2018 Nebraska Legislature election

The 2018 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators^[a] in the 24 even-numbered seats of the 49^[b] legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. Nebraska is unique among American states in that there is only one chamber in its state legislature, and this chamber is called the Unicameral and the State Legislature interchangeably. State senators serve four-year terms in the Nebraska Unicameral.

2018 Nebraska Legislature election

← 2016 November 6, 2018 Officially nonpartisan 2020 →
24 of the 49 seats in the Nebraska Legislature 25 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Rep Dem Leader Jim Scheer None Ernie Chambers (de facto) Party Republican Democratic Independent Last election 32 15 1 Seats before 31 16 1 Seats won 30 18 1 Seat change 1 2   Fourth party   Leader Laura Ebke (de facto) Party Libertarian Last election 0 Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seat change 1
Results by gains and holds Results by winning party vote share      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%      50–60%      60–70%     70–80%      >90%
Speaker before election Jim Scheer Republican Elected Speaker Jim Scheer Republican

A top two primary election on May 15, 2018, determined which candidates would appear on the November 6 general election ballot. Each candidate technically runs as a non-partisan (i.e., no party preference).

Following the 2016 elections, Republicans maintained effective control of the Nebraska State Legislature with 32 seats. Democrats increased their numbers from 15 to 16 seats when State Senator Bob Krist of the 10th legislative district switched parties from Republican to Democrat.^[1] Furthermore, Republican state senator Jim Smith resigned from office, leaving an open seat for Republicans to defend in the 14th legislative district.^[2]

On election day 2018, the Unicameral consisted of 31 Republican seats,^[c] 16 Democratic seats, and one seat each for Independent Sen. Ernie Chambers and Libertarian Sen. Laura Ebke. The Democrats gained a net two seats, while the Republicans lost net one and the chamber's lone Libertarian was defeated.

Summary of results by district

• Note: All Nebraska state legislative elections are technically non-partisan; therefore, parties listed here are from candidates' websites and official party endorsement lists. Candidates all appear on the ballot without party labels.
• Districts not shown were not up for election until 2020.

State Legislative district	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Party
2nd[3]	Robert Clements		Rep	Robert Clements		Rep
4th[4]	Robert Hilkemann		Rep	Robert Hilkemann		Rep
6th[5]	Theresa Thibodeau		Rep	Machaela Cavanaugh		Dem
8th[6]	Burke Harr		Dem	Megan Hunt		Dem
10th[7]	Bob Krist		Dem	Wendy DeBoer		Dem
12th[8]	Merv Riepe		Rep	Steve Lathrop		Dem
14th[9]	Vacant[2]		Rep	John Arch		Rep
16th[10]	Lydia Brasch		Rep	Ben Hansen		Rep
18th[11]	Brett Lindstrom		Rep	Brett Lindstrom		Rep
20th[12]	John S. McCollister		Rep	John S. McCollister		Rep
22nd[13]	Paul Schumacher		Rep	Mike Moser		Rep
24th[14]	Mark Kolterman		Rep	Mark Kolterman		Rep
26th[15]	Matt Hansen		Dem	Matt Hansen		Dem
28th[16]	Patty Pansing Brooks		Dem	Patty Pansing Brooks		Dem
30th[17]	Roy Baker		Rep	Myron Dorn		Rep
32nd[18]	Laura Ebke		Lib	Tom Brandt		Rep
34th[19]	Curt Friesen		Rep	Curt Friesen		Rep
36th[20]	Matt Williams		Rep	Matt Williams		Rep
38th[21]	John Kuehn		Rep	Dave Murman		Rep
40th[22]	Tyson Larson		Rep	Tim Gragert		Rep
42nd[23]	Mike Groene		Rep	Mike Groene		Rep
44th[24]	Dan Hughes		Rep	Dan Hughes		Rep
46th[25]	Adam Morfeld		Dem	Adam Morfeld		Dem
48th[26]	John Stinner		Rep	John Stinner		Rep

Sources:^[27][28]

