Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010
 Ballot measures Governor Lt. Gov Attorney General Secretary of State State Senate |
Elections for the office ofNebraska State Senator were held inNebraska onNovember 2, 2010.
Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 15, 2010, and the primary election day was May 11, 2010.
Half of the Senate was up for election, and of those 24 districts, incumbents ran for re-election in 21 of them. Of the remaining three districts, one incumbent was ineligible to run because of term limits.
State legislative elections inNebraska are nonpartisan. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary election go on to face each other in the general election.[1]
November 2 General Election Results
The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:
- Tyson Larson
- John Harms
- Danielle Conrad
- Thomas Hansen (Nebraska)
- Mark Christensen
- Russ Karpisek
- John Wightman
- Norm Wallman
- Tom Carlson (Nebraska)
- Bill Avery
- Greg Adams (Nebraska)
- Paul Schumacher (Nebraska)
- Scott Lautenbaugh
- Annette Dubas
- Jim Smith (Nebraska)
- Lydia Brasch
- Burke Harr
- Pete Pirsch
- Dave Pankonin
- Steve Lathrop
- Bob Krist
- Paul Lambert (Nebraska)
- Amanda McGill Johnson
- Brad Ashford
- John Nelson (Nebraska)
Term limits
- See also:State legislatures with term limits
TheNebraska State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since Nebraska voters approvedInitiative 415 (2000). Under the terms of Initiative 415, Nebraska's senators can serve no more than two consecutive 4-year terms in the state senate.
There are 49Nebraska State Senators. In 2010, only one incumbent was ineligible to run for the senate again:
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for State Senate in Nebraska in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come fromFollow The Money.[2]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51 | $1,597,466 |
| 2008 | 74 | $3,009,798 |
| 2006 | 83 | $3,036,539 |
| 2004 | 56 | $1,416,405 |
| 2002 | 53 | $1,346,267 |
In 2010, the candidates for State Senate raised a total of $1,597,466 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[3]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Education Association | $80,347 |
| Union Pacific Railroad | $67,500 |
| Nebraska Bankers Association | $66,682 |
| Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry | $61,584 |
| Nebraska Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors | $53,643 |
| Nebraska Realtors Association | $49,850 |
| Nebraska Optometric Association | $49,242 |
| Nebraska State AFL-CIO | $37,929 |
| Associated General Contractors of Nebraska | $37,765 |
| Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys | $35,500 |
Incumbency
Unopposed incumbents
Eight incumbents (33.33%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election and were thus guaranteed re-election in November.
Primary challenges
Thirteen incumbents faced competition in the May 11 primary. All 13 incumbents won their primaries.
Retiring incumbents
Three incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 21 incumbents (87.5%) ran for re-election.
Incumbents who retired were:
- District 8:Tom White.
- District 14:Tim Gay.
- District 22:Arnie Stuthman. - Ineligible due to term limits.
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in theNebraska Senate, a candidate must be:[4]
- At least 21 years of age
- A resident of Nebraska, and specifically a resident of the legislative district he or she wishes to serve, for at least one year prior to the general election
- Must not have ever been convicted of a felony
List of candidates
| Partisan dominance instate senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections |
 |
District 2
| 2010 State senate elections |
|---|
| AL •AK •AR •AR •CA •CO •CT •DE •FL •GA •HI •ID •IL •IN •IA •KY •ME •MD •MA •MI •MN •MO •MT •NE •NV •NH •NY •NC •ND •OH •OK •OR •PA •RI •SD •TN •TX •UT •VT •WA •WV •WI •WY |
| Parties with candidates |
| Impact of term limits |
| Successful challengers |
| Defeated incumbents |
| State house elections |
| State senate elections |
| State legislative elections |
- May 11 primary result:
- Dave Pankonin:3,354
a Incumbent Pankonin was first elected in 2006. - Nate Louderback:989a
- Dave Pankonin:3,354
November 2 General election candidates:
Dave Pankonin6,853
Nate Louderback 2,183
District 4
- May 11 primary result:
- Pete Pirsch:2939a Incumbent Pirsch was first elected in 2006.
- Pete Pirsch:2939
November 2 General election candidates:
Pete Pirsch8,538
District 6
- May 11 primary result:
- John Nelson:2,023a Incumbent Nelson was first elected in 2006.
- Todd Frazier:651a
- George Westphal: 451
- John Nelson:2,023
November 2 General election candidates:
John Nelson5,031
Todd Frazier 2,896
District 8
- May 11 primary result:
- Burke Harr:862a
- John Comstock:655a
- Richard Ream: 589
- Burke Harr:862
- Note: IncumbentTom White did not seek re-election.
November 2 General election candidates:
Burke Harr3,257
John Comstock 3,101
District 10
- May 11 primary result:
- Robert "Bob" Krist:1,391a Incumbent Krist was first elected in 2009.
- Tim Lonergan:1,166a
- Larry Bradley: 392
- Robert "Bob" Krist:1,391
November 2 General election candidates:
Robert "Bob" Krist3,884
Tim Lonergan 3,829
District 12
- May 11 primary result:
- Steve Lathrop:1,909a Incumbent Lathrop was first elected in 2006.
