2016 Nebraska elections

none February 2026 February 2026 2016 Nebraska elections Nebraska Midterm no 2018 2014 The 2016 Nebraska state elections were held on November 8, 2016. Voters elected all three of Nebraska’s representatives to the United States House of Representatives, along with half of the members of the Nebraska Legislature. Elections were also held for seats on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and Board of Regents. Additionally, judicial retention elections took place for the Nebraska Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Workers' Compensation Court, and lower courts. Local district elections were also on the ballot, as was a referendum on repealing the state's death penalty. President of the United States 2016 United States presidential election in Nebraska United States House of Representatives All three of Nebraska's U.S. Representatives ran for re-election. Republicans Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith successfully won re-election, but Democrat Brad Ashford was defeated for re-election. DistrictRepublicanDemocraticOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 189,771 69.45% 83,467 30.55% 0 0.00% 273,238 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 2 141,066 48.93% 137,602 47.73% 9,640 3.34% 288,308 100.0% Republican gainDistrict 3 226,720 100.0% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 226,720 100.0% Republican holdTotal 557,557 70.74% 221,069 28.04% 9,640 1.22% 788,266 100.0% Public Service Commission District 4 Incumbent Commissioner Rod Johnson ran for re-election. He was challenged in the Republican primary by Tammy Cheatum and Dakota Della, but defeated both easily, winning 64% of the vote.Hammel Paul As one incumbent wins comfortably, another must wait Omaha World-Herald 2016-05-11 6A https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166017333/ 2025-02-17 In the general election, Johnson faced no challenger and won uncontested. Republican primary Candidates Rod Johnson, incumbent Public Service Commissioner Tammy Cheatum, high school guidance counselor Dakota Delka, McCook farmer Results Republican primary resultsOfficial Report of the Board of State Canvassers, Primary Election, May 10, 2016 Gale John A. 2016 https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2016/Primary16CanvassBook.pdf Rod Johnson Republican Party (United States) 24,009 63.72% Tammy Cheatum Republican Party (United States) 7,867 20.89% Dakota Delka Republican Party (United States) 4,972 13.19% 36,848 100.00% General election 2016 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 4 electionGale John A. Revised Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers, General Election, November 8, 2016 2016 https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2016/2016-canvass-book.pdf Rod Johnson (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 126,758 100.00% 126,758 100.00% Republican Party (United States) District 5 Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Jerry Vap ran for re-election to another term. He was challenged in the Republican primary by rancher Mary Ridder. Vap campaigned for re-election on his experience, arguing that he was "the most qualified person to serve the citizens of Nebraska on the Public Service Commission," and pointed to his work in upgrading 911 services and expanding broadband internet coverage.Pritchard Erika Commissioner Vap hopes for re-election Kearney Hub 2016-04-22 3A https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub/166018531/ 2025-02-17 Ridder, meanwhile, argued that she would bring a "valuable rural and landowner perspective" to the Commission.Pritchard Erika Ridder points to rural skills for candidacy Kearney Hub 2016-04-23 3A https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub/166018451/ 2025-02-17 The race between Vap and Ridder was too close to call on election night, with Ridder in a slight lead, and produced an automatic recount, which confirmed that she defeated Vap for nomination by 46 votes.Duggan Joe Recount confirms that western Nebraska incumbent lost his seat Omaha World-Herald 2016-06-14 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166019136/ 2025-02-17 In the general election, Ridder faced no challenger and won unopposed. Republican primary Candidates Mary Ridder, rancher Jerry Vap, incumbent Public Service Commissioner Results Republican primary results Mary Ridder Republican Party (United States) 21,925 50.05% Jerry Vap (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 21,879 49.95% 43,804 100.00% General election 2016 Nebraska Public Service Commission, District 5 election Mary Ridder Republican Party (United States) 127,050 100.00% 127,050 100.00% Republican Party (United States) State Board of Education District 1 Incumbent Board member Lillie Larsen declined to run for re-election in the 1st district, which included most of metropolitan Lincoln.Dejka Joe District 1 seat will be filled by one of two retired educators Omaha World-Herald 2016-05-11 8A https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166021149/ 2025-02-17 Two retired educators—Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte and Patricia A. Koch Johns—ran against physician Bob Rauner. