1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska

none March 2026 September 2023 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska presidential no 1990 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1990 2002 United States Senate election in Nebraska 2002 November 5, 1996 150x150px Hagel BioGuide.jpg Chuck Hagel Republican Party (United States) 379,933 56.14% Ben Nelson official photo.jpg Ben Nelson Democratic Party (United States) 281,904 41.65% 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg 300px County results Hagel: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90%Nelson: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator J. James Exon Democratic Party (United States) Chuck Hagel Republican Party (United States) The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson, who later held Nebraska’s other Senate seat from 2001 to 2013, serving alongside Hagel until he retired from the Senate in 2009. As of , this is the last time an incumbent governor failed to hold a Senate seat for his party. This was also the first time since Carl Curtis was elected to his final term in 1972 that a Republican was elected to either of Nebraska's Senate seats.David Karnes was appointed to the Senate seat left vacant following the 1987 death of Democratic Senator Ed Zorinsky but was defeated in his bid for a full term by Democratic candidate and former Governor Bob Kerrey. Democratic primary Candidates Ben Nelson, governor of Nebraska Results Democratic primary resultsMoore Scott Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska 1996 https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1996prim_gen.pdf Ben Nelson Democratic Party (United States) 93,140 96.97% Write-ins Democratic Party (United States) 2,912 3.03% 96,052 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Chuck Hagel, businessman Don Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska Results Republican primary results Chuck Hagel Republican Party (United States) 112,953 62.24% Don Stenberg Republican Party (United States) 67,974 37.46% Write-ins Republican Party (United States) 544 0.30% 181,471 100.00% Libertarian primary Results Libertarian primary results Chuck Hagel (write-in) Libertarian Party (United States) 14 23.33% John DeCamp (write-in) Libertarian Party (United States) 11 18.33% Write-ins Libertarian Party (United States) 35 58.33% 60 100.00% Nomination No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party's nomination, but a primary election was still held, and 60 write-in votes were cast. Of those, 14 votes were cast for Republican Chuck Hagel and 11 for former State Senator John DeCamp. The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers voted 3-2 to certify Hagel as the nominee,Kotok C. David Brennan Joe Hagel Mulls Libertarian Decision Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska June 26, 1996 24 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/166662358/ February 25, 2025 but Hagel ultimately declined the nomination, which then went to DeCamp, who accepted it.Senate campaign begins to heat up Star-Herald Scottsbluff, Nebraska July 31, 1996 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/166664567/ February 25, 2025 Though the Nebraska Republican Party filed a lawsuit seeking to block DeCamp's nomination, the lawsuit was dismissed by a state trial court judge and DeCamp was placed on the ballot.Barrette John State GOP loses bid to remove candidates Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska September 13, 1996 3B https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166664694/ February 25, 2025 General election Candidates John DeCamp (Libertarian), former state senator Bill Dunn (Natural Law) Chuck Hagel (Republican), businessman Ben Nelson (Democratic), governor of Nebraska Results 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska Republican Party (United States) Chuck Hagel 379,933 56.14% +15.21% Democratic Party (United States) Ben Nelson 281,904 41.65% -17.25% Libertarian Party (United States) John DeCamp 9,483 1.40% Natural Law Party (United States) Bill Dunn 4,806 0.71% 663 0.10% — 98,029 14.48% -3.49% 676,958 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) See also 1996 United States Senate elections Notes References Nebraska 1996 Category:1996 Nebraska elections