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2008 United States Senate election in Nebraska
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2008 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in Nebraska 2002 2014 United States Senate election in Nebraska 2014 November 4, 2008 File:Mike Johanns official Senate photo (cropped).jpg 150x150px Mike Johanns Republican Party (United States) 455,854 57.52% File:Scott Kleeb portrait (cropped).jpg Scott Kleeb Democratic Party (United States) 317,456 40.06% 300px County results 300px Precinct results 1 300px Johanns: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Kleeb: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Republican Party (United States) Mike Johanns Republican Party (United States)
The 2008 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Hagel declined to seek a third term. Mike Johanns, the former Governor of Nebraska and United States Secretary of Agriculture, won the Republican primary to succeed him. He faced Scott Kleeb, the 2006 Democratic nominee for NE 3, in the general election and defeated him in a landslide, winning 58% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
Pat Flynn, businessman
Mike Johanns, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and former Governor of Nebraska
Withdrew
Jon Bruning, Attorney General of NebraskaOSKAR GARCIA Associated Press Bruning quits Senate race https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/bruning-quits-senate-race/article_40cd4ec9-f0f3-582a-ba82-93742a71da3e.html 2021-06-16 JournalStar.com en
Hal Daub, former mayor of Omaha and former United States congressman"Hal Daub exits Senate race" http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080918140041/http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10143609 September 18, 2008 , Omaha.com, Retrieved September 29, 2007
Results
Republican primary resultsOfficial Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 13, 2008 John A. Gale https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2008/2008%20primary%20official%20results.pdf
Mike Johanns
Republican Party (United States)
112,191
78.61%
Pat Flynn
Republican Party (United States)
31,560
21.12%
143,751
100.00%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Scott Kleeb, businessman and 2006 Democratic nominee for NE 3Blake Aaron Kleeb to run for Senate https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/941-kleeb-to-run-for-senate/ The Hill 23 March 2025 24 February 2008
Tony Raimondo, Columbus businessmanTysver Robynn Tony Raimondo enters Senate race Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska February 4, 2008 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166665700/ February 25, 2025
Larry Marvin, United States Air Force veteran and 1998 state legislative candidateFremont Democrat files for Senate Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska January 17, 2008 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166665903/ February 25, 2025
James Bryan Wilson, 2007 write-in candidate for Mayor of LincolnTysver Robynn Candidates undaunted in Senate runs Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska May 5, 2008 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166666073/ February 25, 2025
Declined
Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator (1989–2001)Drucker David Kerrey Won’t Run for Senate in 2008 https://rollcall.com/2007/10/24/kerrey-wont-run-for-senate-in-2008/ Roll Call 23 March 2025 24 October 2007
Results
Democratic primary results
Scott Kleeb
Democratic Party (United States)
65,582
68.37%
Tony Raimondo
Democratic Party (United States)
24,141
25.17%
James Bryan Wilson
Democratic Party (United States)
3,224
3.36%
Larry Marvin
Democratic Party (United States)
2,672
2.80%
