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Nebraska State Senate District 5
Nebraska State Senate District 5 is represented by Margo Juarez (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Nebraska state senators represented an average of 40,068 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 37,384 residents.
About the office
Members of the Nebraska State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits.[1] It is unique in that it is the only American state legislature that is unicameral. Half of the seats up for election every second year. Nebraska legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.[2]
Qualifications
A candidate for the Nebraska Legislature must meet the following qualifications:[3]
- Be registered to vote
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a resident of Nebraska, and specifically a resident of the legislative district he or she wishes to serve, for at least one year prior to the general election
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $12,000/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $55/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $151/day. |
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Nebraska State Senate is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Nebraska Term Limits Act in 2000. That initiative limited senators to terms of no more than two four-year terms.[1]
The first year that the term limits enacted in 2000 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2008.
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Nebraska State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. If the vacancy occurs after May 1 of the official's second year in office, the replacement must serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy happens before that date, the replacement serves the remainder of the unfilled term before the next general election when a new representative is elected.[5]
See sources: Nebraska Rev. Stat. §32-566
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On September 30, 2021, the Nebraska State Legislature approved a new state legislative map, 37-7. Gov. Pete Ricketts signed the map into law shortly afterwards.[6] This map took effect for Nebraska's 2022 legislative 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.[7]
The Nebraska Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous and compact, and they keep to county boundaries 'whenever practicable.'"[7][8]
On April 8, 2011, the state legislature approved the following redistricting guidelines:[7]
- 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.[7]
Nebraska State Senate District 5
until January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Nebraska State Senate District 5
starting January 4, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Nebraska State Senate District 5
Margo Juarez defeated Gilbert Ayala in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Margo Juarez (Nonpartisan)  | 57.6 | 6,275 |
 | Gilbert Ayala (Nonpartisan) | 42.4 | 4,610 | |
| Total votes: 10,885 | |||
| = 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 Senate District 5
Margo Juarez and Gilbert Ayala defeated Flint Harkness in the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 5 on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margo Juarez (Nonpartisan) | 37.7 | 1,337 |
| ✔ | | Gilbert Ayala (Nonpartisan) | 36.0 | 1,276 |
| Flint Harkness (Nonpartisan) | 26.4 | 935 | ||
| Total votes: 3,548 | |||
| = 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
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Nebraska State Senate District 5
Incumbent Mike McDonnell defeated Gilbert Ayala in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 5 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike McDonnell (Nonpartisan) | 63.2 | 6,947 |
| Gilbert Ayala (Nonpartisan) | 36.8 | 4,053 | |
| Total votes: 11,000 | |||
| = 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 Senate District 5
Incumbent Mike McDonnell and Gilbert Ayala advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 5 on May 12, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike McDonnell (Nonpartisan) | 70.0 | 3,578 |
| ✔ | | Gilbert Ayala (Nonpartisan) | 30.0 | 1,536 |
| Total votes: 5,114 | |||
| = 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
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016, for incumbents. Challengers were required to file by March 1, 2016.[9] Incumbent Heath Mello did not seek re-election because of term-limits.
Mike McDonnell defeated Gilbert Ayala in the Nebraska State Senate District 5 general election.[10][11]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 5 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Mike McDonnell |
70.16% | 7,120 |
| Gilbert Ayala | 29.84% | 3,028 |
| Total Votes | 10,148 | |
| Source: Nebraska Secretary of State | ||
Mike McDonnell and Gilbert Ayala were unopposed in the Nebraska State Senate District 5 primary.[12][13]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 5 Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Mike McDonnell | ||
| Gilbert Ayala | ||
2012
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 15, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Incumbent Heath Mello was unopposed in both the general election and May 15 Nonpartisan primary.[14][15] Mello raised $123,758 in the election.[16]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Heath Mello Incumbent |
100% | 7,769 | |
| Total Votes | 7,769 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Nebraska State Senate District 5 raised a total of $755,372. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $58,106 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Nebraska State Senate District 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $105,058 | 3 | $35,019 |
| 2020 | $190,664 | 1 | $190,664 |
| 2016 | $169,307 | 2 | $84,654 |
| 2012 | $123,758 | 1 | $123,758 |
| 2008 | $87,974 | 3 | $29,325 |
| 2004 | $35,386 | 1 | $35,386 |
| 2000 | $43,225 | 2 | $21,613 |
| Total | $755,372 | 13 | $58,106 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 termlimits.org, "State Legislative Term Limits," accessed February 4, 2021 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "limits" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Nebraska Constitution, "Article III-10," accessed November 4, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Qualifications," accessed May 22, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statutes," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 32.566)
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "LB3 - Set boundaries of legislative districts," accessed September 30, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 All About Redistricting, "Nebraska," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Nebraska State Constitution, "Article III-5," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Election Calendar," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List for general election," accessed August 19, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secetary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed May 16, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Primary Election May 10, 2016," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, “2012 Candidate List for the Primary Election,” accessed December 4, 2013
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," accessed December 4, 2013
- ↑ followthemoney.org, “Nebraska 2012 Senate Candidates," accessed November 26, 2013
