Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

2010 elections in Nebraska:  Ballot measures Governor Lt. Gov Attorney General Secretary of State State Senate

Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

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Qualifications • Campaign contributions
Competitiveness analysis

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State Legislative Election Results

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List of candidates District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38 • District 40 • District 42 • District 44 • District 46 • District 48

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Nebraska State Senate

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senator were held in Nebraska on November 2, 2010.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 15, 2010, and the primary Election Day was May 11, 2010.

Half of the Senate was up for election, and of those 24 districts, incumbents ran for re-election in 21 of them. Of the remaining three districts, one incumbent was ineligible to run because of term limits.

State legislative elections in Nebraska are nonpartisan. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary election go on to face each other in the general election.[1]

See also: Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral) and State legislative elections, 2010

## November 2 General Election Results[edit]

The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:

1. Tyson Larson
2. John Harms
3. Danielle Conrad
4. Thomas Hansen (Nebraska)
5. Mark Christensen
6. Russ Karpisek
7. John Wightman
8. Norm Wallman
9. Tom Carlson (Nebraska)
10. Bill Avery
11. Greg Adams (Nebraska)
12. Paul Schumacher (Nebraska)
13. Scott Lautenbaugh
14. Annette Dubas
15. Jim Smith (Nebraska)
16. Lydia Brasch
17. Burke Harr
18. Pete Pirsch
19. Dave Pankonin
20. Steve Lathrop
21. Bob Krist
22. Paul Lambert (Nebraska)
23. Amanda McGill Johnson
24. Brad Ashford
25. John Nelson (Nebraska)

## Term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Nebraska State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since Nebraska voters approved Initiative 415 (2000). Under the terms of Initiative 415, Nebraska's senators can serve no more than two consecutive 4-year terms in the state senate.

There are 49 Nebraska State Senators. In 2010, only one who was a current member was ineligible to run for the senate again:

* Arnie Stuthman

## Campaign contributions[edit]

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state senate campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for State Senate in Nebraska in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[2]

Year  | Number of candidates  | Total contributions

|
|

2010  | 51  | $1,597,466
2008  | 74  | $3,009,798
2006  | 83  | $3,036,539
2004  | 56  | $1,416,405
2002  | 53  | $1,346,267

In 2010, the candidates for State Senate raised a total of $1,597,466 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[3]

Donor  | Amount

|

Nebraska Education Association  | $80,347
Union Pacific Railroad  | $67,500
Nebraska Bankers Association  | $66,682
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry  | $61,584
Nebraska Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors  | $53,643
Nebraska Realtors Association  | $49,850
Nebraska Optometric Association  | $49,242
Nebraska State AFL-CIO  | $37,929
Associated General Contractors of Nebraska  | $37,765
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys  | $35,500

## Incumbency[edit]

### Unopposed incumbents[edit]

Eight incumbents (33.33%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election and were thus guaranteed re-election in November.

### Primary challenges[edit]

Thirteen incumbents faced competition in the May 11 primary. All 13 incumbents won their primaries.

### Retiring incumbents[edit]

Three incumbent senators were not running for re-election, while 21 incumbents (87.5%) ran for re-election.

Incumbents who are retiring are:

* District 8: Tom White.
* District 14: Tim Gay.
* District 22: Arnie Stuthman. - Ineligible due to term limits.

