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Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District
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
2024
See also: Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024
Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Republican primary)
Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (May 14 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Daniel Ebers 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 | |
| Total votes: 302,768 | |||
 = 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 U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Daniel Ebers defeated David J. Else 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 | |
| Total votes: 14,823 | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated John Walz and Robert McCuiston 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 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated David J. Else and Mark Elworth Jr. 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 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
David J. Else defeated Daniel Wik 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 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Mike Calhoun in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Adrian Smith | 76.0 | 89,453 |
| Mike Calhoun | 24.0 | 28,243 | ||
| Total votes: 117,696 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election
Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Mark Elworth Jr. 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 |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Mark Elworth Jr. and Dustin Hobbs 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 | |
| Dustin Hobbs (L) | 3.8 | 10,923 | ||
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Mark Elworth Jr. 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 |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David J. Else (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Arron Kowalski, Justin Moran, William Elfgren, and Larry Bolinger in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Adrian Smith | 82.6 | 96,260 |
| Arron Kowalski | 5.5 | 6,424 | ||
 | Justin Moran | 5.5 | 6,374 | |
 | William Elfgren | 3.5 | 4,063 | |
 | Larry Bolinger | 2.9 | 3,389 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Dustin Hobbs advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dustin Hobbs | 100.0 | 561 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Paul Theobald 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 | |
| Total votes: 213,304 (100.00% 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Paul Theobald advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Theobald | 100.0 | 16,395 |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Nebraska District 3
Incumbent Adrian Smith defeated Kirk Penner, Arron Kowalski, and Larry Bolinger 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 | |
| Arron Kowalski | 5.8 | 4,461 | ||
| Larry Bolinger | 2.5 | 1,935 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
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.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Adrian Smith Incumbent |
100% | 226,720 | |
| Total Votes | 226,720 | |||
| Source: Nebraska Secretary of State | ||||
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.
| 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
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.[2]
| 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
| 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.[3]
| 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.[4]
| 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.[5]
| 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.[6]
| 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.[7]
| 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.[8]
| 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
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.[9] 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.[10]
The Nebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"[10][11]
On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:[10]
- Congressional districts should be held to the same aforementioned constitutional requirements as state legislative districts.
- 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."
- 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.[10]
Nebraska District 3
until January 2, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Nebraska District 3
starting January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
2010-2011
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.[12]
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.[13]
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%.[14]
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.[15]
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%.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
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
Footnotes
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," March 2, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Nebraska," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "LB1 - Set district boundaries of the Representatives in the Congress of the United States," accessed September 30, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 All About Redistricting, "Nebraska," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Nebraska State Constitution, "Article III-5," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