95,919
100.00%
Green primary
Candidates
Steve Larrick
Results
Green Party primary results
Steve Larrick
Green Party (United States)
123
100.00%
123
100.00%
Nebraska primary
Candidates
Kelly Rosberg
Results
Nebraska Party primary results
Kelly Rosberg
Nebraska Party
209
100.00%
209
100.00%
General election
Predictions
SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 The Cook Political Report April 1, 2021 June 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625160336/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 dead Likely ROctober 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 CQ Politics Likely ROctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Safe RNovember 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html Real Clear Politics August 31, 2021 Likely RSeptember 30, 2008
Polling
Poll Source Dates administered Kleeb JohannsResearch 2000/Daily KosResearch 2000/Daily Kos November 12–14, 2007 28% 59%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 15, 2008 40% 55%Research 2000/Daily KosResearch 2000/Daily Kos May 19–21, 2008 31% 58%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 23, 2008 33% 60%Rasmussen Reports July 28, 2008 34% 60%Rasmussen Reports September 30, 2008 38% 52%
Results
2008 United States Senate election in NebraskaOfficial Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 4, 2008 John A. Gale https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2008/2008%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf
Republican Party (United States)
Mike Johanns
455,854
57.52%
-25.24%
Democratic Party (United States)
Scott Kleeb
317,456
40.06%
+25.42%
Nebraska Party
Kelly Rosberg
11,438
1.44%
—
Green Party (United States)
Steve Larrick
7,763
0.98%
—
138,398
17.46%
-50.67%
792,511
100.00%
Republican Party (United States)
Democratic Party (United States)
By county
From Secretary of State of NebraskaOfficial Results of Nebraska General Election - November 4, 2008 Nebraska Secretary of State https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/sos.nebraska.gov/files/doc/elections/2008/2008%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf
CountyMike Johanns
RepublicanScott Kleeb
DemocraticKelly Renee RosbergNebraskaSteve LarrickGreenTotalvotes %# %# %# %#Adams47.59%6,26350.65%6,6651.09%1430.68%8913,160Antelope66.76%2,12330.91%9831.57%500.75%243,180Arthur72.80%18224.40%612.80%70.00%0250Banner73.96%30124.57%1001.23%50.25%1407Blaine59.68%18837.78%1191.90%60.63%2315Boone60.11%1,70638.23%1,0851.34%380.32%92,838Box Butte60.42%2,96636.20%1,7772.30%1131.08%534,909Boyd59.41%64137.91%4092.22%240.46%51,079Brown65.03%1,00631.42%4862.97%460.58%91,547Buffalo61.86%11,87636.46%7,0001.10%2120.57%11019,198Burt60.61%2,02336.97%1,2341.77%590.66%223,338Butler60.88%2,33637.74%1,4481.09%420.29%113,837Cass62.07%7,41235.25%4,2101.95%2330.73%8711,942Cedar70.75%2,90726.33%1,0822.41%990.51%214,109Chase72.07%1,30826.28%4771.21%220.44%81,815Cherry70.19%2,09325.99%7753.29%980.54%162,982Cheyenne75.04%3,58321.78%1,0402.53%1210.65%314,775Clay58.30%1,77039.86%1,2101.35%410.49%153,036Colfax64.16%2,05733.37%1,0701.87%600.59%193,206Cuming69.70%2,83028.82%1,1701.21%490.27%114,060Custer60.07%3,37338.70%2,1730.89%500.34%195,615Dakota56.58%3,54339.78%2,4913.31%2070.34%216,262Dawes63.59%2,36331.57%1,1733.71%1381.13%423,716Dawson60.15%4,80137.91%3,0261.48%1180.46%377,982Deuel72.52%71022.27%2184.60%450.61%6979Dixon67.76%1,87729.28%8112.53%700.43%122,770Dodge60.89%9,37436.68%5,6471.83%2820.60%9315,396Douglas55.29%123,29942.00%93,6671.38%3,0701.34%2,982223,018Dundy69.90%69925.80%2583.60%360.70%71,000Fillmore54.34%1,61044.38%1,3151.01%300.27%82,963Franklin47.48%73451.03%7890.84%130.65%101,546Frontier62.76%87335.30%4911.44%200.50%71,391Furnas61.50%1,43636.83%8601.28%300.39%92,335Gage48.26%4,90949.93%5,0