2024 Nebraska elections
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{use American English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2024 Nebraska elections
| country = Nebraska
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| next_year = 2026
| election_date =
| previous_year = 2022
}}
{{ElectionsNE}}
The 2024 Nebraska elections were held on November 5, 2024. Voters in Nebraska elected both of the state's members of the United States Senate, all three members of the United States House of Representatives, half of the seats in the state legislature, and seats on the Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and Board of Regents.
United States Senate
=Class I Senate seat=
{{main|2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska}}
Incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer ran for re-election to a third term in the Senate. She did not face any major-party opposition, and was instead challenged by independent Dan Osborn, who had the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Fischer narrowly defeated Osborn to win re-election.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska{{cite book|last1=Evnen|first1=Robert B.|title=The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Official Report, General Election, November 5, 2024|date=2024|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Deb Fischer (inc.)
| votes = 499,124
| percentage = 53.19%
| change = -4.50%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent (politician)
| candidate = Dan Osborn
| votes = 436,493
| percentage = 46.52%
| change = —
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
| votes = 2,719
| percentage = 0.29%
| change = —
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 62,631
| percentage = 6.67%
| change = -12.39%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 938,336
|percentage = 100.00%
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser = Independent (politician)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Class II Senate seat=
{{main|2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska}}
In 2023, Senator Ben Sasse resigned to become the President of the University of Florida, and Governor Jim Pillen appointed outgoing Governor Pete Ricketts as Sasse's successor and called a special election in 2024 to fill out the remaining two years of Sasse's term. Ricketts ran for re-election and faced Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr. in the general election. Ricketts defeated Love in a landslide to win re-election.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska{{cite book|last1=Evnen|first1=Robert B.|title=The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Official Report, General Election, November 5, 2024|date=2024|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Pete Ricketts (inc.)
| votes = 585,103
| percentage = 62.58%
| change = -0.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Preston Love Jr.
| votes = 349,902
| percentage = 37.42%
| change = +12.99%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 235,201
| percentage = 25.16%
| change = -13.15%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 935,005
|percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
United States House of Representatives
{{main|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska}}
All three incumbent members of the House of Representatives ran for re-election, and all three were re-elected.
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! scope=col rowspan=3|District ! scope=col colspan=2|Republican ! scope=col colspan=2|Democratic ! scope=col colspan=2|Others ! scope=col colspan=2|Total ! scope=col rowspan=3|Result | |||||||||
| scope=col colspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}"| | scope=col colspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}"| | scope=col colspan=2| | scope=col colspan=2| | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=col data-sort-type="number"|Votes | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|% | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|Votes | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|% | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|Votes | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|% | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|Votes | scope=col data-sort-type="number"|% | ||
| {{Party shading/Republican}}
| align=left|District 1 | 187,559 | 60.10% | 124,498 | 39.90% | 0 | 0.00% | 312,057 | 100% | align=left|Republican hold |
| {{Party shading/Republican}}
| align=left|District 2 | 160,198 | 50.93% | 154,369 | 49.07% | 0 | 0.00% | 314,567 | 100% | align=left|Republican hold |
| {{Party shading/Republican}}
| align=left|District 3 | 243,481 | 80.42% | 59,287 | 19.58% | 0 | 0.00% | 302,768 | 100% | align=left|Republican hold |
| class="sortbottom" style="font-weight:bold"
| align=left|Total | 591,238 | 63.62% | 338,154 | 36.38% | 0 | 0.00% | 929,392 | 100% |
Public Service Commission
=District 1=
Incumbent Commissioner Dan Watermeier ran for re-election to a second term and faced no opposition.
==Republican primary==
===Candidates===
- Dan Watermeier, incumbent Commissioner
===Results===
{{Election box begin no change
| title = District 1 results{{cite book|last1=Evnen|first1=Robert B.|title=The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Official Report, Primary Election, May 14, 2024|date=2024|url=https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Primary%20Canvass%20Book.pdf}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Dan Watermeier (inc.)
| votes = 32,590
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 32,590
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 District 1 election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dan Watermeier (inc.)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 137,263
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 137,263
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 3=
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Tim Schram ran for re-election to a fourth term. He was re-elected unopposed.
