Nebraska Attorney General election, 2018 (May 15 Democratic primary)

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Nebraska Attorney General
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 1, 2018
Primary: May 15, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Doug Peterson (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central time zone); 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain time zone)
Voting in Nebraska
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Nebraska
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A Democratic Party primary election took place on May 15, 2018, in Nebraska to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the state's November 6, 2018, attorney general election.

For more information about attorney general elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting attorney general was Doug Peterson (R), who was first elected in 2014. On August 30, 2017, Peterson announced that he would seek a second term in 2018.
  • In 2018, Nebraska was a Republican trifecta. It had held this status since former Gov. Mike Johanns (R) took office in 1999. Nebraska was also a Republican triplex.
  • Nebraska was won by the Republican candidate in each of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory was George W. Bush's 33 percent margin in 2004, while the narrowest was John McCain's 15 percent margin in 2008.

    • Candidates and election results

    Evangelos Argyrakis advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Nebraska on May 15, 2018.

    Democratic primary election

    Democratic primary for Attorney General of Nebraska

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
    Submit photo
    		Evangelos Argyrakis
     
    100.0
     
    		67,022

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

    		Total votes: 67,022
    Candidate Connection = 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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    Context of the 2018 election

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Nebraska attorney general election, 2014

    Janet Stewart defeated Allan Eurek by a 44.6 percent margin in the 2014 Democratic primary.[1]

    Nebraska Attorney General, Democratic Primary, 2014
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngJanet Stewart 72.3% 47,151
    Allan Eurek 27.7% 18,083
    Total Votes 65,234
    Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State.


    Voter information

    How the primary works

    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.


    Poll times

    Registration requirements

    Check your voter registration status here.

    To register to vote in Nebraska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Nebraska county in which they are registering, and at least 18 years old by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Citizens are eligible to register to vote on January 1 of the year they will turn 18 before the November general election. People convicted of a felony regain the right to vote upon completion on their sentence, including parole and probation. Individuals who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote.[2][3] A voter registration application can be completed in person at the county clerk or election commissioner's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or other state agencies. In-person registration must be completed by the third Friday preceding the election if completed at the DMV or other state agencies. In-person registration at county election offices must be completed by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election. Applications returned by mail must be postmarked by the third Friday before the election.[4] Online applications must be submitted by midnight on the third Friday before the election.[5]

    Automatic registration

    Nebraska does not practice automatic voter registration.[6]

    Online registration

    See also: Online voter registration

    Nebraska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. The Nebraska State Senate enacted legislation allowing online voter registration in 2014, and the system was implemented in 2015.[7]

    Same-day registration

    Nebraska does not allow same-day voter registration.[6]

    Residency requirements

    In Nebraska, citizens can register to vote the day they become residents of the state.[4]

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    Nebraska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any registrant who signs this application knowing that any of the information in the application is false shall be guilty of a Class IV felony under section 32-1502 of the statutes of Nebraska. The penalty for a Class IV felony is up to two years imprisonment and twelve months post-release supervision, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or both."[8]

    All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

    Verifying your registration

    The Voter View site, run by the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.


    Voter ID requirements

    Nebraska requires voters to present identification while voting.

    Initiative 432, approved by Nebraska voters in November 2022, amended Article I of the state constitution to require voters to present valid photo identification in order to vote. Governor Jim Pillen (R) signed Legislative Bill 514 into law on June 1, 2023, in order to implement this policy change. Due to this legislation, Nebraska's voter ID requirement went into effect on April 1, 2024, in time for the state's 2024 primary.[10][11]

    Early voting

    Nebraska permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

    Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

    Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

    Absentee voting

    The state of Nebraska refers to its no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting option as early voting. All voters are eligible to vote absentee/mail-in in Nebraska. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by-mail.[12]

    The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is if the close of business on the second Friday preceding the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be received by election officials by 8 p.m. (CST) on Election Day.[12]


    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Nebraska heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    • As of May 2018, Republicans held six of 10 state executive positions and the remaining four positions were held by nonpartisan officials.
    • The governor of Nebraska was Republican Pete Ricketts.

