running mates by September 1, with no provision for removing selected candidates from the ballot. Ricketts selected State Auditor Mike Foley as a replacement for Heidemann, and the Nebraska Secretary of State approved an appeal to replace Heidemann with Foley on September 10, 2014.[28][29]
General election
Pete Ricketts/Mike Foley
Chuck Hassebrook/Jane Raybould[32]
Mark G. Elworth Jr./Scott Zimmerman[33]
Withdrew from race
Lavon Heidemann - Former lieutenant governor
Greg Adams - President of the Nebraska Unicameral, representing District 24[34]
Charlie Janssen - State Senator, District 15[35][36]
Mike Flood - Past Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature[37][38]
Rick Sheehy- Former Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska[39]
Don Stenberg - Nebraska State Treasurer[40][41]
Annette Dubas - Member of the Nebraska Unicameral representing District 34.[42][43]
Lost in primary
Tom Carlson - State Senator, District 38[44]
Beau McCoy - Member of the Nebraska State Legislature, representing District 39 since 2009.[45][46][47]
Jon Bruning - Current Attorney General of Nebraska[48]
Mike Foley - Nebraska State Auditor[46]
Bryan Slone - Tax attorney, former Reagan administration official[49]
Attorney General
Lost in primary
Secretary of State
John A. Gale - Incumbent[41]
Ben Backus[51]
Down ballot offices
| Office | Incumbent | Assumed Office | Incumbent running? | General Election Candidates | 2015 Winner | Partisan Switch? |
| Treasurer | Don Stenberg  |
2010 | Yes[52] | No | ||
| Auditor of Public Accounts | Mike Foley  |
2007 | No (Ran for Lieutenant Governor) | No | ||
| Public Service Commission | Anne C. Boyle  |
1996 | No | No |
State Senate
State Senate election in Nebraska
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day.
List of candidates by district
District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38 • District 40 • District 42 • District 44 • District 46 • District 48
Statewide ballot measures
Statewide ballot measure elections in Nebraska
- See also: Nebraska 2014 ballot measures and 2014 ballot measures
One ballot measure was certified for the 2014 ballot in the state of Nebraska.
On the ballot
November 4:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Initiative 425 | Minimum wage | Increases the state hourly minimum wage to $9 by January 1, 2016 |
Local ballot measures
Local ballot measure elections in Nebraska
Elections by date
Click below for more information about local ballot measure elections on:
School boards
School board elections in Nebraska
In 2014, 670 of America's largest school districts held elections for 2,188 seats. These elections took place in 37 states.
State elections
A total of four Nebraska school districts among America's largest school districts by enrollment held elections in 2014 for 13 seats. Each district held elections on November 4, 2014.
Here are several quick facts about Nebraska's school board elections in 2014:
- An average of 1.46 candidates ran for each board seat up for election in 2014 in Nebraska’s largest school districts by enrollment, which was lower than the national average of 1.89 candidates per seat.
- 46.15 percent of the school board seats on the ballot in 2014 were unopposed. This was a higher percentage than the 32.57 percent of school board seats that were unopposed nationally.
- 92.31 percent of the incumbents whose seats were on the ballot ran for re-election in 2014, and they all won re-election. Nationally 75.56 percent of school board incumbents sought another term.
- One newcomer was elected to a school board in Nebraska. The seat represented 7.69 percent of the total seats in 2014, which was lower than the 38.19 percent of school board seats that went to newcomers nationally.
- The largest school district by enrollment with an election in 2014 was Omaha Public Schools with 49,405 K-12 students.
- The smallest school district by enrollment with an election in 2014 was Bellevue Public Schools with 9,887 K-12 students.
- Omaha Public Schools had the most seats on the ballot in 2014 with four seats up for election.
- Three districts were tied for the fewest seats on the ballot in 2014 with three seats up for election in each district.
The districts listed below served 92,251 K-12 students during the 2010-2011 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.[53] Click on the district names for more information on the district and its school board elections.
| 2014 Nebraska School Board Elections | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Date | Seats up for election | Total board seats | Student enrollment |
| Bellevue Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 3 | 6 | 9,887 |
| Millard Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 3 | 6 | 22,783 |
| Omaha Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 4 | 9 | 49,405 |
| Papillion-La Vista Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 3 | 6 | 10,176 |
Voting in Nebraska
- See also: Voting in Nebraska
Important voting information
- A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, a top-two primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races. All other primaries are semi-closed.[1]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
- Nebraska does not permit online voter registration.
