2006 United States Senate election in Nebraska

none March 2026 November 2017 2006 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska presidential no 2000 United States Senate election in Nebraska 2000 2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska 2012 November 7, 2006 150x150px Ben Nelson official photo.jpg Ben Nelson Democratic Party (United States) 378,388 63.88% File:Ricketts, Pete 2013-11-04a.JPG Pete Ricketts Republican Party (United States) 213,928 36.12% 290px County results 290px Precinct results Nelson: #a5b0ffff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0E0496 >90% Ricketts: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No data U.S. Senator Ben Nelson Democratic Party (United States) Ben Nelson Democratic Party (United States) The 2006 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat Ben Nelson won re-election to a second term, easily defeating Republican Pete Ricketts. Nelson won 63.9% of the vote to Ricketts's 36.1%. Ricketts was later appointed in January 2023 to Nebraska's other Senate seat after serving as Governor of Nebraska from 2015 to 2023. This was one of five Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that George W. Bush won in the 2004 presidential election. As of , this remains the last time Democrats won any statewide election in Nebraska. This was the first election since 1978 that the winner was of a different party than the concurrent gubernatorial election. Democratic primary Candidates Ben Nelson, incumbent U.S. Senator Results Democratic primary resultsOfficial Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 9, 2006 John A. Gale https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/2006%20Primary.pdf Ben Nelson (inc.) Democratic Party (United States) 92,501 100.00% 92,501 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Pete Ricketts, former COO of TD Ameritrade Don Stenberg, former Attorney General of Nebraska and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000 David J. Kramer, Former Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party Campaign Since Ricketts was a millionaire, he could finance his own campaign. His opponents could not raise enough money to keep up. Kramer raised $330,000 and Stenberg raised $246,000 in 2005.October 2025 Results thumb|301px|Republican primary results by county #e27f7f Ricketts #ffc8cd 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #5bc75b Stenberg #aae5aa 30–40% #87de87 40–50% #5bc75b 50–60% Republican primary results Pete Ricketts Republican Party (United States) 129,643 48.14% Don Stenberg Republican Party (United States) 96,496 35.83% David J. Kramer Republican Party (United States) 43,185 16.03% 269,324 100.00% General election Candidates Ben Nelson (D), incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R), former COO of TD Ameritrade Campaign The primary election was held May 9, 2006. Pete Ricketts won the Republican nomination with 48% of the vote. Ben Nelson was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Nelson was elected in 2000 by a margin of 51% to 49% after serving as the state's governor for two terms. Nelson, considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, was the lone Democrat in Nebraska's Congressional delegation. This election was one of the most expensive in Nebraska history. In 2005, Ben Nelson raised $3.9 million for his re-election campaign. Pete Ricketts contributed $14.35 million of his own money to his campaign; he raised an additional $485,000 in contributions. The race also attracted national attention and generated several high-level campaign appearances. President George W. Bush appeared at a rally for Ricketts on November 5, 2006, in Grand Island, while then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama appeared at a fundraiser for Nelson and other Nebraska Democrats on May 5, 2006, in Omaha. However, he won re-election by a large margin.October 2025 Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006 