Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2014

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Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District
General Election Date
November 4, 2014
Primary Date
May 13, 2014
November 4 Election Winner:
Adrian Smith Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Adrian Smith Republican Party
Adrian Smith.jpg
Race Ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid R[1]

FairVote's Monopoly Politics: Safe R[2]
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[3]

Nebraska U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3
2014 U.S. Senate Elections
2014 U.S. House Elections
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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.

After a solid victory in the primary election on May 13, 2014, Rep. Smith did not have much difficulty securing re-election to his U.S. House seat in the November general election. Nebraska's U.S. House seats tended to go to Republicans, who previously held office in all three congressional districts until Ashford won in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District in 2014. Smith was first elected in 2006, and he won re-election in 2012 with a 48.4 percent margin of victory over Sullivan, who was also Smith's Democratic challenger in 2014.[4] In addition, The Cook Political Report rated Smith's seat as "Solid Republican," meaning that a competitive race was unlikely.[5] Smith also maintained an overwhelming lead in campaign finances. As of the April Quarterly Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, Smith had nearly $1 million in cash on hand, while Sullivan had less than $20,000.

While Sullivan ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, Smith had no trouble defeating challenger Tom Brewer in the Republican primary. Smith and Brewer agreed on the majority of issues, and in a debate on April 25, 2014, both candidates spent most of their time discussing how they would be better at carrying out solutions.[6] Even Sullivan was not campaigning as a staunch liberal, but instead as a "Pro-Life, moderate Democrat."[7]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
March 3, 2014
May 13, 2014
November 4, 2014

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, participation rules for primaries vary by the office up for election. State legislative primaries use a nonpartisan top-two primary system in which any voter can participate. Congressional primaries are partisan, but any voter may vote in the congressional primary of their choice. For all other statewide offices, a state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their primary ballot.

As of September 2025, the Democratic Party held a semi-closed primary in which registered party members and unaffiliated voters could participate, and the Republican Party held a closed primary in which only registered party members could participate.

Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by either April 25, 2014, by mail or carrier, or by May 2, 2014, in person. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 17, 2014.[8]

See also: Nebraska elections, 2014

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Adrian Smith (R), who was first elected in 2006.

Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District is located in the western portion of the state and includes Adams, Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Cedar, chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Clay, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Fillmore, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Saline, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Thomas, Valley, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, and York counties. Parts of Dixon and Merrick counties also lie within the district.[9]

Candidates

General election candidates


May 13, 2014, primary results

Republican Party Republican Primary

Democratic Party Democratic Primary


Election results

General election

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngAdrian Smith Incumbent 75.4% 139,440
     Democratic Mark Sullivan 24.6% 45,524
Total Votes 184,964
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngAdrian Smith Incumbent 68.1% 67,113
Tom Brewer 31.9% 31,436
Total Votes 98,549
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

Key votes

Government affairs

HR 676

See also: Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration

Yea3.png On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[12] Smith joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[13][14]

Campaign contributions

Adrian Smith

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Smith's reports.[15]

Mark Sullivan

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Sullivan's reports.[24]

Mark Sullivan (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[25]April 11, 2013$2,795.95$97.37$(44.00)$2,849.32
July Quarterly[26]July 8, 2013$2,849.32$2,968.61$(3,452.32)$2,365.61
October Quarterly[27]October 11, 2013$2,365.61$3,637.26$(5,568.18)$1,434.69
Year-End[28]January 28, 2014$1,434.69$12,012.38$(8,118.06)$5,329.01
April Quarterly[29]April 14, 2014$5,329.01$16,909.83$(2,878.54)$19,360.30
Pre-Primary[30]April 30, 2014$19,360.30$640.00$(338.97)$19,661.33
July Quarterly[31]July 8, 2014$19,661.33$2,544.42$(5,147.01)$17,058.74
October Quarterly[32]October 13, 2014$17,058.74$17,835.35$(18,181.00)$16,713.09
Pre-General[33]October 23, 2014$16,713.09$0.00$(6,049.57)$10,663.52
Running totals
$56,645.22$(49,777.65)

Tom Brewer

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Brewer's reports.[34]

Tom Brewer (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[35]April 15, 2014$0.00$96,028.86$(71,406.81)$24,622.05
Running totals
$96,028.86$(71,406.81)

District history

Candidate ballot access
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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.[36]

U.S. House, Nebraska District 3 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Mark Sullivan 25.8% 65,266
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngAdrian Smith Incumbent 74.2% 187,423
Total Votes 252,689
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

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.[37]

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

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 House Race Ratings for August 8, 2014," accessed August 25, 2014
  2. ↑ FairVote's Monopoly Politics, "2014 House Projections," accessed August 25, 2014
  3. ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed August 25, 2014
  4. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "SMITH, Adrian, (1970 - )," accessed July 2, 2014
  5. ↑ The Cook Political Report, "2014 House Race Ratings for June 26, 2014," accessed July 1, 2014
  6. ↑ Omaha, "Adrian Smith and Tom Brewer differ more in style than substance," accessed July 2, 2014
  7. ↑ McCook Daily Gazette, "Smith challenger Sullivan sees 'principles over politics'," accessed July 2, 2014
  8. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State Website, "Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions," accessed January 3, 2014
  9. ↑ Nebraska Redistricting Map, "Map," accessed August 29, 2012
  10. ↑ Watchdog, "Retired Army veteran to challenge Congressman Smith," accessed January 2, 2014
  11. ↑ Lexch.com, "Third District congressional candidate Sullivan getting his name out," accessed August 1, 2013
  12. ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
  13. ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
  14. ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
  15. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Smith 2014 Summary reports," accessed July 18, 2013
  16. ↑ FEC, "April Quarterly," accessed July 18, 2013
  17. ↑ FEC, "July Quarterly," accessed July 18, 2013
  18. ↑ FEC, "October Quarterly," accessed October 25, 2013
  19. ↑ FEC, "Year-End Quarterly," accessed March 6, 2014
  20. ↑ FEC, "April Quarterly," accessed May 13, 2014
  21. ↑ FEC, "Pre-Primary," accessed October 22, 2014
  22. ↑ FEC, "July Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  23. ↑ FEC, "October Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  24. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan Summary Report," accessed May 13, 2014
  25. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan April Quarterly," accessed May 13, 2014
  26. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan July Quarterly," accessed May 13, 2014
  27. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan October Quarterly," accessed May 13, 2014
  28. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan Year-End," accessed May 13, 2014
  29. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan April Quarterly," accessed May 13, 2014
  30. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan Pre-Primary," accessed November 4, 2014
  31. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan July Quarterly," accessed November 4, 2014
  32. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan October Quarterly," accessed November 4, 2014
  33. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Sullivan Pre-General," accessed November 4, 2014
  34. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tom Brewer Summary Report," accessed April 30, 2014
  35. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tom Brewer April Quarterly," accessed April 30, 2014
  36. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Nebraska," accessed November 7, 2012
  37. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
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Nebraska's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Deb Fischer (R)
Pete Ricketts (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Don Bacon (R)
District 3
Republican Party (5)

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