NEBRASKA

5 Electoral Votes

Population  (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nebraska Secretary of State)  Total Resident Population, July 1, 2019 est. 1,934,408 Total Registration, Nov. 2020 1,266,730 Republican 606,822 (47.90%)   Democratic 370,385 (29.24%)   Libertarian 17,882 (1.41%)   Nonpartisan 271,641 (21.44%) Nebraska has: 93 counties. Largest counties: Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy. Largest cities: Omaha, Lincoln.  Government Governor: Pete Ricketts (R) re-elected in 2018. State Legislature: Nebraska Legislature   Unicameral: 49 Senators Local: Cities/Counties/Villages,  Local Government   NACO U.S. House: 3R, 0D - 1. J.Fortenberry (R) | 2. D.Bacon (R) | 3. A.Smith (R).  U.S. Senate: Deb Fischer (R) re-elected in 2018, Ben Sasse (R) seeking re-election in 2020.  2020 U.S. Senate: Sen. Ben Sasse (R) was re-elected to a second term.  Chris Janicek (D), Omaha wedding cake designer, won the May 12 primary, but in June the Nebraska Democratic Party demanded that he withdraw from the race after a charge of sexual harassment.  On July 19 the party endorsed Alisha Shelton but Janicek vowed to remain on the ballot and the party could not replace him.  On Sept. 10 Preston Love, Jr. (D w/in), who teaches Black history at University of Nebraska Omaha and served as campaign manager for Rev. Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign, announced as a write-in candidate, backed by the party.  Final results were Sasse 583,507 (62.74%), Janicek 227,191 (24.43%) and Gene Siadek (L) 55,115 (5.93%) and Love 58,411 (6.28%). U.S. House: All three members were re-elected.  National attention focused on In NE-2 (Omaha area – all of Douglas Co. and part of Sarpy Co.); Rep. Don Bacon (R), first elected in 2016, won a re-match with 2018 nominee Kara Eastman (D) by 171,071 (50.77%) to 155,706 (46.21%) and 10,185 (3.02%) for Tyler Schaeffer (L). State Legislature: 25 of 49 seats were up. Ballot Measures: Nebraska voters approved two constitutional amendments and four initiatives.  Proposed Amendment No. 1 would eliminate slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime; Proposed Amendment No. 2, the tax increment financing repayment amendment, would help encourage redevelopment of blighted areas; Initiative 428 would cap payday lender interest rates (yes); Initiatives 429, 430 and 431 would expand gambling (yes | no).

State of Nebraska Secretary of State NE Democratic Party NE Republican Party NE Libertarian Party NE Green Party Constitution Party > Omaha World-Herald Newspapers TV, Radio Politics1-NE Ballotpedia-NE The Cornhusker State Note: Nebraska Revised Statute 32-714 sets out that at large presidential electors vote for the statewide winner and CD electors for the winner in the CD.

General Election -- Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Election Calendar Early Voting Sept. 28, 2020:  Early voting ballots begin to be mailed out. Oct. 5, 2020:  Early voting in county election offices begin. Oct. 23, 2020:  Last day to request a ballot to be mailed to you. Nov. 2, 2020:  Last day to vote early in county election office. At polls  417,349 Mail  47,941 Provisional  10,028 Early voting  488,685 Military and overseas  2,704

Official Results >     +Trump/Pence (Rep.) 556,846 (58.22) Biden/Harris (Dem.) 374,583 (39.17) Jorgensen/Cohen (Lib.) 20,283 (2.12) w/in scatterings 4,671 (0.49) Total........956,383 votes cast: 966,920 1st CD: Trump 180,290 (56.01%)   Biden 132,261 (41.09%)   Jorgensen 7,495 (2.33%)    w/in scatterings 1,840 (0.57%)    Total: 321,886. 2nd CD: Biden 176,468 (51.95%)  Trump 154,377 (45.45%)   Jorgensen 6,909 (2.03%)   win scatterings 1,912 (0.56%)   Total: 339,666. 3rd CD: Trump 222,179 (74.60%)   Biden 65,854 (22.34%)   Jorgensen 5,879 (1.99%)   win scatterings 919 (0.41%)   Total: 294,831. Ballot Access Requirements for nonpartisan status presidential candidates include a petition signed by not less than 2,500 registered voters filed with the Secretary of State by August 1. >

