2020 Nebraska elections

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The2020 Nebraska elections were held on November 3, 2020. In addition to theU.S. presidential race, Nebraska voters elected the Class II U.S. Senator from Nebraska, one of its Public Service Commissioners, two of eight voting members on theNebraska University Board of Regents, four of eight seats on the Nebraska State Board of Education, all of its seats to theHouse of Representatives, two of seven seats on theNebraska Supreme Court, two of six seats on theNebraska Court of Appeals, and 25 of 49 seats in the unicameralNebraska Legislature. Six ballot measures were also voted on.

IncumbentRepublican PresidentDonald Trump was challenged byDemocratic nomineeJoe Biden in 2020.

Incumbent Republican SenatorBen Sasse ran for re-election to a second term. He faced Chris Janicek, the Democratic nominee, in the general election, but following allegations of sexual misconduct by Janicek, theNebraska Democratic Party supported write-in candidatePreston Love Jr. in the general election.

All three of Nebraska's members in theUnited States House of Representatives ran for re-election. All three won re-election.

Incumbent Public Service CommissionerCrystal Rhoades, a Democrat, ran for re-election to a second term. Tim Davis, a restaurant server, won the Republican primary to challenge Rhoades. Rhoades defeated Davis in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote. Two years into her term, however, Rhoades was electedDouglas County Clerk of the District Court and resigned her position.

• Crystal Rhoades, incumbent Commissioner

• Tim Davis, restaurant server^[3]
• Krystal Gabel, cybersecurity technical writer and business analyst^[4]

Incumbent Board member Patsy Koch Johns was unopposed for re-election.

• Patsy Koch Johns, incumbent Board member

Incumbent Board member Lisa Fricke ran for re-election to a second term. She was challenged by Robert Anthony, a real estate agent. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Fricke was a Democrat and Anthony was a Republican.^[5] Fricke ended up defeating Anthony in a landslide, winning 65% of the vote.

• Lisa Fricke, incumbent Board member
• Robert Anthony, real estate agent

Incumbent Board member Rachel Wise declined to seek another term. To replace her,Norfolk Public School Board member Patti Gubbels andColumbus Public School Board member Mike Goos ran.^[6] Gubbels defeated Goos in a landslide, winning 66% of the vote.

• Patti S. Gubbels,Norfolk Public School Board member
• Mike Goos,Columbus Public School Board member

Incumbent Board member John Witzel declined to seek another term. Tax attorney Jacquelyn Morrison andMidland University professor Adrian Petrescu, who held several positions in the Romanian government in the 1990s, ran to succeed him.^[7] Morrison defeated Petrescu in a landslide, winning 74% of the vote.

• Jacquelyn Morrison, tax attorney
• Adrian Petrescu,Midland University professor

Incumbent Regent Tim Clare was unopposed for re-election and won his third term uncontested.

• Tim Clare, incumbent Regent

Incumbent Regent Howard Hawks declined to seek re-election. Psychologist Jack Stark,Millard Public School Board member MiKe Kennedy, and nonprofit manager Viv Ewing ran to replace him.^[8] At the nonpartisan primary, Kennedy placed first, winning 35% of the vote, and Stark narrowly edged out Ewing to advance to the general election, winning 34% to Ewing's 32%. However, several months into the general election campaign, Kennedy withdrew from the race, citing a need to focus on his existing service commitments during theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[9] Though Ewing contemplated a write-in campaign,^[9] she ultimately declined to do so and Stark was elected unopposed.

• Jack A. Stark, psychologist
• Mike Kennedy,Millard Public School Board member
• Viv Ewing, nonprofit manager

JusticesLindsey Miller-Lerman andJeffrey J. Funke of theNebraska Supreme Court; JudgesMichael W. Pirtle andDavid Arterburn of theNebraska Court of Appeals; and Judges Thomas E. Stine and Dirk V. Block of theNebraska Workers' Compensation Court ran for retention. All were retained.

Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	93,025	74.20
No	32,350	25.80
Total votes	125,375	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Justice Jeffrey J. Funke

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	93,418	78.34
No	25,152	21.66
Total votes	118,570	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Judge Michael W. Pirtle

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	84,466	68.55
No	38,560	31.45
Total votes	123,026	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Judge David K. Arterburn

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	94,754	72.05
No	36,517	27.95
Total votes	131,271	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Judge David K. Arterburn

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	94,754	72.05
No	36,517	27.95
Total votes	131,271	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Judge Thomas E. Stine

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	564,633	75.50
No	182,366	24.50
Total votes	747,000	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

25 of 49 seats in theNebraska State Legislature were up for election.

Nebraska Legislature

Party		Before	After	Change
	Republican	30	32	2
	Democratic	18	17	1
	Independent	1	0	1
Total		49	49

Nebraska Initiative 428 would cap the annual interest for payday loans at 36%. As of September 2020, the Nebraskan average was 400% APR.^[10] Vote for 428, an organisation campaigning for the initiative's passage, released a poll by Benenson Group Strategies which showed support for the measure (among Nebraskan voters) at 67%. It was conducted in August.^[10]

Initiative 428

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	723,521	82.80
No	150,330	17.20
Total votes	873,851	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Nebraska Initiative 429

November 3, 2020
Initiative 429
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 588,405 65.04% No 316,298 34.96% Total votes 904,703 100.00%
Yes     50%–60%     60%–70%     70%–80% No     50%–60%      Tie

Nebraska Initiative 429 would allow gambling at licensed racetracks.^[1]

Initiative 429

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	588,405	65.04
No	316,298	34.96
Total votes	904,703	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Nebraska Initiative 430

November 3, 2020
Initiative 430
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 591,086 65.01% No 318,094 34.99% Total votes 909,180 100.00%
Yes     50%–60%     60%–70%     70%–80% No     50%–60%

Nebraska Initiative 430 would establish the governing commission for racetrack gambling.^[1]

Initiative 430

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	591,086	65.01
No	318,094	34.99
Total votes	909,180	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

Nebraska Initiative 431

November 3, 2020
Initiative 431
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 620,835 68.71% No 282,703 31.29% Total votes 903,538 100.00%
Yes     50%–60%     60%–70%     70%–80% No     50%–60%      Tie

Nebraska Initiative 431 would enact taxes on gambling at racetracks.^[1]

Initiative 431

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	620,835	68.71
No	282,703	31.29
Total votes	903,538	100.00
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State[1]

• 2020 Nebraska elections
• 2020 elections in the United States by state

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