==Republican primary==
===Candidates===
- Tim Schram, incumbent Commissioner
===Results===
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Tim Schram (inc.)
| votes = 33,306
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 33,306
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 District 1 election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tim Schram (inc.)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 162,613
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 162,613
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
State Board of Education
Following gains by social conservatives on the State Board of Education in 2022, conservative challengers sought to gain control of the State Board in the 2024 elections.{{Cite news |last=Wendling |first=Zach |title=Republicans likely to pick up key seat on Nebraska State Board of Education |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/republicans-likely-to-pick-up-key-seat-on-nebraska-state-board-of-education/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=November 6, 2024 |work=Nebraska Examiner}} The Protect Nebraska Children political action committee endorsed socially conservative candidates, while the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) supported moderate and liberal candidates.{{Cite news |title=State Board of Education field set for general election |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/es/news/news-articles/voters-to-decide-on-which-state-board-of-education-candidates-advance-to-november/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=May 14, 2024 |work=Nebraska Public Media}} Following the election, after conservative-aligned candidate Lisa Schonhoff was elected to succeed moderate Patti Gubbels in the 3rd district, control of the Board flipped to conservatives.
=District 1=
Incumbent Board member Patsy Koch John declined to seek re-election. Kristin Christensen, a former teacher who worked for a literacy nonprofit, and Liz Davids, a homeschooling advocate, ran to replace her. Christensen was supported by the Nebraska State Education Association and Davids ran with the support of Protect Nebraska Children. Christensen defeated Davids by a wide margin in the general election, winning 58% of the vote.
==Candidates==
- Kristin Christensen, former teacher
- Liz Davids, homeschooling advocate
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kristin Christensen
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 22,079
| percentage = 61.07%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Liz Davids
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 14,078
| percentage = 38.93%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,157
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kristin Christensen
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 51,497
| percentage = 58.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Liz Davids
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 36,790
| percentage = 41.67%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 88,287
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 2=
Incumbent Board member Lisa Fricke declined to seek re-election. One Republican, former clinical psychology professor Linda Vermooten, and two Democrats, retired teachers Maggie Douglas and Karen Morgan, ran to succeed her.{{Cite news |last=Wendling |first=Zach |title=Southeast Nebraska state school board race highlights mental health, teacher retention |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/10/southeast-nebraska-state-school-board-race-highlights-mental-health-teacher-retention/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=May 10, 2024 |work=Nebraska Examiner}} Vermooten, who was supported by Protect Nebraska Children, and Douglas, who was endorsed by the NSEA, both advanced to the general election. In the general election, Douglas narrowly defeated Vermooten.
==Candidates==
- Maggie Douglas, former teacher
- Linda Vermooten, former Grace University clinical psychology professor
- Karen Morgan, former teacher
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Linda Vermooten
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 14,112
| percentage = 42.79%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maggie Douglas
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 10,915
| percentage = 33.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Karen Morgan
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 6,269
| percentage = 24.12%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 31,296
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maggie Douglas
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 42,156
| percentage = 53.93%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Linda Vermooten
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 36,028
| percentage = 46.07%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 78,184
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 3=
Incumbent Board member Patti Gubbels declined to seek re-election. Two Republicans, former teacher Lisa Schonhoff and former school administrator Bill McAllister, ran to succeed her. Schonhoff won the endorsement of the Nebraska Republican Party, and defeated McAllister by a wide margin.