Close races

District	Winner	Party	Margin
6	Machaela Cavanaugh	Democratic (flip)	1.9%
10	Wendy DeBoer	Democratic	0.64%
18	Brett Lindstrom	Republican	7.2%
30	Myron Dorn	Republican	5.96%

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing[29]	Safe R	October 8, 2018

Detailed results

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

Sources:^[30][31]

District 2

Nebraska's 2nd Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Robert Clements (incumbent)		2,867	47.81
Susan D. Lorence		2,252	37.55
James Bond		878	14.64
Total votes		5,997	100.0
General election
Robert Clements (incumbent)		7,965	56.96
Susan D. Lorence		6,019	43.04
Total votes		13,984	100.0

District 4

Nebraska's 4th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Bob Hilkemann (incumbent)		2,842	56.70
Shannon Coryell		2,170	43.30
Total votes		5,012	100.0
General election
Bob Hilkemann (incumbent)		8,964	60.95
Shannon Coryell		5,743	39.05
Total votes		14,707	100.0

District 6

Nebraska's 6th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent)		3,641	51.30
Machaela Cavanaugh		3,027	42.65
Ricky Fulton		429	6.04
Total votes		7,097	100.0
General election
Machaela Cavanaugh		7,733	50.95
Theresa Thibodeau (incumbent)		7,445	49.05
Total votes		15,178	100.0

District 8

Burke Harr (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 8th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Megan Hunt		3,284	56.38
Mina Davis		1,299	22.30
Josh Henningsen		1,242	21.32
Total votes		5,825	100.0
General election
Megan Hunt		7,634	64.11
Mina Davis		4,274	35.89
Total votes		11,908	100.0

District 10

Bob Krist (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 10th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Wendy DeBoer		3,253	57.31
Matt Deaver		2,423	42.69
Total votes		5,676	100.0
General election
Wendy DeBoer		8,306	50.32
Matt Deaver		8,201	49.68
Total votes		16,507	100.0

District 12

Nebraska's 12th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Steve Lathrop		2,658	53.47
Merv Riepe (incumbent)		2,313	46.53
Total votes		4,971	100.0
General election
Steve Lathrop		7,030	55.84
Merv Riepe (incumbent)		5,559	44.16
Total votes		12,589	100.0

District 14

Jim Smith (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 14th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
John Arch		3,462	60.02
Jeff Parris		2,306	39.98
Total votes		5,768	100.0
General election
John Arch		7,625	55.82
Jeff Parris		6,035	44.18
Total votes		13,660	100.0

District 16

Lydia Brasch (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 16th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Ben Hansen		4,620	58.77
Chuck Hassebrook		3,241	41.23
Total votes		7,861	100.0
General election
Ben Hansen		9,109	61.59
Chuck Hassebrook		5,680	38.41
Total votes		14,789	100.0

District 18

Nebraska's 18th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Brett Lindstrom (incumbent)		2,922	56.15
Scott Winkler		1,937	37.22
Austin Hennrich		345	6.63
Total votes		5,204	100.0
General election
Brett Lindstrom (incumbent)		6,874	53.60
Scott Winkler		5,950	46.40
Total votes		12,824	100.0

District 20

Nebraska's 20th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
John S. McCollister (incumbent)		4,213	63.23
Jackie Collett		1,968	29.54
Chris Anne Dienstbier		482	7.23
Total votes		6,663	100.0
General election
John S. McCollister (incumbent)		8,689	58.80
Jackie Collett		6,089	41.20
Total votes		14,778	100.0

District 22

Paul Schumacher (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 22nd Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Mike Moser		3,578	56.12
Doug Oertwich		1,366	21.42
Francis P. Kuehler		1,102	17.28
Kenneth G. Leischner		330	5.18
Total votes		6,376	100.0
General election
Mike Moser		7,896	64.30
Doug Oertwich		4,383	35.70
Total votes		12,279	100.0

District 24

Nebraska's 24th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent)		3,795	72.07
Stephanie Nantkes		1,471	27.93
Total votes		5,266	100.0
General election
Mark A. Kolterman (incumbent)		9,501	73.46
Stephanie Nantkes		3,433	26.54
Total votes		12,934	100.0

