Crystal Rhoades
2023 - Present
2027
2
Crystal Rhoades (Democratic Party) is the Douglas County Clerk of the District Court in Nebraska. She assumed office on January 5, 2023. Her current term ends on January 7, 2027.
Rhoades (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Rhoades served as a public service commissioner from 2015 to 2023. Before becoming a public service commissioner, Rhoades was the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives (JDAI) Coordinator for Douglas County.[1] She has also been elected twice to the board of governors of the Metropolitan Community College.[2]
Biography
Rhoades is a lifelong resident of Omaha, Nebraska. Rhoades attended Omaha’s Central High School. Upon graduation, she received a Goodrich Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There she earned a B.A. in political science and psychology. She also studied public administration. Rhoades later earned a Master's degree in political science from University of Nebraska at Omaha.[1][3]
Following college, from 2000 to 2006, Rhoades worked as an IT analyst with Aquila.
In 2006, Rhoades began working at the University of Omaha Neighborhood Center developing solutions to crime, safety, housing and health issues by working with elected officials to advocate for their neighborhoods. She stayed with the Neighborhood Center until 2013.[3]
Also in 2006, Rhoades was elected to the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors. She served as treasurer, secretary and chairwoman of the board.[1]
In 2013, Rhoades became the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives Coordinator for Douglas County. In that role, she seeks to improve outcomes for children who enter the juvenile justice system.[3][1]
Rhoades has also worked with the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, the Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, the Metropolitan Community College Foundation and the Omaha Health Kids Alliance Housing Committee.[3]
Rhoades has been honored with a number of awards recognizing her efforts both at Metropolitan Community College and the Neighborhood Center. She was named one of the Omaha Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Omahans. She also received the League of Women Voter’s Making Democracy Work Award, Nebraska Democratic Party – John F. Kennedy Award and the Nebraska’s First Lady’s Outstanding Community Service Award. Additionally, Rhoades is a graduate of the Omaha Chamber’s Leadership Omaha class 33.[3]
Education
- B.A., in political science and psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- M.S., in political science, University of Nebraska at Omaha[4]
Public Service Commission (2015 - 2023)
Rhoades was first elected to the public service commission in 2014 and was sworn into office the following January for a six-year term.[5] She left office in 2023 after she was elected as the Douglas County Clerk of the District Court in November 2022.
Elections
2026
See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
Evangelos Argyrakis (D)  | ||
 | Kishla Askins (D) | |
 | John Cavanaugh (D) | |
 | Mark Johnston (D) | |
| James Leuschen (D) | ||
 | Denise Powell (D) | |
 | Crystal Rhoades (D) | |
 | Brinker Harding (R) | |
 | Brett Lindstrom (R) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Don Bacon (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Douglas County, Nebraska (2022)
General election
General election for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court
Crystal Rhoades defeated Thomas Flynn in the general election for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Crystal Rhoades (D) | 51.0 | 94,346 |
 | Thomas Flynn (R) | 48.9 | 90,502 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 195 | ||
| Total votes: 185,043 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court
Crystal Rhoades defeated Pamela Cardenas in the Democratic primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Crystal Rhoades | 65.2 | 26,631 |
| Pamela Cardenas | 34.5 | 14,103 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 113 | ||
| Total votes: 40,847 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Thomas Flynn advanced from the Republican primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court.
2020
See also: Nebraska Public Service Commission election, 2020
General election
General election for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2
Incumbent Crystal Rhoades defeated Tim Davis in the general election for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Crystal Rhoades (D) | 62.7 | 95,119 |
| Tim Davis (R) | 37.3 | 56,698 | ||
| Total votes: 151,817 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2
Incumbent Crystal Rhoades advanced from the Democratic primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Crystal Rhoades | 100.0 | 37,913 |
| Total votes: 37,913 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2
Tim Davis defeated Krystal Gabel in the Republican primary for Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Tim Davis | 55.8 | 11,537 | |
 | Krystal Gabel | 44.2 | 9,131 | |
| Total votes: 20,668 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
Rhoades ran for election to the office of Nebraska Public Service Commission.[2] Rhoades won the Democratic primary election on May 13, 2014.[6] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
Primary
| Nebraska Public Service Commissioner, Democratic Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Crystal Rhoades |
43.5% | 5,974 | ||
| Jim Esch | 40.1% | 5,507 | ||
| John Green | 16.5% | 2,265 | ||
| Total Votes | 13,746 | |||
| Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State. | ||||
General election
| Nebraska Public Service Commissioner, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Crystal Rhoades |
56.6% | 46,405 | |
| Republican | John Sieler | 43.4% | 35,519 | |
| Total Votes | 81,924 | |||
| Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State | ||||
Endorsements
Rhoades was endorsed by retiring commissioner Anne Boyle. Boyle has been on the commission for 17 years. Boyle endorsed Rhoades at her retirement announcement stating:
- “I am gratified Crystal Rhoades has decided to run for the Omaha seat. Crystal is a dynamic public servant. She has proven to be a hard worker who is willing to make difficult decisions,” Boyle said.[2]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Crystal Rhoades has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Crystal Rhoades, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 23,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.
2022
Crystal Rhoades 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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Crystal Rhoades, About Crystal, accessed October 7, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Omaha, Anne Boyle to retire from Nebraska Public Service Commission, September 4, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 9, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Public Service Commission, "Commissioner Crystal Rhodes, District 2," accessed Aug. 13, 2015
- ↑ klkntv.com, "Pete Ricketts to be sworn in Thursday," January 8, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Election Night Results," May 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Friend (R) |
Douglas County Clerk of the District Court 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Anne C. Boyle (D) |
Nebraska Public Service Commission District 2 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Christian Mirch (R) |
| |||||||||||||||||
 |
State of Nebraska Lincoln (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
