Nebraska state legislative special elections, 2022
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In 2022, one special election was called to fill a vacant seat in the Nebraska State Legislature.
Click here to read more about the special election.
Senate special elections called:
- District 31: November 8
How vacancies are filled in Nebraska
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.[1]
See sources: Nebraska Rev. Stat. §32-566
About the legislature
The Nebraska State Senate forms the legislative branch of the Nebraska state government and works alongside the governor of Nebraska to create laws and establish a state budget. It is unique in that it is the only state legislature in the country that is unicameral. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Nebraska State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the most recent general elections prior to 2022. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).
| Nebraska State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 18 | 17 | |
| Republican Party | 30 | 32 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 49 | |
Special elections
Click [show] to the right of the district name for more information:
November 8, 2022
| Nebraska State Senate District 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A special election for Nebraska State Senate District 31 was called for November 8, 2022. The candidate filing deadline was September 1, 2022.[2] The seat became vacant after the death of Rich Pahls (R) on April 27, 2022.[3] Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) appointed Kathleen Kauth (R) to the state Senate on June 7, 2022, to replace Pahls.[4] Kauth and Tim Royers filed to run in the special election.[5] General electionSpecial general election for Nebraska State Senate District 31Incumbent Kathleen Kauth defeated Tim Royers in the special general election for Nebraska State Senate District 31 on November 8, 2022.
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= candidate completed the Special elections throughout the country
In 2022, 54 state legislative special elections were scheduled in 24 states. Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 74 special elections took place each year.
Breakdown of 2022 special elections
In 2022, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:
- 21 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 24 due to resignation
- 9 due to the death of the incumbent
Impact of special elections on partisan composition
The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:
- 36 Democratic seats
- 18 Republican seats
The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2022. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections.
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.
| Partisan Change from Special Elections (2022) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Special Election | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 36 | 36 | |
| Republican Party | 18 | 18 | |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 54 | 54 | |
Flipped seats
In 2022, two seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.
Seats flipped from D to R
- Montana State Senate District 39 (November 8)
Seats flipped from R to D
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2022
- State legislative special elections, 2021
- State legislative special elections, 2020
- Nebraska State Legislature
Footnotes
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statutes," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 32.566)
- ↑ www.knopnews2.com, "Nebraskans pay tribute to State Sen. Rich Pahls," April 27, 2022
- ↑ Beaumont Enterprise, "Nebraska state Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha dies at 78," accessed April 29, 2022
- ↑ Office of Governor Pete Ricketts, "Gov. Ricketts Appoints Kathleen Kauth as Senator for Legislative District 31," June 7, 2022
- ↑ NCW Life Channel, "Two candidates make the ballot for Omaha legislative district," September 13, 2022
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