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee voting by state
For information about eligibility, deadlines, military and overseas voting and updates to the voting laws in Nebraska, please visit our absentee voting by state page.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Nebraska is one of 33 states (plus the District of Columbia) that permit some form of early voting. Early voting begins 30 days prior to primary and general elections and ends the day before Election Day.[54]
Elections Performance Index
Nebraska ranked 40th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in the Pew Charitable Trusts' Elections Performance Index (EPI), based on the 2012 elections. The EPI examined election administration performance and assigned an average percentage score based on 17 indicators of election performance. These indicators were chosen in order to determine both the convenience and integrity of these three phases of an election: registration, voting and counting. Nebraska received an overall score of 58 percent.[55]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State Website, "Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions," accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ NY Times.com, "Republican Senator From Nebraska Won’t Run in 2014," accessed February 18, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Sasse jumping in Senate race," accessed August 19, 2013
- ↑ Journal Star, "Shane Osborn launches Senate campaign," accessed July 15, 2013
- ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed December 11, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, "Democrat enters Nebraska U.S. Senate race," accessed January 21, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List for May 13, 2014 Primary Election," accessed May 11, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed February 27, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed February 27, 2014
- ↑ NBC News, "Johanns on Senate retirement: 'Time to close this chapter,'" accessed February 18, 2013
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald, "Dave Heineman weighs Senate bid," accessed February 18, 2013
- ↑ Candidate Website, "Intro," accessed January 14, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed October 6, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State Website, "Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions," accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List for May 13, 2014 Primary Election," accessed May 11, 2014 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "sos" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Campaign website, "Home," accessed February 27, 2014
- ↑ Omaha.com, "Republican Dan Frei will take on Lee Terry in District 2," accessed November 5, 2013
- ↑ The Green Papers, "The Green Papers: What's New? First Quarter (Jan - Mar) 2014," accessed February 20, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, "Tea party’s Maxwell turns Omaha House race upside down," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, "It’s official: Tea partyer Maxwell won’t challenge GOP’s Lee Terry," accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Festersen out of Congressional race, Democrats wonder who’s in," accessed December 9, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog, "Retired Army veteran to challenge Congressman Smith," accessed January 2, 2014
- ↑ Lexch.com, "Third District congressional candidate Sullivan getting his name out," accessed August 1, 2013
- ↑ Politics1, "Nebraska," accessed April 20, 2013
- ↑ WOWT, "Update: Ricketts Names Mike Foley As New Running Mate," September 9, 2014
- ↑ Kearney Hub, "Secretary of State: Mike Foley's name to appear on ballot," September 10, 2014
- ↑ Journal Star, "Waiting for shoes to fall," accessed July 21, 2013
- ↑ Wichita Eagle, "Pete Ricketts joins GOP race for Nebraska governor," accessed September 8, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ The Freemont Tribune, "Hasseback will enter 2014 governor's race," accessed June 3, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2014 Filed Candidates," accessed February 19, 2014
- ↑ Journal Star, "Walton: Speaker Adams looks at governor race," accessed September 1, 2013
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald, "State Sen. Charlie Janssen to run for governor; Clare won't run," accessed February 18, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, "Janssen 'seriously considering' run for governor," accessed December 13, 2012
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald, "Mike Flood drops bid for governor; wife ill," accessed December 6, 2012
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, "Don Walton: Flood won't re-enter governor's race," accessed July 7, 2013
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald, "Sheehy's gubernatorial campaign shutting down," accessed February 5, 2013
- ↑ World Herald-Bureau, "Mike Flood launches bid for governor's office in 2014," accessed November 13, 2012
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 News & Observer, "Nebraska Treasurer Stenberg to seek re-election," accessed December 5, 2013 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "reelect2014" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Omaha, "Democrat Annette Dubas' bid for governor stirs excitement about the race in both parties," accessed August 9, 2013
- ↑ The Grand Island Independent, "Dubas drops out of Nebraska governor’s race," accessed November 26, 2013
- ↑ Fox 14 News, "State Sen. Carlson joins race for Neb. governor," accessed July 12, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Centre Daily Times, "Republican Beau McCoy to enter governor's race," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Omaha World-Herald, "Potential candidates jockey for office vacated by Sheehy," accessed February 2, 2013
- ↑ Journal Star, "Sen. Beau McCoy enters GOP governor race," accessed August 23, 2013
- ↑ Omaha, "Nebraska AG Jon Bruning Confirms Interest in Gubernatorial Bid," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ NTV, "Bryan Slone Enters Nebraska Governor's Race," accessed December 17, 2013
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 Nebraska Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filings," accessed March 3, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing," accessed March 3, 2014
- ↑ Omaha World Herald, "Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg to run for 2nd term," December 4, 2013
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Absentee and Early Voting," January 5, 2016
- ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, "Election Performance Index Report," accessed April 23, 2014
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