2012 Nebraska elections

none February 2026 February 2026 2012 Nebraska elections Nebraska Midterm no 2014 2010 The 2012 Nebraska state elections took place on November 6, 2012. At the federal level, voters elected a member of the United States Senate and three members of the United States House of Representatives. At the state level, half of the seats in the Nebraska Legislature were on the ballot, as well as positions on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and Board of Regents. Voters also cast ballots in judicial retention elections and on four separate constitutional amendments. United States Senate 2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska Incumbent Democratic Senator Ben Nelson declined to seek re-election to a third term. Republican Deb Fischer won the Republican primary to succeed him over Attorney General Jon Bruning and State Treasurer Don Stenberg. In the general election, she faced former Senator Bob Kerrey, and defeated him with 58% of the vote, picking up the seat for Republicans. 2012 United States Senate election in NebraskaGale John A. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 6, 2012 2012 https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2012/2012-general-canvass.pdf Republican Party (United States) Deb Fischer 455,593 57.77% +21.65% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Kerrey 332,979 42.23% -21.65% 122,614 22.69% -5.07% 540,337 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) United States House of Representatives 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska Incumbent Republican Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry of the 1st district, Lee Terry of the 2nd district, and Adrian Smith of the 3rd district ran for re-election. All three ultimately won re-election. Public Service Commission District 1 Incumbent Commissioner Frank Landis ran for re-election, and faced no opposition in either the Republican primary or general election. Republican primary Candidates Frank Landis, incumbent Public Service Commissioner Results Republican primary resultsGale John A. Official Report of the State Board of Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 15, 2012 2012 https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2012/canvass-report-2012-primary.pdf Frank Landis Republican Party (United States) 27,989 100.00% 27,989 100.00% General election 2012 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 1 electionGale John A. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 6, 2012 2012 https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2012/2012-general-canvass.pdf Frank Landis (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 114,289 100.00% 114,289 100.00% Republican Party (United States) District 3 Incumbent Commissioner Tim Schram ran for re-election, and faced no opposition in either the Republican primary or general election. Republican primary Candidates Tim Schram, incumbent Public Service Commissioner Results Republican primary results Tim Schram Republican Party (United States) 27,975 100.00% 27,975 100.00% General election 2012 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 3 election Tim Schram (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 133,590 100.00% 133,590 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Board of Education District 1 Incumbent Board member Bob Evnen declined to seek a second full term. Lillie Larsen, a former member of the Lincoln Board of Education, and Robert Van Valkenburg, a consultant, ran to replace him. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Larsen was a Democrat and Van Valkenburg was a Republican.Ed Board candidates advance https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166238908/ February 20, 2025 May 16, 2012 A6 Lincoln Journal Star Larsen defeated Van Valkenburg in a landslide, winning 67% of the vote in the primary and then 69% of the vote in the general election.Reist Margaret Ex-school board member headed to State Ed Board https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166297830/ February 20, 2025 November 7, 2012 A6 Lincoln Journal Star Candidates Lillie Larsen, former Lincoln Board of Education member Bob Van Valkenburg, consultant Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Lillie Larsen Nonpartisan candidate 22,388 67.06% Bob Van Valkenburg Nonpartisan candidate 10,997 32.94% 33,385 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Lillie Larsen Nonpartisan candidate 54,982 69.12% Bob Van Valkenburg Nonpartisan candidate 24,555 30.88% 79,537 100.00% District 2 Incumbent Board member Mark Quandahl was unopposed for re-election.Dejka Joe 4 candidates seek 2 openings on State Board of Education https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166298173/ February 20, 2025 October 7, 2012 5B Omaha World-Herald Candidates Mark Quandahl, incumbent Board member Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Mark Quandahl (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 23,610 100.00% 23,610 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Mark Quandahl (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 73,212 100.00% 73,212 100.00% District 3 Incumbent Board member Jim Scheer opted to run for the state legislature rather than seek re-election. Rachel Wise, a former school administrator, and the chief operating officer of an education nonprofit, and Tom Schommer, a businessman who owned a wireless communications company, both ran to succeed Scheer. Wise, a Democrat, campaigned on supporting local control, reevaluating standardized testing requirements, and strengthening teacher preparation efforts, while Schommer emphasized that, as an outsider "not from the education industry," he had "no vested interest or agenda in running for the office, other than just improving achievement levels for kids." Schommer placed first in the primary election, but in the general, Wise defeated him with 56% of the vote. Candidates Rachel Wise, former school administrator and executive director of Building Bright Futures Tom Schommer, businessman Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Tom Schommer Nonpartisan candidate 16,702 54.32% Rachel Wise Nonpartisan candidate 14,046 45.68% 30,748 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Rachel Wise Nonpartisan candidate 43,521 56.37% Tom Schommer Nonpartisan candidate 33,706 43.63% 77,227 100.00% District 4 Incumbent Board member Rebecca Valdez was unopposed for re-election. Candidates Rebecca Valdez, incumbent Board member Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Rebecca Valdez (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 16,781 100.00% 16,781 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Rebecca Valdez (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 52,557 100.00% 52,557 100.00% Board of Regents District 3 Incumbent Regent Chuck Hassebrook opted to 2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska#run for the U.S. Senate