Overview: Trump carried Nebraska, but the Biden campaign picked up one electoral vote from the 2nd CD (Omaha area).  Statewide Trump won with a plurality of 182,263 votes (19.05 percentage points).  In the 2nd CD, Biden achieved a plurality of 21,091 votes (6.50 percentage points).  By contrast in the closely fought congressional race in the 2nd CD, Rep. Don Bacon (R) won re-election by 15,365 votes (4.56 percentage points).   Trump  |  Biden   ||  visits  ||  advertising  ||  R | D [NESOS]  BALLOT [PDF]   See also: David Siders.  "Trump's suburban collapse costs him in Nebraska."  Politico, Oct. 18, 2020. Aaron Sanderford.  "Trump, Biden staff up in Omaha, signaling fierce fight for 2nd District."  Omaha World-Herald, July 6, 2020.

Presidential Preference Primary -- Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Nebraska Revised Statute 32-401 sets the statewide primary on the "first Tuesday after the second Monday in May in even-numbered years."  See also 32-704.
Number of persons voting: 492,580 of 1,216,336.

Democrats Official: Biden 126,444 (76.83%), Sanders 23,214 (14.10%)... Total 164,582.   details 33 Delegates: 20 District, 6 At-Large, 3 PLEO, 4 Unpledged.

Republicans Official: Trump 243,721 (91.40%), Weld 22,934 (8.60%)... Total 266,655.

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General Election Winners in Nebraska, 1992-2016

1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016
Bush 46.58%	Dole 53.66%	Bush 62.25%	Bush 65.91%	McCain* 56.56%	Romney 59.80%	Trump 58.75%

General Election -- Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Voting Eligible Population*: 1,321,948. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 60.1%. Total voting: 804,245 -- includes  595,284 at the polls (74.02%), 207,575 early voters (25.81%), 1,267 military, and 119 new/former residents. Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 19, 2012. Early Voting: Oct. 1, 2012. Calendar [PDF] Registration: Rep. 558,145 (47.96%)   Dem. 374,075 (32.14%)   Nonpartisan 228,361 (19.62%)    Lib. 3,164    Am.Elect 126  ...Total 1,163,871.

Official Results >   +Romney/Ryan (Rep.) 475,064 (59.80) Obama/Biden (Dem.) 302,081 (38.03) Johnson/Gray (Lib.) 11,109 (1.40) Terry/Smith (Pet.) 2,408 (0.30) w/in scatterings 3,717 (0.47) Total........794,379 total voting: 804,245 1st CD: Romney 152,021 (57.43%)  Obama 108,082 (40.83%)  Johnson 3,847 (1.45%)  Terry 762  Total: 264,712. 2nd CD: Romney 140,976 (52.85%)  Obama 121,889 (45.70%)  Johnson 3,393 (1.27%)  Terry 469  Total: 266,727. 3rd CD: Romney 182,067 (70.24%)  Obama 72,110 (27.82%)  Johnson 3,869 (1.49%)  Terry 1,177  Total: 259,223.

2012 Overview In 2008 Obama picked up one electoral vote from the 2nd CD (Omaha area).  In 2011 Republicans in the legislature made an unsuccessful effort to return the state to a winner-take-all system (see LB21 or [PDF]).  Romney/Ryan won in all three congressional districts.  Statewide Romney's plurality was 172,983 votes (21.77 percentage points).  In the 2nd CD the margin was 19,087 votes (7.15 percentage points).  There were a few visits.  Michelle Obama did a couple of events in Omaha on April 24; Mitt Romney did a couple of events in Omaha on May 10, Ann Romney did a fundraiser in La Vista on Sept. 21, and Paul Ryan an airport arrival in Omaha on Oct. 20; and Jim Gray did a meet and greet in Omaha on Aug. 7. Obama  |  (Romney) BALLOT [PDF]

General Election -- Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voting Eligible Population*: 1,278,980. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 62.6%. Total voting: 811,923 -- includes 634,977 at polls, 2,584 military and overseas, 174,219 ev/absentee, and 143 new/former residents. Voter Registration Deadline: Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by Oct. 17, 2008.  In-person registration at county election offices ends at 6 p.m. on Oct 24. Early Voting: Starting Sept. 29, 2008. Registration: Rep. 558,465 (48.27%)   Dem. 392,943 (33.96%)   Neb. 8,625  (0.74%)   Grn. 1,041   Nonpartisan 195,507 (16.90%)   Lib. 453  ...Total 1,157,034.

