Nebraska State Board of Education election, 2022 (May 10 District 7 primary)

Elections in Nebraska, 2022

• Primary date: May 10
• Mail-in registration deadline: April 22
• Online reg. deadline: April 22
• In-person reg. deadline: May 2

• Early voting starts: April 11
• Early voting ends: May 9
• Poll times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Absentee/mail-in deadline: May 10

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Nebraska State Board of Education
Election details
Filing deadline: February 15, 2022/March 1, 2022
Primary: May 10, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 Pre-election incumbent(s): Robin Stevens (District 7)
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
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Nebraska executive elections
Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Secretary of State Treasurer Auditor State Board of Education (4 seats) State Board of Regents (2 seats) Public Service Commissioner (2 seats)

Elizabeth Tegtmeier and incumbent Robin Stevens advanced from the primary election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 on May 10, 2022. Based on unofficial returns, Tegtmeier received 62.4% of the vote, Stevens received 20.4% of the vote, and Pat Moore received 17.2% of the vote. District 7 includes 44 counties in western Nebraska.

Stevens faced no opposition in 2018. Before serving on the board, he was an educator for 40 years, most recently as the superintendent of Schuyler Community Schools. Moore is a retired pastor. Tegtmeier is a former public school teacher who left the classroom to homeschool her children. While the election and position on the board are officially nonpartisan, all three candidates were affiliated with the Republican Party.

At the center of this primary was a March 2021 proposal that would have established statewide K-12 health education standards. The proposal included teaching all students about gender identity and stereotypes. High school students would have also been taught about homophobia, transphobia, and sexual assault. The Nebraska Department of Education developed the proposal as part of its regular process to update standards in several subject areas as required by state law.

Supporters of the draft included the Women’s Fund of Omaha and OutNebraska, an LGBTQ advocacy group. Opponents of the draft included Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and 28 members of the Nebraska State Senate. Ricketts and at least 14 state senators endorsed Tegtmeier.

A second draft released in July 2021 eliminated the references to gender and sexuality opposed by Ricketts and state senators. In September 2021, the board voted 5-1 to indefinitely pause the process of developing these new standards. Stevens voted with the majority.

Stevens told the Lexington Clipper-Herald that the board needed to re-establish public trust. "We didn’t do a good job early on of getting the health standards out to people, it hurt us and it hurt us badly. I understand that," he said. At a campaign event, Tegtmeier said she chose to run after hearing a state senator speak about the proposed standards, saying, "I didn’t want to get 10 years down the road and have to tell my kids that I thought about doing something but just didn’t do it." Moore told the Omaha World-Herald that the proposed health standards showed the board needed change. Moore said, "Some of the processes that have been in place I believe need challenged and some of the thinking the board members have need challenged."

The Nebraska State Board of Education is an elected executive agency of the Nebraska state government, responsible for managing the state's public schools. At the time of the primary election, the board's mission was "to lead and support the preparation of all Nebraskans for learning, earning, and living." The board has eight members: four elected during presidential election years and four elected during midterm election years.

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan) and Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses.

Candidates and election results

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7

Elizabeth Tegtmeier and incumbent Robin Stevens defeated Pat Moore in the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)	62.7	33,304
✔		Robin Stevens (Nonpartisan)	20.1	10,698
		Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)	17.2	9,149

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 53,151
= 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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Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Robin Stevens

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Nebraska State Board of Education, District 7 (Assumed office: 2019)

Biography:  Stevens worked in the education field for 40 years, including 13 years as the superintendent of Schuyler Community Schools.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Stevens said that the state needs to examine barriers of entry for new teachers and improve its retention and recruiting systems.

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Stevens said that early childhood education is a particular passion of his because he believes it sets children up for success throughout the rest of their lives.

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Stevens highlighted the ability of schools to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic and said that administrators and local boards played a significant role in that.

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Show sources

Sources: Lexington Clipper-Herald, "Robin Stevens seeks to continue serving on the state school board," April 1, 2022

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 in 2022.

Pat Moore

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "My wife, Julie and I have lived in and raised our family in central Nebraska. I transitioned out of facility management to become a pastor in 2001 and then an intentional interim pastor in rural churches. I am currently retired. I received special training as an interim pastor to work with churches in transition following difficult situations. That training and experience has helped me recognize dysfunctional organizational systems so I could help to restore them to function better. It has also helped me to be able to work calmly through either existing or developing conflict."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Parents are the primary educators/trainers of their children.

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As much as possible, control of local education should be local; where the students are being educated.