## Qualifications[edit]

To be eligible to serve in the Nebraska Senate, a candidate must be:[4]

* At least 21 years of age
* 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
* Must not have ever been convicted of a felony

## List of candidates

Partisan dominance in state senates
heading into the 2010 state legislative elections

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### District 2[edit]

2010 State senate elections

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AL • AK • AR • AR • CA • CO • CT • DE • FL • GA • HI • ID • IL • IN • IA • KY • ME • MD • MA • MI • MN • MO • MT • NE • NV • NH • NY • NC • ND • OH • OK • OR • PA • RI • SD • TN • TX • UT • VT • WA • WV • WI • WY

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Parties with candidates
Impact of term limits
Successful challengers
Defeated incumbents
State house elections
State senate elections
State legislative elections

May 11 primary result:

* Dave Pankonin: 3,354 a Incumbent Pankonin was first elected in 2006.
* Nate Louderback: 989 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Dave Pankonin 6,853
Nate Louderback 2,183

### District 4[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Pete Pirsch: 2939 a Incumbent Pirsch was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
Pete Pirsch 8,538

### District 6[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* John Nelson: 2,023 a Incumbent Nelson was first elected in 2006.
* Todd Frazier: 651 a
* George Westphal: 451

November 2 General election candidates:
John Nelson 5,031
Todd Frazier 2,896

### District 8[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Burke Harr: 862 a
* John Comstock: 655 a
* Richard Ream: 589

Note: Incumbent Tom White did not seek re-election.

November 2 General election candidates:
Burke Harr 3,257
John Comstock 3,101

### District 10[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Robert "Bob" Krist: 1,391 a Incumbent Krist was first elected in 2009.
* Tim Lonergan: 1,166 a
* Larry Bradley: 392

November 2 General election candidates:
Robert "Bob" Krist 3,884
Tim Lonergan 3,829

### District 12[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Steve Lathrop: 1,909 a Incumbent Lathrop was first elected in 2006.
* John Lillis: 959 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Steve Lathrop 6,074
John Lillis Note: Lillis did not appear on the general election ballot.

### District 14[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Jim Smith: 1,544 a
* Teresa Whitehead: 1,527 a
* Don Todd: 271
* Ian Hartfield: 440

Note: Incumbent Tim Gay did not seek re-election in 2010.

November 2 General election candidates:
Jim Smith 6,203
Teresa Whitehead 4,995

### District 16[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Kent Rogert: 2,495 a Incumbent Rogert was first elected in 2006.
* Lydia Brasch: 2,268 a
* Debra Bosshart: 968

November 2 General election candidates:
Kent Rogert 4,300
Lydia Brasch 4,796

### District 18[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Scott Lautenbaugh: 2,716 a Incumbent Lautenbaugh was first elected in 2007.
* Carl Lorenzen: 2,112 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Scott Lautenbaugh 7,691
Carl Lorenzen 5,505

### District 20[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Brad Ashford: 3,143 a Incumbent Ashford was first elected in 1986.

November 2 General election candidates:
Brad Ashford 7,690

### District 22[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Paul Schumacher: 1,877 a
* Mike Moser: 1,873 a
* Rebecca Rayman: 1,257
* Roy Zach: 535

Note: Incumbent Arnie Stuthman did not seek re-election in 2010.

November 2 General election candidates:
Paul Schumacher 4,974
Mike Moser 4,558

### District 24[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Greg Adams: 4,666 a Incumbent Adams was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
Greg Adams 8,385

### District 26[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Amanda McGill: 5,455 a Incumbent McGill was first elected in 2006.
* Tom Dierks: 2,345 a
* Bob Van Valkenburg: 806

November 2 General election candidates:
Amanda McGill 4,621
Tom Dierks 4,169

### District 28[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Bill Avery: 4,644 a Incumbent Avery was first elected in 2006.
* Nancy Russell: 2,518 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Bill Avery 4,831
Nancy Russell 2,474

### District 30[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Norm Wallman: 3,575 a Incumbent Wallman was first elected in 2006.
* John Knabe: 2,142 a
* Robert Tiemann: 2,033

November 2 General election candidates:
Norm Wallman 6,375
John Knabe 5,736

### District 32[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Russ Karpisek: 4,495 a Incumbent Karpisek was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
Russ Karpisek 7,642

### District 34[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Annette Dubas: 4,690 a Incumbent Dubas was first elected in 2006.
* Brandon Hunnicutt: 2,150 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Annette Dubas 8,021
Brandon Hunnicutt 2,174