Official Results > +McCain/Palin (Rep.) 452,979 (56.56) Obama-Biden (Dem.) 333,319 (41.60) Baldwin/Castle (Neb.) 2,972 (0.37) McKinney/Clemente (Grn.) 1,028 (0.13) Barr/Root (Lib.) 2,740 (0.34) Nader/Gonzalez (Pet.) 5,406 (0.67) w/in 2,837 (0.35) Total........801,281 1st CD: McCain 148,179 (54.10%)   Obama 121,411 (44.33%)   Baldwin 1,024   McKinney 394  Barr 922   Nader 1,963  Total: 273,893. 2nd CD: Obama 138,809 (49.97%)   McCain 135,439 (48.75%)   Baldwin 599   McKinney 320  Barr 1,014   Nader 1,628   Total: 266,727. 3rd CD: McCain 169,361 (68.64%)   Obama 73,099 (29.63%)   Baldwin 1,349   McKinney 314   Barr 804   Nader 1,815   Total: 246,742.

2008 Overview Nebraska distributes electoral votes by congressional district rather than the winner-take-all system used by most states.  The Obama campaign actively campaigned in the 2nd CD (Omaha area--all of Douglas County and part of Sarpy County) and picked up one electoral vote, by a margin of 3,370 votes (1.22 percentage points).  Statewide, McCain's plurality was 119,660 votes (14.96 percentage points).  There were a couple of visits; on July 16 John McCain participated in a finance reception at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland; on Oct. 5 Sarah Palin did a Country First rally at Civic Auditorium Music Hall in Omaha. Obama/Allies  |  McCain/Allies  |  Nader BALLOT [PDF]

General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Voting Eligible Population*: 1,236,522. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 62.9%. Total voting: 792,906 -- includes 681,998 at polls, 2,964 military and overseas, 107,740 ev/absentee, and 204 new/former residents. Registration: Rep. 575,781 (49.63%)    Dem. 396,767 (34.20%)    Lib. 4,717 (0.41%)   Neb. 4,575 (0.39%)   Grn. 398 (0.03%)   Nonpartisan 177,961 (15.34%)  ...Total 1,160,199.

+Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 512,814 (65.91) Kerry/Edwards (Dem.) 254,328 (32.69) Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 2,041 (0.26) Peroutka/Baldwin (Neb.) 1,314 (0.17) Cobb/LaMarche (Grn.) 978 (0.13) Calero/Hawkins (Pet.) 82 (0.01) Nader/Camejo (Pet.) 5,698 (0.73) write in 931 (0.12) Total........778,106

2004 Overview No doubt about the outcome here as Bush swept to a plurality of 258,486 votes (33.22 percentage points).  The Kerry campaign did have a director in the state and did manage to carry one county, Thurston County, by 1,212 votes to 1,154 votes.  (Thurston County borders Iowa and is a bit south of Sioux City; it has a large Native American population).

General Election -- Tuesday, November 7, 2000

Voting Eligible Population*: 1,224,178. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 56.9%. Total voting: 707,223 -- includes 625,557 at polls, 851 military and overseas, 80,452 absentee, and 363 new/former residents. Registration: Rep. 537,605 (49.54%)    Dem. 392,344 (36.15%)    Lib. 1,790 (0.16%)   Nat.  65 (-)  Grn. 325 (0.3%)   Nonpartisan 153,088 (14.11%) ...Total 1,085,217.

+Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 433,862  (62.25) Gore/Lieberman (Dem.) 231,780 (33.25) Browne/Olivier (Lib.) 2,245 (0.32) Hagelin/Goldhaber (NLP) 478 (0.07) Nader/LaDuke (Grn.) 24,540 (3.52) Buchanan/Foster (Petition) 3,646 (0.52) Phillips/Frazier (Petition) 468  (0.07) Total........697,019

2000 Overview Solidly Republican Nebraska went solidly for Bush with a plurality of 202,082 votes (29.00 percentage points). Bush carried all 93 counties. Democrats did retain the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Bob Kerrey (D) as former Gov. Ben Nelson (D) defeated Don Stenberg (R) by 51.0% to 48.8%.

1992 and 1996 General Elections

Archive Pages: 2016 | 2012 | 2008 | 2004 | 2000

1992 Bush (Rep.)...........344,346 (46.58) Clinton (Dem.)........217,344 (29.40) Perot (Ind.).............174,687 (23.63) Others (3).................2,906 (0.39) Total........739,283

1996 Dole (Rep.).............363,467 (53.66) Clinton (Dem.)........236,761 (34.95) Perot (Ref.)..............71,278  (10.52) Others (3)..................5,909 (0.87) Total........677,415

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