Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District

Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District

Incumbent

Adrian Smith

Assumed office: January 3, 2007

Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Adrian Smith (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Nebraska representatives represented an average of 654,444 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 610,608 residents.

Elections

• 2030
• 2028
• 2026
• 2024
• 2022
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2030

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2028

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R), Becky Lynn Stille (D), David Huebner (R), and Mark Cohen (Nonpartisan) are running in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Adrian Smith (R)
	Submit photo	Becky Lynn Stille (D)
		David Huebner (R)
		Mark Cohen (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Daniel Ebers (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith (R)	80.4	243,481
		Daniel Ebers (D)	19.6	59,287

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 302,768
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Daniel Ebers (D) defeated David J. Else (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Ebers	52.9	7,841
		David J. Else	47.1	6,982

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,823
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated John Walz (R) and Robert McCuiston (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 14, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith	74.2	68,056
		John Walz	18.6	17,060
		Robert McCuiston	7.3	6,654

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 91,770
= 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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See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated David J. Else (D) and Mark Elworth Jr. (Legal Marijuana Now Party) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith (R)	78.3	172,700
		David J. Else (D)	15.8	34,836
		Mark Elworth Jr. (Legal Marijuana Now Party)	5.9	13,016

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 220,552
= 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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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

David J. Else (D) defeated Daniel Wik (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David J. Else	52.2	8,701
		Daniel Wik	47.8	7,968

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,669
= 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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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Mike Calhoun (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith	76.0	89,453
	Submit photo	Mike Calhoun	24.0	28,243

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 117,696
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Legal Marijuana Now Party primary

Legal Marijuana Now primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Mark Elworth Jr. (Legal Marijuana Now Party) advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Elworth Jr.	100.0	89

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 89
= 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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See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Mark Elworth Jr. (D) and Dustin Hobbs (L) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith (R)	78.5	225,157
		Mark Elworth Jr. (D)	17.7	50,690
	Submit photo	Dustin Hobbs (L)	3.8	10,923

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 286,770
= 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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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Mark Elworth Jr. (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Elworth Jr.	100.0	26,776

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 26,776
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• David J. Else (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Arron Kowalski (R), Justin Moran (R), William Elfgren (R), and Larry Bolinger (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith	82.6	96,260
	Submit photo	Arron Kowalski	5.5	6,424
		Justin Moran	5.5	6,374
		William Elfgren	3.5	4,063
		Larry Bolinger	2.9	3,389

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 116,510
= 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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Libertarian Party primary

Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Dustin Hobbs (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Dustin Hobbs	100.0	561

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 561
= 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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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Paul Theobald (D) in the general election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith (R)	76.7	163,650
		Paul Theobald (D)	23.3	49,654

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 213,304 (100% precincts reporting)
= 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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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Paul Theobald (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Paul Theobald	100.0	16,395

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 16,395
= 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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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3

Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Kirk Penner (R), Arron Kowalski (R), and Larry Bolinger (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrian Smith	65.7	50,878
		Kirk Penner	26.0	20,116
	Submit photo	Arron Kowalski	5.8	4,461
		Larry Bolinger	2.5	1,935

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 77,390
= 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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Previous election results

2016

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Adrian Smith faced no opposition in the general election on November 8, 2016. No Democratic candidates filed to run in 2016. Smith also faced no primary opponent on May 10, 2016.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Adrian Smith Incumbent	100%	226,720
Total Votes				226,720
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2014

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2014

The 3rd Congressional District of Nebraska held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Adrian Smith (R) defeated Mark Sullivan (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Adrian Smith Incumbent	75.4%	139,440
	Democratic	Mark Sullivan	24.6%	45,524
Total Votes				184,964
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2012

See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2012

The 3rd Congressional District of Nebraska held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Adrian Smith won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mark Sullivan	25.8%	65,266
	Republican	Adrian Smith Incumbent	74.2%	187,423
Total Votes				252,689
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Primary results

Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Adrian Smith	81.4%	62,645
Bob Lingenfelter	18.6%	14,297
Total Votes		76,942

2010
On November 2, 2010, Adrian Smith won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rebekah Davis (D) and Dan Hill (Petition) in the general election.

United States House, Nebraska District 3, General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Adrian Smith incumbent	70.1%	117,275
	Democratic	Rebekah Davis	17.9%	29,932
	By Petition	Dan Hill	12%	20,036
Total Votes				167,243

2008
On November 4, 2008, Adrian Smith won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jay Stoddard (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Adrian Smith incumbent	76.9%	183,117
	Democratic	Jay Stoddard	23.1%	55,087
Total Votes				238,204

2006
On November 7, 2006, Adrian Smith won election to the United States House. He defeated Scott Kleeb (D) in the general election.

United States House, Nebraska District 3, General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Adrian Smith	55%	113,687
	Democratic	Scott Kleeb	45%	93,046
Total Votes				206,733

2004
On November 2, 2004, Tom Osborne won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Donna J. Anderson (D), Roy Guisinger (G) and Joseph A. Rosberg (Nebraska Party) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom Osborne incumbent	87.5%	218,751
	Democratic	Donna J. Anderson	10.6%	26,434
	Green	Roy Guisinger	0.6%	1,555
	Nebraska Party	Joseph A. Rosberg	1.4%	3,396
Total Votes				250,136

2002
On November 5, 2002, Tom Osborne won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jerry Hickman (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom Osborne incumbent	85.4%	133,013
	Libertarian	Jerry Hickman	14.6%	22,831
Total Votes				155,844

2000
On November 7, 2000, Tom Osborne won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Roland E. Reynolds (D) and Jerry Hickman (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Tom Osborne incumbent	82.7%	182,117
	Democratic	Roland E. Reynolds	15.9%	34,944
	Libertarian	Jerry Hickman	1.3%	2,909
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	123
Total Votes				220,093

District map

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2020 census

On September 30, 2021, the Nebraska State Legislature approved a new congressional map, 35-11. Gov. Pete Ricketts signed the map into law shortly afterwards. This map took effect for Nebraska's 2022 congressional elections.

How does redistricting in Nebraska work? In Nebraska, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority is required to approve a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.

The Nebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"

On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:

1. Congressional districts should be held to the same aforementioned constitutional requirements as state legislative districts.
2. Both congressional and state legislative districts should be "understandable to voters, preserve the cores of prior districts, and keep to boundaries of cities and villages when feasible."
3. District boundaries "should not be established with the intention of favoring a political party, other group or any person."

The legislature is entitled to amend these guidelines at its discretion.

2020

2024

2010-2011

This is the 3rd Congressional District of Nebraska after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Nebraska after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Nebraska State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+27. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 27 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 3rd the 6th most Republican district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+29. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 29 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 3rd the 5th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 74.9%-23.1%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+29. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 29 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 3rd the 5th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 23.1% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 74.9%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+27. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 27 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District the 11th most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.95. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.95 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Nebraska
• Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024
• Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022
• Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020
• Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 3

Footnotes

[show]

Nebraska's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Deb Fischer (R)

Pete Ricketts (R)

Representatives

District 1

Mike Flood (R)

District 2

Don Bacon (R)

District 3

Adrian Smith (R)

Republican Party (5)