https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf The Cook Political Report https://web.archive.org/web/20080605093937/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf September 30, 2021 June 5, 2008 Solid D November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal BallElection Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2006110601/ Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 June 25, 2021 Likely D November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report2006 Senate Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2006-senate-ratings6 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report June 25, 2021 Likely D November 6, 2006 Real Clear PoliticsElection 2006 https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html Real Clear Politics June 25, 2021 Safe D November 6, 2006 Polling Source Date BenNelson (D) PeteRicketts (R)RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20060103021034/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Nebraska%20Senate%20Nov%2023.htm January 3, 2006 November 23, 2005 52% 29%RasmussenRasmussen April 26, 2006 54% 36%RasmussenRasmussen May 13, 2006 54% 35%RasmussenRasmussen July 17, 2006 57% 31%RasmussenRasmussen August 17, 2006 55% 32%RasmussenRasmussen September 26, 2006 55% 32%RasmussenRasmussen October 19, 2006 54% 34% Results 2006 United States Senate election in NebraskaOfficial Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 7, 2006 John A. Gale https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/2006%20General.pdf Democratic Party (United States) Ben Nelson (inc.) 378,388 63.88% +12.88% Republican Party (United States) Pete Ricketts 213,928 36.12% -12.70% 164,460 27.83% +25.65% 590,961 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) By county From CNNU.S. SENATE / NEBRASKA / COUNTY RESULTS https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/NE/S/01/county.000.html live CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20061221143533/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/NE/S/01/county.000.html December 21, 2006 County Ben NelsonDemocratic Pete RickettsRepublican Totalvotes % # % #Adams 67.18%10,22232.82% 4,99315,215Antelope 57.54%1,55642.46% 1,1482,704Arthur 40.60%9559.40%139234Banner 47.85%15652.15%170326Blaine 54.95%15045.05% 123273Boone 65.23%1,66434.77% 8872,551Box Butte 68.23%2,48931.77% 1,1593,648Boyd 63.53%62236.47% 357979Brown 51.09%70648.91% 6761,382Buffalo 56.41%8,36743.59% 6,46614,833Burt 69.49%2,03430.51% 8932,927Butler 73.10%2,52726.90% 9303,457Cass 62.85%5,81937.15% 3,4409,259Cedar 66.34%2,60833.66% 1,3233,931Chase 49.05%79950.95%8301,629Cherry 53.17%1,43646.83% 1,2652,701Cheyenne 46.18%1,45053.82%1,6903,140Clay 64.47%1,66235.53% 9162,578Colfax 69.44%1,94730.56% 8572,804Cuming 63.45%1,95336.55% 1,1253,078Custer 58.88%2,88041.12% 2,0114,891Dakota 69.32%3,26030.68% 1,4434,703Dawes 57.42%1,70642.58% 1,2652,971Dawson 58.66%3,91041.34% 2,7556,665Deuel 48.70%39251.30%413805Dixon 66.54%1,58933.46% 7992,388Dodge 66.70%7,95033.30% 3,96911,919Douglas 65.16%92,13334.84% 49,257141,390Dundy 61.16%57038.84% 362932Fillmore 71.49%1,78028.51% 7102,490Franklin 64.88%94635.12% 5121,458Frontier 65.34%82034.66% 4351,255Furnas 65.55%1,34734.45% 7082,055Gage 72.98%6,45127.02% 2,3888,839Garden 48.45%50051.55%5321,032Garfield 59.09%54340.91% 376919Gosper 62.89%62237.11% 367989Grant 40.85%13459.15%194328Greeley 75.99%80724.01% 2551,062Hall 61.52%10,37138.48% 6,48716,858Hamilton 59.36%2,66040.64% 1,8214,481Harlan 64.63%1,12435.37% 6151,739Hayes 57.09%28242.91% 212494Hitchcock 68.10%82431.90% 3861,210Holt 51.44%2,28848.56% 2,1604,448Hooker 56.23%18543.77% 144329Howard 69.16%1,80330.84% 8042,607Jefferson 71.41%2,26528.59% 9073,172Johnson 75.18%1,36924.82% 4521,821Kearney 58.76%1,61441.24% 1,1332,747Keith 48.79%1,58851.21%1,6673,255Keya Paha 54.50%30345.50% 253556Kimball 46.42%75353.58%8691,622Knox 63.65%2,05436.35% 1,1733,227Lancaster 70.07%60,30929.93% 