### District 36[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* John Wightman 4,265 a Incumbent Wightman was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
John Wightman 6,734

### District 38[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Tom Carlson 899 a Incumbent Carlson was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
Tom Carlson 9,396

### District 40[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Tyson Larson: 3,002 a
* Merton Dierks: 2,769 a Incumbent Dierks was first elected in 1986.
* Adam Dea: 260

November 2 General election candidates:
Tyson Larson 5,583
Merton Dierks 5,085

### District 42[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Thomas Hansen: 4,494 a Incumbent Hansen was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
Thomas Hansen 8,673

### District 44[edit]

* Mark Christensen: 4,615 a Incumbent Christensen was first elected in 2006.
* Thomas Baker: 2,818 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Mark Christensen 7,267
Thomas Baker 4,758

### District 46[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* Danielle Nantkes Conrad: 2,092 a Incumbent Conrad was first elected in 2007.
* Chad Wright: 1,938 a

November 2 General election candidates:
Danielle Nantkes Conrad 2,259
Chad Wright 2,174

### District 48[edit]

May 11 primary result:

* John Harms: 4,537 a Incumbent Harms was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:
John Harms 7,644

## See also[edit]

* Nebraska State Senate (Unicameral)
* State legislative elections, 2010
* Primary election dates in 2010

## External links[edit]

* Official General Election Results, 2010
* November 2, 2010 general election results
* List of 2010 candidates for Nebraska Legislature (dead link)
* May 11, 2010 primary election results
* Nebraska Democratic Party's list of 2010 candidates, including endorsed nonpartisan legislative candidates (dead link)
* Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Nebraska State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Nebraska Legislature - History of the Nebraska Unicameral
2. ↑ Follow the Money, Nebraska
3. ↑ Follow the Money: "Nebraska Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
4. ↑ Qualifications to serve in the Nebraska Legislature

[show]

Current members of the Nebraska State Senate

Senators

District 1

Julie Slama (R)

District 2

Robert Clements (R)

District 3

Carol Blood (D)

District 4

Bob Hilkemann (R)

District 5

Mike McDonnell (D)

District 6

Machaela Cavanaugh (D)

District 7

Tony Vargas (D)

District 8

Megan Hunt (D)

District 9

John Cavanaugh (D)

District 10

Wendy DeBoer (D)

District 11

Terrell McKinney (D)

District 12

Steve Lathrop (D)

District 13

Justin Wayne (D)

District 14

John Arch (R)

District 15

Lynne Walz (D)

District 16

Ben Hansen (R)

District 17

Joni Albrecht (R)

District 18

Brett Lindstrom (R)

District 19

Mike Flood (R)

District 20

John McCollister (R)

District 21

Mike Hilgers (R)

District 22

Mike Moser (R)

District 23

Bruce Bostelman (R)

District 24

Mark Kolterman (R)

District 25

Suzanne Geist (R)

District 26

Matt Hansen (D)

District 27

Anna Wishart (D)

District 28

Patty Brooks (D)

District 29

Eliot Bostar (D)

District 30

Myron Dorn (R)

District 31

Vacant

District 32

Tom Brandt (R)

District 33

Steve Halloran (R)

District 34

Curt Friesen (R)

District 35

Raymond Aguilar (R)

District 36

Matt Williams (R)

District 37

John Lowe (R)

District 38

Dave Murman (R)

District 39

Lou Linehan (R)

District 40

Timothy Gragert (R)

District 41

Tom Briese (R)

District 42

Michael Jacobson (R)

District 43

Tom Brewer (R)

District 44

Dan Hughes (R)

District 45

Rita Sanders (R)

District 46

Adam Morfeld (D)

District 47

Steve Erdman (R)

District 48

John Stinner (R)

District 49

Jen Day (D)

Republican Party (31)

Democratic Party (17)

Vacancies (1)