District 26

Nebraska's 26th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Matt Hansen (incumbent)		4,223	76.96
Bob Van Valkenburg		1,264	23.04
Total votes		5,487	100.0
General election
Matt Hansen (incumbent)		9,046	73.16
Bob Van Valkenburg		3,319	26.84
Total votes		12,365	100.0

District 28

Nebraska's 28th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent)		6,263	100.0
Total votes		6,263	100.0
General election
Patty Pansing Brooks (incumbent)		11,717	100.0
Total votes		11,717	100.0

District 30

Roy Baker (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 30th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Myron Dorn		3,161	40.50
Don Schuller		2,977	38.15
Joe Murray		1,666	21.35
Total votes		7,804	100.0
General election
Myron Dorn		7,923	52.98
Don Schuller		7,032	47.02
Total votes		14,955	100.0

District 32

Nebraska's 32nd Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Tom Brandt		3,514	44.45
Laura Ebke (incumbent)		2,612	33.04
Al Riskowski		1,780	22.51
Total votes		7,906	100.0
General election
Tom Brandt		8,154	56.42
Laura Ebke (incumbent)		6,299	43.58
Total votes		14,453	100.0

District 34

Nebraska's 34th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Curt Friesen (incumbent)		5,784	100.0
Total votes		5,784	100.0
General election
Curt Friesen (incumbent)		10,796	100.0
Total votes		10,796	100.0

District 36

Nebraska's 36th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Matt Williams (incumbent)		4,520	100.0
Total votes		4,520	100.0
General election
Matt Williams (incumbent)		9,816	100.0
Total votes		9,816	100.0

District 38

John Kuehn (incumbent) retired.

Nebraska's 38th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Dave Murman		3,206	45.76
Marsha Fangmeyer		1,633	23.31
Thomas Osborn		1,059	15.12
Ronald L. Johnson		416	5.94
Michael D. Combs		391	5.58
Andrew Murphy		301	4.30
Total votes		7,006	100.0
General election
Dave Murman		9,114	64.27
Marsha Fangmeyer		5,067	35.73
Total votes		14,181	100.0

District 40

Tyson Larson (incumbent) was term-limited.

Nebraska's 40th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Timothy J. Gragert		1,666	20.38
Keith F. Kube		1,590	19.45
Shane Greckel		1,487	18.19
Thomas E. Ferry		1,331	16.28
Michael A. Sobotka		1,151	14.08
Julie Thomsen		951	11.63
Total votes		8,176	100.0
General election
Timothy J. Gragert		7,222	51.63
Keith F. Kube		6,767	48.37
Total votes		13,989	100.0

District 42

Nebraska's 42nd Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Mike Groene (incumbent)		4,242	100.0
Total votes		4,242	100.0
General election
Mike Groene (incumbent)		8,180	67.13
Judy Pederson		4,005	32.87
Total votes		12,185	100.0

District 44

Nebraska's 44th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Dan Hughes (incumbent)		5,251	76.23
Stephanie L. Malcolm		1,637	23.77
Total votes		6,888	100.0
General election
Dan Hughes (incumbent)		9,872	77.31
Stephanie L. Malcolm		2,898	22.69
Total votes		12,770	100.0

District 46

Nebraska's 46th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
Adam Morfeld (incumbent)		2,360	100.0
Total votes		2,360	100.0
General election
Adam Morfeld (incumbent)		5,776	100.0
Total votes		5,776	100.0

District 48

Nebraska's 48th Legislative District election, 2018

Primary election
Candidate		Votes	%
John P. Stinner (incumbent)		3,773	100.0
Total votes		3,773	100.0
General election
John P. Stinner (incumbent)		9,041	100.0
Total votes		9,041	100.0

1. Although Nebraska's legislature is unicameral, the officeholders are called senators.
2. The odd-numbered districts were elected in 2016 and would be up for election again in 2020.
3. Including Sen. Smith's vacated seat in the 14th legislative district.

See also

• United States elections, 2018
• United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2018
• United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2018
• Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2018
• Nebraska Attorney General election, 2018
• Nebraska Secretary of State election, 2018
• Nebraska elections, 2018