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Bohlke-Schulte ran as a Republican, Koch Johns as a Democrat, and Rauner as a "nonpartisan." During the campaign, the candidates agreed on their opposition to charter schools and standardized testing, and the sharpest divide was over comprehensive sex education. Koch Johns and Rauner favored comprehensive sex education, while Bohlke-Schulte opposed it.Dejka Joe Too much testing, District 1 contenders say Omaha World-Herald 2016-04-19 8A https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166021375/ 2025-02-17 Koch Johns and Bohlke-Schulte narrowly defeated Rauner to win first and second place in the nonpartisan primary, and advanced to the general election, where Koch Johns narrowly defeated Bohlke-Schulte, 52-48%, to win her first term on the Board. Candidates Patricia A. Koch Johns, retired teacher Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte, retired school principal, former member of the Grand Island School Board Bob Rauner, physician Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results Patricia A. Koch Johns Nonpartisan candidate 13,679 34.20% Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte Nonpartisan candidate 13,330 33.31% Bob Rauner Nonpartisan candidate 12,657 32.49% 39,666 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Patricia A. Koch Johns Nonpartisan candidate 47,386 52.20% Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte Nonpartisan candidate 43,378 47.80% 90,764 100.00% District 2 Incumbent Board member Glen A. Flint, who was appointed to the Board in 2014 by then-Governor Dave Heineman, ran for re-election to a full term. He was challenged by teacher Lisa Fricke,Cornell Julie 2 educators work to become a part of Board Education District 2 KETV News 2016-11-03 https://www.ketv.com/article/2-educators-work-to-become-a-part-of-board-of-education-district-2/7665412 2025-02-17 who had the support of the Nebraska State Education Association. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Flint ran as a Republican and Fricke as a Democrat.Dejka Joe 2 Democrats backed by teachers union are elected to Nebraska Board of Education Omaha World-Herald 2016-11-08 https://omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/2-democrats-backed-by-teachers-union-are-elected-to-nebraska-board-of-education/article_413e6464-a638-11e6-91d2-33d339829e5f.html 2025-02-17 Fricke outpaced Flint in the nonpartisan primary and then defeated him in a landslide in the general election, winning 65% of the vote. Candidates Lisa Fricke, teacher Glen A. Flint, incumbent Board member Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results Lisa Fricke Nonpartisan candidate 16,324 60.20% Glen A. Flint Nonpartisan candidate 10,786 39.80% 27,110 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Lisa Fricke Nonpartisan candidate 31,384 64.72% Glen A. Flint Nonpartisan candidate 17,111 35.28% 48,495 100.00% District 3 Incumbent Board member Rachel Wise ran for re-election and won another term unopposed. Candidates Rachel Wise, incumbent Board member Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results Rachel Wise Nonpartisan candidate 29,458 100.00% 29,458 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Rachel Wise Nonpartisan candidate 70,797 100.00% 70,797 100.00% District 4 Incumbent Board member John Witzel ran for re-election and was elected unopposed. Candidates John Witzel, incumbent Board member Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results John Witzel Nonpartisan candidate 16,498 100.00% 16,498 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results John Witzel Nonpartisan candidate 57,477 100.00% 57,477 100.00% Board of Regents District 6 Incumbent Regent Kent Schroeder declined to run for re-election. Agribusiness executive Paul Kenney, businesswoman Mary George, and attorney Marsha Fangmeyer ran to succeed him.Duffy Erin Regents candidates cite low tuition as top goal Kearney Hub 2016-04-11 3A https://www.newspapers.com/article/kearney-hub/166023741/ 2025-02-17 In the nonpartisan primary, Kenney placed first and Fangmeyer narrowly defeated George for second place, enabling her to advance to the general election. Kenney defeated Fangmeyer with 58% of the vote. Candidates Paul Kenney, agribusiness executive Marsha E. Fangmeyer, attorney Mary George, businesswoman Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results Paul Kenney Nonpartisan candidate 18,105 43.93% Marsha E. Fangmeyer Nonpartisan candidate 8,769 21.29% Mary George Nonpartisan candidate 8,601 20.88% 35,475 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Paul Kenney Nonpartisan candidate 45,836 57.89% Marsha E. Fangmeyer Nonpartisan candidate 33,357 42.11% 79,193 100.00% District 7 Incumbent Regent Bob Phares ran for re-election and faced no opposition. Candidates Bob Phares, incumbent Regent Primary election results Nonpartisan primary results Bob Phares Nonpartisan candidate 33,549 100.00% 33,549 100.00% General election results Nonpartisan general results Bob Phares Nonpartisan candidate 76,158 100.00% 76,158 100.00% See also Elections in Nebraska Political party strength in Nebraska Nebraska Democratic Party Nebraska Republican Party Government of Nebraska 2022 United States elections References Nebraska