25,76286,071Lincoln 61.23%7,66438.77% 4,85212,516Logan 52.51%19947.49% 180379Loup 64.36%24235.64% 134376Madison 54.61%5,73045.39% 4,76210,492McPherson 44.83%11755.17%144261Merrick 63.24%1,92336.76% 1,1183,041Morrill 48.48%91251.52%9691,881Nance 71.70%1,20628.30% 4761,682Nemaha 61.79%1,74538.21% 1,0792,824Nuckolls 66.98%1,37533.02% 6782,053Otoe 62.51%3,55037.49% 2,1295,679Pawnee 67.39%83532.61% 4041,239Perkins 52.97%66947.03% 5941,263Phelps 57.90%2,26942.10% 1,6503,919Pierce 55.99%1,37844.01% 1,0832,461Platte 62.97%6,66437.03% 3,91910,583Polk 62.92%1,43237.08% 8442,276Red Willow 70.60%3,01629.40% 1,2564,272Richardson 64.63%2,22635.37% 1,2183,444Rock 54.99%41345.01% 338751Saline 78.78%3,61521.22% 9744,589Sarpy 59.27%24,64040.73% 16,93541,575Saunders 67.62%5,39332.38% 2,5827,975Scotts Bluff 51.98%5,83448.02% 5,38911,223Seward 67.39%3,93032.61% 1,9025,832Sheridan 43.55%82056.45%1,0631,883Sherman 70.99%1,01829.01% 4161,434Sioux 39.85%21660.15%326542Stanton 53.92%1,06746.08% 9121,979Thayer 70.16%1,62729.84% 6922,319Thomas 53.12%17946.88% 158337Thurston 73.89%1,29626.11% 4581,754Valley 61.90%1,29038.10% 7942,084Washington 57.95%4,39442.05% 3,1897,583Wayne 63.90%1,96336.10% 1,1093,072Webster 67.36%1,16432.64% 5641,728Wheeler 65.72%25534.28% 133388York 57.50%3,11842.50% 2,3055,423 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic 25em Burt (largest village: Tekamah) Antelope (largest city: Neligh) Box Butte (largest city: Alliance) Boyd (largest city: Spencer) Brown (largest city: Ainsworth) Buffalo (largest city: Kearney) Butler (largest city: David City) Cherry (largest city: Valentine) Clay (largest city: Sutton) Colfax (largest city: Schuyler) Cuming (largest city: West Point) Custer (largest city: Broken Bow) Dawes (largest city: Chadron) Dawson (largest city: Lexington) Dundy (largest city: Benkelman) Franklin (largest city: Franklin) Frontier (largest city: Curtis) Furnas (largest city: Cambridge) Garfield (largest city: Burwell) Gosper (largest city: Elwood) Grant (largest city: Hyannis) Hamilton (largest city: Aurora) Harlan (largest city: Alma) Hayes (largest city: Palisade) Hitchcock (largest city: Culbertson) Holt (largest city: O'Neill) Hooker (largest city: Mullen) Kearney (largest city: Minden) Keya Paha (largest city: Springview) Knox (largest city: Creighton) Logan (largest city: Stapleton) Loup (largest city: Taylor) Madison (largest city: Norfolk) Merrick (largest city: Central City) Nemaha (largest city: Auburn) Nance (largest city: Fullerton) Nuckolls (largest city: Superior) Boone (largest city: Albion) Perkins (largest city: Grant) Phelps (largest city: Holdrege) Pierce (largest city: Pierce) Platte (largest city: Columbus) Polk (largest city: Stromsburg) Richardson (largest city: Falls City) Rock (largest city: Bassett) Sarpy (largest city: Bellevue) Scotts Bluff (largest city: Scottsbluff) Sherman (largest city: Gordon) Stanton (largest city: Stanton) Thayer (largest city: Hebron) Thomas (largest city: Thedford) Valley (largest city: Ord) Washington (largest city: Blair) Wheeler (largest city: Bartlett) York (largest city: York) 2006 Senatorial General Election Results - Nebraska https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2006&fips=31&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=1 Dave Leip's election atlas2000 Senatorial General Election Results - Nebraska https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=31&off=3&class=1&elect=0&f=0 Dave Leip's election atlas Aftermath Ricketts later was elected governor of Nebraska in 2014 and 2018. In 2023, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the other Nebraska senate seat. He won a special election to that seat in 2024, and is the Republican nominee for re-election in 2026. See also 2006 United States Senate elections References External links Ben Nelson for U.S. Senate (Not Active) Pete Ricketts for U.S. Senate (Inactive) Nebraska Politics Nebraska 2006 Category:2006 Nebraska elections Category:Ricketts family