Barry DeKay
Barry DeKay (Republican Party) is a member of the Nebraska State Senate, representing District 40. He assumed office on January 4, 2023. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
DeKay is running for re-election to the Nebraska State Senate to represent District 40. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on May 12, 2026.[source]
Biography
Barry DeKay was born in Lynch, Nebraska. DeKay graduated from Lynch High School in 1977. His career experience includes working as a farmer and rancher. DeKay volunteered on the board of the Niobrara Valley Hospital Foundation, the Raymond Township, the Niobrara Valley Electric Membership Corporation, the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, and the Nebraska Public Power District.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
DeKay was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture Committee, Chair
- General Affairs Committee
- Natural Resources Committee, Vice chair
2023-2024
DeKay was assigned to the following committees:
Elections
2026
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 12, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Nebraska State Senate District 40
Incumbent Barry DeKay (Nonpartisan) is running in the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 40 on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Barry DeKay (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Nebraska State Senate District 40
Barry DeKay defeated Keith Kube in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 40 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry DeKay (Nonpartisan) | 59.4 | 9,486 |
 | Keith Kube (Nonpartisan) | 40.6 | 6,494 | |
| Total votes: 15,980 | |||
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| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Senate District 40
Barry DeKay and Keith Kube defeated Mark Patefield and Robert Johnston in the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 40 on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry DeKay (Nonpartisan) | 36.1 | 4,443 |
| ✔ | | Keith Kube (Nonpartisan) | 25.8 | 3,180 |
| Mark Patefield (Nonpartisan) | 24.9 | 3,064 | ||
| Robert Johnston (Nonpartisan) | 13.2 | 1,621 | ||
| Total votes: 12,308 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Barry DeKay did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral) in 2025.
- Holland Children's Movement — Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral) in 2024.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Holland Children's Movement — Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral) in 2023.
- Holland Children's Movement — Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Timothy J. Gragert (R) |
Nebraska State Senate District 40 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