rather than seek re-election. Veterinarian Jim Pillen, who also owned his family's pork business;Yowell Paige Columbus veterinarian seeks NU Regents seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166299307/ February 20, 2025 February 25, 2012 2B Omaha World-Herald attorney David Couple;Reed Leslie Lawyer David Couple seeks NU regent's seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166299355/ February 20, 2025 February 22, 2012 5B Omaha World-Herald and manufacturing executive Tony Raimondo Jr. all ran to succeed him.Abourzek Kevin Raimondo seeks regents seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166299250/ February 20, 2025 March 2, 2012 B2 Lincoln Journal Star During the campaign, Pillen and Copple were endorsed by Nebraskans United for Life and Nebraska Right to Life, two pro-life groups that were opposed to embryonic stem cell research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, while Raimondo was recommended by Research Nebraska, which supported continuing the research.Reed Leslie Regents race outcome may alter NU stem cell research https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166299567/ February 20, 2025 May 12, 2012 1A, 2A Omaha World-Herald Pillen placed first in the primary election, winning 46% of the vote, and advanced to the general election against Copple, who won 28%. Pillen overwhelmingly defeated Copple, winning 64% of the vote in the general election. Candidates Jim Pillen, veterinarian and businessman David Copple, Norfolk attorney Tony Raimondo Jr., manufacturing executive Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Jim Pillen Nonpartisan candidate 18,095 45.78% David Copple Nonpartisan candidate 10,882 27.54% Tony Raimondo, Jr. Nonpartisan candidate 5,958 15.08% 39,935 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Jim Pillen Nonpartisan candidate 50,339 64.19% David Copple Nonpartisan candidate 28,083 35.81% 78,422 100.00% District 4 Incumbent Regent Bob Whitehouse ran for re-election to a second term.Reed Leslie NU Regent Whitehouse will seek a second term https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166299567/ February 20, 2025 January 18, 2012 4B Omaha World-Herald He was challenged by Larry Bradley, an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha and a member of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District board.University of Nebraska Board of Regents Races https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166299905/ February 20, 2025 October 14, 2012 5B Omaha World-Herald During the campaign, Bradley, a Democrat, attacked the Board of Regents for cutting back on football and wrestling programs at UNO,Reed Leslie Daub and Ashford to face off in the fall https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166300186/ February 20, 2025 May 16, 2012 2A Omaha World-Herald and filed a public records request for records related to the cancellations.Burbach Christopher Regent candidate seeking UNO records https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166300394/ February 20, 2025 September 5, 2012 6B Omaha World-Herald The controversy over the stem cell research emerged during the campaign, with Whitehouse supported by the pro-research groups and Bradley by the pro-life groups. Whitehouse defeated Bradley with 54% of the vote in the primary and with 55% of the vote in the general election. Candidates Bob Whitehouse, incumbent Board member Larry Bradley, member of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District board, adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Bob Whitehouse (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 10,271 54.44% Larry Bradley Nonpartisan candidate 8,602 45.56% 18,873 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Bob Whitehouse (inc.) Nonpartisan candidate 31,801 55.19% Larry Bradley Nonpartisan candidate 25,818 44.81% 57,619 100.00% District 5 Incumbent Regent Jim McClurg declined to seek re-election. State Senator Lavon Heidemann, insurance company owner Mike Jones, and former Regent Robert Prokop ran to succeed him.Reed Leslie Candidates push similar agendas https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166300679/ February 20, 2025 May 5, 2012 4B Omaha World-Herald During the campaign, pro-life groups endorsed Heidemann and Prokop, while the pro-research group recommended Jones. In the primary election, Heidemann placed first with 46% of the vote and advanced to the general election with Jones, who won 33% of the vote. Heidemann ultimately defeated Jones by a narrow margin, winning 53% of the vote in the general election. Candidates Lavon Heidemann, State Senator Mike Jones, insurance company owner Robert J. Prokop, former Regent Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Lavon Heidemann Nonpartisan candidate 15,291 45.50% Mike Jones Nonpartisan candidate 11,019 32.79% Robert J. Prokop Nonpartisan candidate 7,283 21.71% 33,593 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Lavon Heidemann Nonpartisan candidate 41,974 52.52% Mike Jones Nonpartisan candidate 37,907 47.48% 79,881 100.00% District 8 Incumbent Regent Randy Ferlic declined to seek re-election. A crowded field emerged to replace him, with former Omaha Mayor and Congressman Hal Daub; attorney Ann Ferlic Ashford, the daughter of Ferlic and wife of State Senator Brad Ashford; investment banker Mark Lakers, who was the original Democratic nominee for Governor in 2010 before dropping out after a campaign finance scandal; and businessman Carl Jennings all running.Reed Leslie Big names vying for regents seat https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166301188/ February 20, 2025 April 26, 2012 1B, 2B Omaha World-Herald Lakers, a Democrat, was supported by the pro-life groups opposed to stem-cell research, while the pro-research group recommended Daub and Ashford, who were Republicans. Daub won the primary election by a wide margin, winning 47% of the vote, while Ashford won 30% of the vote and advanced to the general election. Daub centered his campaign on improving the quality of classroom instruction, maintaining affordable tuition, and establishing partnerships with private companies, while Ashford campaigned in support of cost-effective tuition and ensuring that on-time graduation rates increased. Daub ultimately narrowly defeated Ashford, winning 53% of the vote. Candidates Hal Daub, former Mayor of Omaha, former Congressman Ann Ferlic Ashford, attorney Carl Jennings, businessman Mark Lakers, investment banker Primary election results Nonpartisan primary result Hal Daub Nonpartisan candidate 15,768 46.66% Ann Ferlic Ashford Nonpartisan candidate 9,972 29.50% Carl Jennings Nonpartisan candidate 3,133 9.27% Mark Lakers Nonpartisan candidate 2,561 7.58% 33,434 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Hal Daub Nonpartisan candidate 50,498 52.63% Ann Ferlic Ashford Nonpartisan candidate 45,452 47.37% 95,950 100.00% References 2 Category:2012 Nebraska elections Nebraska