- John Lillis:959a
- Steve Lathrop:1,909
November 2 General election candidates:
Steve Lathrop6,074
John LillisNote: Lillis did not appear on the general election ballot.
District 14
- May 11 primary result:
- Jim Smith:1,544a
- Teresa Whitehead:1,527a
- Don Todd: 271
- Ian Hartfield: 440
- Jim Smith:1,544
Note: IncumbentTim Gay did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
Jim Smith6,203
Teresa Whitehead 4,995
District 16
- May 11 primary result:
- Kent Rogert:2,495a Incumbent Rogert was first elected in 2006.
- Lydia Brasch:2,268a
- Debra Bosshart: 968
- Kent Rogert:2,495
November 2 General election candidates:
Kent Rogert 4,300
Lydia Brasch4,796
District 18
- May 11 primary result:
- Scott Lautenbaugh:2,716a Incumbent Lautenbaugh was first elected in 2007.
- Carl Lorenzen:2,112a
- Scott Lautenbaugh:2,716
November 2 General election candidates:
Scott Lautenbaugh7,691
Carl Lorenzen 5,505
District 20
- May 11 primary result:
- Brad Ashford:3,143a Incumbent Ashford was first elected in 1986.
- Brad Ashford:3,143
November 2 General election candidates:
Brad Ashford7,690
District 22
- May 11 primary result:
- Paul Schumacher:1,877a
- Mike Moser:1,873a
- Rebecca Rayman: 1,257
- Roy Zach: 535
- Paul Schumacher:1,877
Note: IncumbentArnie Stuthman did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
Paul Schumacher4,974
Mike Moser 4,558
District 24
- May 11 primary result:
- Greg Adams:4,666a Incumbent Adams was first elected in 2006.
- Greg Adams:4,666
November 2 General election candidates:
Greg Adams8,385
District 26
- May 11 primary result:
- Amanda McGill:5,455a Incumbent McGill was first elected in 2006.
- Tom Dierks:2,345a
- Bob Van Valkenburg: 806
- Amanda McGill:5,455
November 2 General election candidates:
Amanda McGill4,621
Tom Dierks 4,169
District 28
- May 11 primary result:
- Bill Avery:4,644a Incumbent Avery was first elected in 2006.
- Nancy Russell:2,518a
- Bill Avery:4,644
November 2 General election candidates:
Bill Avery4,831
Nancy Russell 2,474
District 30
- May 11 primary result:
- Norm Wallman:3,575a Incumbent Wallman was first elected in 2006.
- John Knabe:2,142a
- Robert Tiemann: 2,033
- Norm Wallman:3,575
November 2 General election candidates:
Norm Wallman6,375
John Knabe 5,736
District 32
- May 11 primary result:
- Russ Karpisek:4,495a Incumbent Karpisek was first elected in 2006.
- Russ Karpisek:4,495
November 2 General election candidates:
Russ Karpisek7,642
District 34
- May 11 primary result:
- Annette Dubas:4,690a Incumbent Dubas was first elected in 2006.
- Brandon Hunnicutt:2,150a
- Annette Dubas:4,690
November 2 General election candidates:
Annette Dubas8,021
Brandon Hunnicutt 2,174
District 36
- May 11 primary result:
- John Wightman4,265a Incumbent Wightman was first elected in 2006.
- John Wightman4,265
November 2 General election candidates:
John Wightman6,734
District 38
- May 11 primary result:
- Tom Carlson899a Incumbent Carlson was first elected in 2006.
- Tom Carlson899
November 2 General election candidates:
Tom Carlson9,396
District 40
- May 11 primary result:
- Tyson Larson:3,002a
- Merton Dierks:2,769a Incumbent Dierks was first elected in 1986.
- Adam Dea: 260
- Tyson Larson:3,002
November 2 General election candidates:
Tyson Larson5,583
Merton Dierks 5,085
District 42
- May 11 primary result:
- Thomas Hansen:4,494a Incumbent Hansen was first elected in 2006.
- Thomas Hansen:4,494
November 2 General election candidates:
Thomas Hansen8,673
District 44
- Mark Christensen:4,615a Incumbent Christensen was first elected in 2006.
- Thomas Baker:2,818a
- Mark Christensen:4,615
November 2 General election candidates:
Mark Christensen7,267
Thomas Baker 4,758
District 46
- May 11 primary result:
- Danielle Nantkes Conrad:2,092a Incumbent Conrad was first elected in 2007.
- Chad Wright:1,938a
- Danielle Nantkes Conrad:2,092
November 2 General election candidates:
Danielle Nantkes Conrad2,259
Chad Wright 2,174
District 48
- May 11 primary result:
- John Harms:4,537a Incumbent Harms was first elected in 2006.
- John Harms:4,537
November 2 General election candidates:
John Harms7,644
See also
External links
- Official General Election Results, 2010
- November 2, 2010 general election results
- List of 2010 candidates for Nebraska Legislature(dead link)
- May 11, 2010 primary election results
- Nebraska Democratic Party's list of 2010 candidates, including endorsed nonpartisan legislative candidates(dead link)
- Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Nebraska State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election
