United States Senate elections in Nebraska, 2012
 Nebraska's 2012 elections: • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Other executive offices • State Senate • Ballot measures |
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The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run is March 1, 2012. The primary elections will be held on May 15, 2012.
The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat, which is currently held by Ben Nelson (D). First elected in 2000, Nelson will not run for re-election in 2012.[1]
Candidates
Democratic Primary
- Larry Marvin: Air Force veteran [2]
- Steven P. Lustgarten: Filmmaker [2]
- Sherman Yates: Non-profit executive [2]
- Bob Kerrey: Former Nebraska Governor & Senator [2]
- Note: Chuck Hassebrook withdrew from the primary on March 8, 2012
Republican primary
- Jon Bruning: Nebraska Attorney General [3]
- Deb Fischer: Nebraska state senator [4]
- Sharyn Elander: Small Business Owner [2]
- Pat Flynn: Investment adviser [5]
- Don Stenberg: Nebraska state treasurer [6]
- Spencer Zimmerman: Air Force veteran [7]
Third party
- Russell Anderson: Independent [8]
Issues
Personal finances
Media reports in January 2012 regard two candidates in the Republican primary -- Don Stenberg and Jon Bruning -- centered around their personal finances. Stenberg has criticized Bruning for becoming wealthy while in office as attorney general. Reports indicated that Stenberg -- the Nebraska state Treasurer -- is also a millionaire, but he says he earned his money in the private sector before taking office.[9]
Ballot Issues
In late March, the Nebraska Supreme Court dismissed the Republican Party's case to remove Senate contender Bob Kerrey (D) from the May 15 primary election ballot, paving the way for a big-money, high-stakes battle that could conceivably alter the balance of power in Washington.[10]
Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale (R) had expressed misgivings about whether Kerrey, a former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator, had established residency at the time of filing, but ultimately ruled that the U.S. Constitution protected his status as a candidate in the race to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D).[10]
State Republicans asked the courts to overturn Gale's decision, claiming that Kerrey had resorted to the "New York-style political trick" of filing at the eleventh hour to avoid scrutiny from election officials, but the judges ruled that they had no authority to grant relief.[10]
The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld District Court Judge Steven Burns' decision that there was "no evidence to suggest that Mr. Kerrey knowingly and willfully violated any laws of the state of Nebraska."[10]
Race rating
Cook Political Report
Each month the Cook Political Report releases race ratings for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (competitive only) and Governors. There are seven possible designations: [11]
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Solid Democratic
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Tossup |
Lean Republican
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| Cook Political Report Race Rating -- Nebraska Senate | |
|---|---|
| Month | Rating |
| March 22, 2012[12] | |
| March 1, 2012[13] | |
| January 26, 2012[14] | |
| December 22, 2011[15] | |
| December 1, 2011[16] | |
Election history
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mike Johanns was elected to the United States Senate. He defeated Scott Kleeb (D), Kelly Renee Rosberg (Nebraska), and Steve Larrick (Green).[17]
| United States Senate Nebraska General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mike Johanns |
57.5% | 455,854 | |
| Democratic | Scott Kleeb | 40.1% | 317,456 | |
| Nebraska | Kelly Renee Rosberg | 1.4% | 11,438 | |
| Green | Steven R. Larrick | 1% | 7,763 | |
| Total Votes | 792,511 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Ben Nelson was re-elected to the United States Senate for a second term. He defeated Pete Ricketts (R). [18]
| United States Senate Nebraska General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Ben Nelson Incumbent |
63.9% | 378,388 | |
| Republican | Pete Ricketts | 36.1% | 213,928 | |
| Total Votes | 592,316 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2012
- United States Senate elections, 2012
References
- ↑ New York Times "Nelson to Quit the Senate, Giving G.O.P. an Advantage," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Nebraska Secretary of State "Official Candidate List," Accessed February 2, 2012
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald "Bruning makes Senate bid official," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald "Fischer kicks off U.S. Senate bid," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star "Pat Flynn launches GOP Senate campaign," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call "Nebraska Treasurer to Enter GOP Senate Primary," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star "Republican Senate field becoming crowded," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Russell Anderson campaign website Accessed January 21, 2012
- ↑ Watchdog.org "Exclusive: Bruning not only millionaire in U.S. Senate race," January 28, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Lincoln Journal Star "Supreme Court dismisses Kerrey case" March 28, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "Our Accuracy," Accessed December 12, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 22, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 1, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," January 26, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 27, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 1, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
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