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Comprehensive sex education and Critical Race Theory concepts need to be removed from education in Nebraska.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 in 2022.

Elizabeth Tegtmeier

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a wife, a mom of five college and school age children, and an educator. I hold a current Nebraska teaching certificate for English grades 7-12 and have a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I have taught in all three areas of education that the state board sits in jurisdiction over --public, private, and homeschool. I was born and raised in Western Nebraska and we have chosen to raise our family here as well."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Protect students and teachers from sexually explicit material and political ideologies being taught in the classrooms

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Address academic proficiency rates and the teacher shortage

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Hold the NDE accountable and support increased local control of school districts

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 in 2022.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

Parents are the primary educators/trainers of their children.

As much as possible, control of local education should be local; where the students are being educated.

Comprehensive sex education and Critical Race Theory concepts need to be removed from education in Nebraska.

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

Protect students and teachers from sexually explicit material and political ideologies being taught in the classrooms

Address academic proficiency rates and the teacher shortage

Hold the NDE accountable and support increased local control of school districts

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

I am conservative not only in finances, but in my Christian beliefs. I have worked against Comprehensive Sex Education since the 1990's. I joined with other parents in 1996 and then chaired the board that created Faith Christian School of Kearney.

I see Critical Race Theory (CRT) as an offshoot of Critical Theory which seeks to designate some as oppressors and others as the oppressed. In its current form CRT is divisive and racist, and its concepts need to be removed from education in Nebraska and the US. Tax money for the education of Nebraska's students should follow the students, possibly including vouchers, charter and private schools, as well as home schoolers. I am pro-life and care what happens to the children and youth of Nebraska in today's culture.

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

I am passionate about providing our students and teachers with a learning environment that allows children to learn and develop in ways that will benefit the students in the future and are aligned with the values and direction of the parents. Education should equip our children with valuable thinking and evaluating skills (how to think rather than merely tell our students what to think).

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

The Nebraska State Board of Education is designated in the state constitution to appoint the Commissioner of Education as well as fix his/her compensation. The Board is also to appoint all employees of the Department of Education at the recommendation of the Commissioner. This gives the Board some semblance of oversite for the Department of Education.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

The ultimate one I look up to is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the one God sent so that we might see what His Father is like. I spend time with Him daily through His word and through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit then teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains me how I am to live with my wife, my family, my neighbors, my church, and the world. Because Jesus forgave my sins, I can see others around me as fellow strugglers that need to grow closer to God just as I do. But my having received grace allows me to offer grace to those around me, even when they don't deserve it (just as I don't). I am growing in patience and perseverance in working with others. I seek to treat all with respect with God's perfect mix of truth and grace.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

An elected official should be a person of moral integrity who will not be compromised by special interest groups. In our representative style of government, officials must be out in their districts listening to constituents throughout their tenure in office and not merely right before an election.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

Even though I am an introvert by nature, I enjoy working with people when we have a common goal. In the Strengthsfinder survey my strengths are; learner, achiever, belief, relator, and self-assurance. My experience with churches, people and fixer-uppers would indicate strength in restorative as well.

I am a self starter and after I have researched the details of something, I have the ability to synthesize the parts to decipher how things work. I am then able to communicate with others so they might see the big picture of what is going on. I am computer literate.

Obviously I am not running for the Board to get rich or because everyone will then like me. My belief strength leads me into the current mess within the State board with the idea that I might make a difference. And my self-assurance strength will be needed to be able to maintain my composure and true North when people act as people sometimes do when they disagree.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

Anyone elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education in 2022 will have taken a stance going into the election. If elected to the Board, they should represent the people that elected them for the stance they took.

But just taking a stance will not be enough. They will need to do the hard work behind the scenes to develop a thorough knowledge of the workings of the Department. They will need to build working relationships with as many as possible. They will need to respond to the comments of the constituents. And they will need to carefully be influencers with the long-term in mind. They will also need to educate constituents about what is going on with the Board and Department.

