Nebraska’s governor’s race is the most contested election in the state this year. Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) is term-limited and both parties are hosting contested primaries. The winner of the Republican primary is likely to be favored in November – President Donald Trump won Nebraska by 19 points in 2020.
Governor
The Republican primary will be another test of Trump’s influence in Nebraska. Trump-endorsed businessman Charles Herbster, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault, faces a long list of challengers, including University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents member Jim Pillen, who was endorsed by Ricketts. On the Democratic side, state Sen. Carol Blood has just one challenger, Roy Harris.
Republican primary
Republican primary
Pillen is projected to win. An estimated 97 percent of votes have been counted.
Votes received and percentages of total vote
Candidate
Votes
Pct.
Jim Pillen Pillen
91,152
33.9%
Charles Herbster Herbster
80,369
29.9%
Brett Lindstrom Lindstrom
70,166
26.1%
Theresa Thibodeau Thibodeau
16,354
6.1%
Breland Ridenour Ridenour
4,666
1.7%
Michael Connely Connely
2,818
1.0%
Donna Carpenter Carpenter
1,529
0.6%
Lela McNinch McNinch
1,188
0.4%
Troy Wentz Wentz
707
0.3%
Show more candidates
An estimated 97% of votes have been counted.
Omaha
Lincoln
Kearney
Scottsbluff
North Platte
Norfolk
LEAD/WON
Herbster
Pillen
Lindstrom
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
Blood is projected to win. An estimated 98 percent of votes have been counted.
Votes received and percentages of total vote
Candidate
Votes
Pct.
Carol Blood Blood
88,189
88.7%
Roy Harris Harris
11,191
11.3%
An estimated 98% of votes have been counted.
Omaha
Lincoln
Kearney
Scottsbluff
North Platte
Norfolk
LEAD/WON
Blood
Harris
U.S. House Districts
All three of Nebraska’s congressional districts have contested primaries on both sides. In the state’s 1st District, voters will choose a replacement for former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R), who resigned in March after being found guilty of lying to the FBI. Fortenberry’s resignation came after the withdrawal deadline, so he remains on the ballot.
The Post estimated the lean of 2022 congressional districts using 2020 presidential results by precinct from Decision Desk HQ and estimates where actual votes at the precinct level were unavailable. Districts classified as ‘Strong Biden’ and ‘Strong Trump’ show where a candidate is estimated to have won by 15 percentage points or more. ‘Lean Biden’ and ‘Lean Trump’ districts had estimated vote margins between five and 15 points. ‘Close’ districts show an estimated margin within five points.