791.26%1280.55%5610,172Garden74.73%83122.30%2482.43%270.54%61,112Garfield55.11%56643.33%4451.46%150.10%11,027Gosper60.99%64137.49%3941.43%150.10%11,051Grant71.39%25725.28%913.06%110.28%1360Greeley43.28%52255.22%6661.41%170.08%11,206Hall53.80%11,39844.46%9,4191.14%2410.61%12921,187Hamilton60.79%2,90538.17%1,8240.71%340.33%164,779Harlan57.18%1,00741.11%7241.53%270.17%31,761Hayes64.07%35333.03%1822.18%120.73%4551Hitchcock60.57%82536.86%5021.84%250.73%101,362Holt66.08%3,27131.72%1,5701.68%830.53%264,950Hooker67.98%29330.16%1301.86%80.00%0431Howard50.82%1,52347.35%1,4191.33%400.50%152,997Jefferson52.33%1,93545.81%1,6941.16%430.70%263,698Johnson49.98%1,05548.03%1,0141.47%310.52%112,111Kearney59.96%1,88838.68%1,2181.05%330.32%103,149Keith70.09%2,76327.52%1,0851.90%750.48%193,942Keya Paha63.01%32734.68%1801.54%80.77%4519Kimball70.19%1,24326.14%4632.94%520.73%131,771Knox62.83%2,52433.48%1,3453.06%1230.62%254,017Lancaster48.14%60,80549.42%62,4210.84%1,0641.60%2,024126,314Lincoln58.24%9,45439.68%6,4421.47%2390.61%9916,234Logan66.59%27332.44%1330.49%20.49%2410Loup55.61%21843.88%1720.00%00.51%2392Madison66.02%9,18230.56%4,2502.65%3690.77%10713,908McPherson69.55%20126.64%773.46%100.35%1289Merrick59.26%2,02339.37%1,3440.94%320.44%153,414Morrill69.29%1,62727.43%6442.51%590.77%182,348Nance55.37%95343.17%7430.93%160.52%91,721Nemaha61.60%2,11936.37%1,2511.66%570.38%133,440Nuckolls55.28%1,23143.06%9591.12%250.54%122,227Otoe58.26%4,11139.64%2,7971.42%1000.68%487,056Pawnee55.68%76542.07%5781.46%200.80%111,374Perkins70.53%99327.84%3921.21%170.43%61,408Phelps68.05%3,05830.97%1,3920.73%330.24%114,494Pierce70.99%2,25925.93%8252.39%760.69%223,182Platte68.78%9,16329.40%3,9171.38%1840.44%5913,323Polk62.19%1,57936.71%9320.83%210.28%72,539Red Willow65.02%3,26932.98%1,6581.51%760.50%255,028Richardson63.25%2,47734.01%1,3322.40%940.33%133,916Rock59.24%46539.11%3071.66%130.00%0785Saline40.81%2,13957.45%3,0111.07%560.67%355,241Sarpy64.61%43,11632.96%21,9941.58%1,0520.85%56966,731Saunders61.62%6,26636.00%3,6601.58%1610.80%8110,168Scotts Bluff63.01%9,26234.81%5,1171.61%2370.57%8414,700Seward56.61%4,25741.72%3,1371.04%780.64%487,520Sheridan74.63%1,82119.55%4774.88%1190.94%232,440Sherman37.50%58260.76%9430.84%130.90%141,552Sioux72.61%51725.28%1801.69%120.42%3712Stanton71.51%1,76225.65%6322.27%560.57%142,464Thayer52.50%1,30345.93%1,1401.17%290.40%102,482Thomas61.66%23835.75%1382.07%80.52%2386Thurston52.55%1,04141.29%8185.20%1030.96%191,981Valley55.40%1,34343.03%1,0431.16%280.41%102,424Washington65.47%6,65831.76%3,2301.99%2020.79%8010,170Wayne69.38%2,62628.06%1,0621.88%710.69%263,785Webster46.57%84951.51%9391.21%220.71%131,823Wheeler57.58%24740.56%1741.17%50.70%3429York65.56%4,30033.28%2,1830.82%540.34%226,559
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Lancaster (largest city: Lincoln)
Saline (largest city: Crete)
Greeley (largest city: Spalding)
Sherman (largest city: Loup City)
Gage (largest city: Beatrice)
Webster (largest city: Red Cloud)
Franklin (largest city: Franklin)
Adams (largest city: Hastings)
See also
2008 United States Senate elections
References
External links
Elections from the Nebraska Secretary of State
U.S. Congress candidates for Nebraska https://web.archive.org/web/20081024044023/http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NE&go33.x=7&go33.y=10 October 24, 2008 at Project Vote Smart
Nebraska, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
Nebraska U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
Nebraska U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
Johanns (R) vs Kleeb (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
Official campaign websites (Archived)
Mike Johanns, Republican nominee
Scott Kleeb, Democratic nominee
Steve Larrick, Green nominee
Nebraska
2008
Category:2008 Nebraska elections