They will not be able to please everyone, but they will need to treat everyone with respect, especially when there is disagreement.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

The biggest event I recall was when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded in January of 1986. I was ten at the time. My classmates and I were so excited that a teacher was going to outer space. Our teacher turned on the live broadcast and we were shocked and scared to watch the space shuttle explode live before our eyes. The rest of the day was spent watching replays of the explosion as our juvenile minds tried to process the death of the seven crew members that occurred on live television. Shortly after that event, my grandfather died. I learned about the fragility and preciousness of life that year.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

My favorite book would be the Bible. I read it daily and find the true words for life in it. My wife and I read to each other pretty much daily switching back and forth from Christian fiction to various non-fiction books that might help her in her counseling or me in ministry. We are both life-long learners with much to learn.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

Since the State Board has oversite of the employees as its constitutional function, it would be very important for members of the Board to vet and oversee, especially the commissioner, but also every potential employee of the Department of Education very carefully to insure that the Department is following appropriate learning standards reflecting the desires of the constituents.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Pat Moore (Nonpartisan)

I believe it would be especially important for State Board members to be able to hear and understand their

constituents and then help employees of the Department of Education understand any concerns they hear.

With the present environment of the Board and Department, I believe new board members seeking to turn some things around in the Department of Education will need to be able to stand firm in their positions and yet work as cooperatively as possible with those who think the Department is headed in the right direction currently.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

The primary job of the State Board of Education is to direct the focus of education in our state and hire a competent commissioner who will oversee the day to day operations that must occur for that focus to be achieved. The board has a duty to the students of the state, their parents, teachers, administrators, and taxpayers to ensure that the focus will result in the best opportunity for Nebraska children to grow up to be responsible citizens who understand their Constitutional freedoms and capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

As a lifelong resident of the western end of the state, I would like to see an increase in the opportunities for students to study the ag and industrial areas that are the lifeblood of our rural communities. I would like to increase the Career Pathways and Pathways to Success in our local districts thus creating partnerships between the schools and local businesses and industries where students can learn about the anticipated needs in a variety of fields and begin internships in those fields. We must offer our students a vision of the future in Western Nebraska where they can work in a skilled field and provide for themselves and their future families in rural Nebraska.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Elizabeth Tegtmeier (Nonpartisan)

School funding has become a primary issue in the western end of Nebraska where our schools are primarily funded by local property taxes. As the rural areas as extensively composed of farms and ranches, the burden often falls the heaviest on these land owners.

The current school funding program called TEEOSA is confusing and complicated and disadvantages our rural school districts who often are not able to employ a person with extensive understanding of the formula. This has resulted in an imbalance in between rural and urban education.

We must begin to actively work with the Nebraska Legislature to examine how schools are funded. The TEEOSA formula is no longer working and must be completely rewritten. The State Board of Education liaison to the unicameral must push hard for a new method of school funding.

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Robin Stevens

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Robin Stevens while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Pat Moore

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Pat Moore while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

Elizabeth Tegtmeier

Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Elizabeth Tegtmeier while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.

News and conflicts in this primary

This race was featured in The Heart of the Primaries, a newsletter capturing stories related to conflicts within each major party. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.

• Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 22 (May 12, 2022)
• Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 13 (March 10, 2022)

Endorsements

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Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

• Elizabeth Tegtmeier

Election competitiveness

Polls

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The links below show polls for this race aggregated by FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, where available. Click here to read about FiveThirtyEight's criteria for including polls in its aggregation.

• FiveThirtyEight
• RealClearPolitics

Election context

Election history

2018

See also: Nebraska State Board of Education election, 2018

General election

General election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7

Robin Stevens won election in the general election for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robin Stevens (Nonpartisan)	100.0	58,764

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,764 (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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7

Robin Stevens advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Board of Education District 7 on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robin Stevens (Nonpartisan)	100.0	30,727

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 30,727
= 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

Nebraska State Board of Education District 7, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Molly O'Holleran Incumbent	62%	34,502
Robin R. Stevens	38%	21,178
Total Votes		55,680
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2010

Nebraska State Board of Education District 7, 2010
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Molly O'Holleran	60.1%	31,676
Cindi Allen	39.9%	21,035
Total Votes		52,711
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2006

Nebraska State Board of Education District 7, 2006
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kandy Imes Incumbent	64.9%	38,836
Paula S. Pfister	35.1%	21,019
Total Votes		59,855
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2002

Nebraska State Board of Education District 7, 2002
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kandy Imes	50.1%	28,600
Kathy Wilmot	49.9%	28,485
Total Votes		57,085
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State

2022 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections included:

• Arkansas Secretary of State election, 2022 (May 24 Republican primary)
• Illinois' 17th Congressional District election, 2022
• North Carolina's 13th Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)
• South Carolina's 7th Congressional District election, 2022 (June 14 Republican primary)
• Texas' 38th Congressional District election, 2022 (March 1 Republican primary)

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Nebraska State Board of Education official website

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