    State legislature

    Trifecta status

    2018 elections

    See also: Nebraska elections, 2018

    Nebraska held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Nebraska
     NebraskaU.S.
    Total population:1,893,765316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):76,8243,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:88.1%73.6%
    Black/African American:4.7%12.6%
    Asian:2%5.1%
    Native American:0.9%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:2.2%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:10%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:90.7%86.7%
    College graduation rate:29.3%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$52,997$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:14.6%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Nebraska.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    As of July 2017, Nebraska had a population of approximately 1,920,000 people, with its three largest cities being Omaha (pop. est. 450,000), Lincoln (pop. est. 280,000), and Bellevue (pop. est. 54,000).[13][14]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Nebraska from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Nebraska Secretary of State.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Nebraska every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Nebraska 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 58.7% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 33.7% 25.0%
    2012 Republican Party Mitt Romney 59.8% Democratic Party Barack Obama 38.0% 21.8%
    2008 Republican Party John McCain 56.5% Democratic Party Barack Obama 41.6% 14.9%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 65.9% Democratic Party John Kerry 32.7% 33.2%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 62.2% Democratic Party Al Gore 33.3% 28.9%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Nebraska from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Nebraska 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Ben Sasse 64.3% Democratic Party Dave Domina 31.5% 32.8%
    2012 Republican Party Deb Fischer 57.8% Democratic Party Bob Kerrey 42.2% 15.6%
    2008 Republican Party Mike Johanns 57.5% Democratic Party Scott Kleeb 40.1% 17.4%
    2006 Democratic Party Ben Nelson 63.9% Republican Party Pete Ricketts 36.1% 27.8%
    2002 Republican Party Chuck Hagel 82.3% Democratic Party Charlie Matulka 14.6% 67.7%
    2000 Democratic Party Ben Nelson 51.1% Republican Party Don Stenberg 48.9% 2.2%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Nebraska.

    Election results (Governor), Nebraska 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Pete Ricketts 57.2% Democratic Party Chuck Hassebrook 39.2% 18.0%
    2010 Republican Party Dave Heineman 73.9% Democratic Party Mike Meister 26.1% 47.8%
    2006 Republican Party Dave Heineman 73.4% Democratic Party David Hahn 24.5% 48.9%
    2002 Republican Party Mike Johanns 68.7% Democratic Party Stormy Dean 27.5% 41.2%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Nebraska in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Nebraska 2000-2016
    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2014 Republican Party 2 66.7% Democratic Party 1 33.3% R+1
    2012 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2010 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2008 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2006 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2004 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2002 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3
    2002 Republican Party 3 100% Democratic Party 0 0% R+3

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2024
    Seven years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    One of 93 Nebraska counties—1.08 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Thurston County, Nebraska 5.94% 13.91% 6.96%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Nebraska with 58.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 33.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1868 and 2016, Nebraska voted Republican 82 percent of the time and Democratic 18 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Nebraska voted Republican all five times.[15]

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Senate districts in Nebraska. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[16][17]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 10 out of 49 state Senate districts in Nebraska with an average margin of victory of 26.2 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 12 out of 49 state Senate districts in Nebraska with an average margin of victory of 22.8 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 39 out of 49 state Senate districts in Nebraska with an average margin of victory of 31.1 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 37 out of 49 state Senate districts in Nebraska with an average margin of victory of 38.3 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


    See also

    Nebraska government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Secretary of State of Nebraska, "Official Report of the Board of Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - Primary Election, May 13, 2014," accessed September 25, 2017
    2. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Nebraska Voter Registration Background,” accessed April 18, 2023
    3. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Felon Voting Rights FAQ,” accessed April 18, 2023
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
    5. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “Online Voter Registration Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed April 18, 2023
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 28, 2024
    7. ↑ Omaha World-Herald, “Online voter registration is coming to Nebraska,” September 5, 2015
    8. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State’s Official Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
    9. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
    10. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed June 8, 2023
    11. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQ," accessed June 8, 2023
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, “Early Voting,” accessed April 18, 2023
    13. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Quick Facts - Nebraska," accessed January 9, 2018
    14. ↑ Nebraska Demographics, "Nebraska Cities by Population," accessed January 9, 2018
    15. ↑ 270towin.com, "Nebraska," accessed July 30, 2017
    16. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    17. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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