1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska

none March 2026 September 2017 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska presidential no 1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1972 1984 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1984 November 7, 1978 File:1979 p80 J James Exon (cropped).jpg 150x150px J. James Exon Democratic Party (United States) 334,276 67.62% 3x4.svg Donald Shasteen Republican Party (United States) 159,806 32.33% 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg 300px County resultsExon: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Shasteen: #e27f7f 50–60% U.S. Senator Carl Curtis Republican Party (United States) J. James Exon Democratic Party (United States) The 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican Senator Carl Curtis declined to seek re-election to a fifth term. Governor J. James Exon won the Democratic nomination uncontested and then faced Republican Donald Shasteen, an aide to Senator Curtis, in the general election. Despite nationwide Republican gains, Exon defeated Shasteen in a landslide, picking up the seat. Exon's victory made him the first Democrat to ever win the Class II Senate seat, and the first non-Republican to do so since George W. Norris's victory as an independent in 1936. Democratic primary Candidates J. James Exon, Governor of Nebraska Results Democratic primary resultsBeermann Allen J. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska 1978 https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1978prim_gen.pdf J. J. Exon Democratic Party (United States) 127,142 99.35% Write-ins Democratic Party (United States) 828 0.65% 127,970 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Don Shasteen, aide to outgoing Senator Carl CurtisShasteen Runs For Senate Gering Courier Gering, Nebraska January 12, 1978 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gering-courier/166657643/ February 25, 2025 Lenore Etchison, perennial candidateState Filing Deadline Brings More Hopefuls Star-Herald Scottsbluff, Nebraska March 11, 1978 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/166657745/ February 25, 2025 Results Republican primary results Don Shasteen Republican Party (United States) 129,525 78.68% Lenore Etchison Republican Party (United States) 34,916 21.21% Write-ins Republican Party (United States) 174 0.11% 164,615 100.00% General election 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska Democratic Party (United States) J. James Exon 334,276 67.62% +20.85% Republican Party (United States) Donald Shasteen 159,806 32.33% -20.76% 286 0.06% — 174,470 35.29% +28.97% 494,368 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) See also 1978 United States Senate elections References Nebraska 1978 Category:1978 Nebraska elections