==Candidates==
- Lisa Schonhoff, former teacher
- Bill McAllister, former school administrator
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lisa Schonhoff
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 23,884
| percentage = 59.91%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill McAllister
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 15,989
| percentage = 40.09%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 39,873
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lisa Schonhoff
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 66,822
| percentage = 63.08%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill McAllister
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 39,080
| percentage = 36.92%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 105,902
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 4=
Incumbent Board member Jacquelyn Morrison declined to seek re-election and resigned in October 2024, leaving the seat vacant at the time of the election. Writer and producer Liz Renner, who produced documentaries about the state's public schools, ran to succeed her, along with administrator Stacy Matula and homeschool advocate LeDonna Griffin.{{Cite news |last=Hegarty |first=Aaron |title=Two Nebraska Board of Education candidates won't advance from Tuesday primary |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/nebraska-board-of-education-candidates-wont-advance-from-primary/60748570 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=May 9, 2024 |work=KETV}} Renner placed first in the primary, winning 45% of the vote, while Griffin narrowly edged out Matula, who was endorsed by Protect Nebraska Children, winning 28% of the vote to Matula's 27%. In the general election, Renner defeated Griffin in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote.
==Candidates==
- Liz Renner, documentarian
- LeDonna White Griffin, homeschool advocate
- Stacy Matula, administrator
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Liz Renner
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 11,296
| percentage = 45.35%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = LeDonna White Griffin
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 6,900
| percentage = 27.71%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stacy Matula
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 5,842
| percentage = 26.94%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 24,038
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Liz Renner
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 42,609
| percentage = 62.86%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = LeDonna White Griffin
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 25,185
| percentage = 37.14%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 67,794
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
University of Nebraska Board of Regents
=District 3=
Incumbent Regent Jim Scheer, who was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2023, ran for re-election to a full term. He was unopposed and won re-election uncontested.
==Candidates==
- Jim Scheer, incumbent Regent
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Scheer (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 34,840
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 34,840
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Scheer (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 83,560
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 83,560
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 4=
Incumbent Regent Elizabeth O'Connor ran for re-election to a second term. She was challenged by Jim Rogers, a retired mathematics professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha.{{Cite news |last=Wendling |first=Zach |title=All four incumbent University of Nebraska regents maintain leads in Tuesday election |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/all-four-incumbent-university-of-nebraska-regents-maintain-leads-in-tuesday-election/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=November 6, 2024 |work=Nebraska Examiner}}
==Candidates==
- Elizabeth R. O'Connor, incumbent Regent
- Jim Rogers, retired University of Nebraska Omaha professor
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Elizabeth R. O'Connor (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 15,031
| percentage = 66.70%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Rogers
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 7,505
| percentage = 33.30%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 22,536
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Elizabeth R. O'Connor (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 42,320
| percentage = 67.14%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Rogers
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 20,692
| percentage = 32.86%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 63,012
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 5=
Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer, the Chair of the Board, ran for re-election. He was challenged by Gary Rogge, a retired farmer, and Jerome Wohleb, a retired hospital administrator.{{Cite news |last=Osaka |first=Andrew |title=Three candidates vie for NU Regent District 5 |url=http://ketv.com/article/nebraska-board-of-regents-district-5/60674639 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |date=May 2, 2024 |work=KETV}} Schafer placed first in the primary with 48% of the vote and advanced to the general election against Rogge, who won 22%. Schafer ultimately defeated Rogge in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote.
==Candidates==
- Rob Schafer, incumbent Regent
- Gary L. Rogge, retired farmer
- Jerome Wohleb, retired hospital administrator
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rob Schafer (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 22,606
| percentage = 47.83%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary L. Rogge
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 10,562
| percentage = 22.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jerome Wohleb
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 7,873
| percentage = 16.63%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 41,041
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rob Schafer (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 61,916
| percentage = 63.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary L. Rogge
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 35,603
| percentage = 36.51%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 97,519
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=District 8=
Incumbent Regent Barbara Weitz ran for re-election to a second term. She was challenged by Zach Mellender, an IT technician at the Omaha Zoo. She ended up defeating Mellender in a landslide, winning 64% of the vote.
==Candidates==
- Barbara Weitz, incumbent Regent
- Zachary Mellender, IT technician at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
==Primary election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Barbara Weitz (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 24,173
| percentage = 66.00%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Zachary Mellender
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 12,464
| percentage = 34.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,637
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==General election results==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nonpartisan general results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Barbara Weitz (inc.)
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 61,544
| percentage = 63.54%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Zachary Mellender
| party = Nonpartisan candidate
| votes = 35,357
| percentage = 36.46%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 96,901
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}