2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska
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 County results Ricketts: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Love: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Nebraska |
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 Government |
The 2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the Class 2 member of the United States Senate from Nebraska, to complete the term of Ben Sasse, who resigned on January 8, 2023, to become the president of the University of Florida.[1] On January 12, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Republican former governor Pete Ricketts to fill the seat until the election.[2] Ricketts won the special election, defeating Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr. with about 63% of the vote. This was the first time since 1954 where both of Nebraska's U.S. Senate seats were concurrently up for election. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024.[3]
Ricketts outperformed other Republicans who faced contested statewide elections in this cycle.
Appointment
[edit]Republican Pete Ricketts, former governor of Nebraska (2015–2023) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006, was appointed on January 12, 2023.[2]
Applied to be appointed
[edit]In total, 111 individuals submitted applications for Sasse's seat, and nine candidates were interviewed by Pillen.[4] Applicants included:
- Ann Ashford, attorney, widow of former U.S. Representative Brad Ashford, and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2020[5] (Democratic)
- Tom Becka, radio personality[6][4] (Independent)
- Larry Bolinger, author and perennial candidate[4][7] (Republican)
- Sid Dinsdale, bank president and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014[6] (Republican)
- Greg Ibach, former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (2017–2021) and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture (2005–2017)[6] (Republican)
- Brett Lindstrom, state senator from the 18th district (2015–2023), candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2012 and for governor of Nebraska in 2022[6] (Republican)
- Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Republican candidate for governor of Nebraska in 2014[6] (Independent)
- Melanie Standiford, former KNOP-TV news director[8] (Republican)
- John Glen Weaver, U.S. Air Force veteran and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022[1] (Republican)
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Pete Ricketts, incumbent U.S. senator (2023–present)[9]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Mac Stevens, realtor[10]
- John Glen Weaver, realtor and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022[11]
Endorsements
[edit]Pete Ricketts
John Glen Weaver
- Political parties
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Pete Ricketts (R) | $3,507,567 | $2,076,443 | $1,431,125 |
| John Glen Weaver (R) | $52,789 | $36,280 | $16,509 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[16] | |||
Results
[edit]
Ricketts
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- >90%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pete Ricketts (incumbent) | 173,118 | 78.94% | |
| Republican | John Glen Weaver | 32,529 | 14.83% | |
| Republican | Mac Stevens | 13,669 | 6.23% | |
| Total votes | 219,316 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Preston Love Jr., University of Nebraska Omaha professor, campaign manager for the Jesse Jackson 1984 presidential campaign, and write-in candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020[18]
Declined
[edit]- Paul Theobald, Wayne State College professor and nominee for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district in 2018[19]
Endorsements
[edit]Preston Love Jr.
- State legislators
- Tony Vargas, state senator[20]
Party officials
- Precious McKesson, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party[20]
Labor unions
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of April 24, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Preston Love Jr. (D) | $127,850 | $119,254 | $8,595 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[16] | |||
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Preston Love Jr. | 85,114 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 85,114 | 100.0% | ||
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[22] | Solid R | November 9, 2023 |
| Inside Elections[23] | Solid R | November 9, 2023 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[24] | Safe R | November 9, 2023 |
| Decision Desk HQ/The Hill[25] | Safe R | June 8, 2024 |
| Elections Daily[26] | Safe R | May 4, 2023 |
| CNalysis[27] | Solid R | November 21, 2023 |
| Split Ticket[28] | Safe R | October 23, 2024 |
| 538[29] | Solid R | October 23, 2024 |
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Pete Ricketts (R) | $4,294,715 | $2,586,199 | $1,708,516 |
| Preston Love Jr. (D) | $164,288[b] | $157,747 | $6,542 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[16] | |||
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[c] |
Margin of error |
Pete Ricketts (R) |
Preston Love Jr. (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economist/YouGov[30] | October 21–28, 2024 | 1,202 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 54% | 36% | 7% |
| NYT/Siena College[31] | October 23–26, 2024 | 1,194 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 56% | 38% | 6% |
| 1,194 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 56% | 37% | 7% | ||
| SurveyUSA[32][A] | October 9–12, 2024 | 563 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 53% | 37% | 9% |
| SurveyUSA[33][A] | September 20–23, 2024 | 558 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 53% | 35% | 12% |
| SurveyUSA[34][B] | August 23–27, 2024 | 1,293 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 50% | 33% | 16% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pete Ricketts (incumbent) | 585,103 | 62.58% | −0.16% | |
| Democratic | Preston Love Jr. | 349,902 | 37.42% | +12.99% | |
| Total votes | 935,005 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
By congressional district
[edit]Ricketts won all 3 congressional districts.[36]
| District | Ricketts | Love Jr. | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 59% | 41% | Mike Flood |
| 2nd | 50.4% | 49.6% | Don Bacon |
| 3rd | 79% | 21% | Adrian Smith |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ In January 2023, Ricketts was appointed by Governor Jim Pillen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ben Sasse, who had become the president of University of Florida.
- ^ $58,832 of this total was self-funded by Love Jr.
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Partisan clients
- ^ a b Poll sponsored by the campaign of Dan Osborn, an independent candidate for Nebraska's other Senate seat
- ^ Poll sponsored by Split Ticket
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hammel, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Ben Sasse makes it official, will resign U.S. Senate seat Jan. 8". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Bradner, Eric (January 12, 2023). "Nebraska Gov. Pillen appoints Pete Ricketts to Sasse's Senate seat". CNN.
- ^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c Stoddard, Martha; Bamer, Erin (January 12, 2023). "Pillen appoints former Gov. Pete Ricketts to U.S. Senate". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Hammel, Paul (December 12, 2022). "Democrat Ann Ashford is among applicants to fill vacancy in U.S. Senate". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Sanderford, Aaron (January 10, 2023). "Ricketts, Lindstrom, Dinsdale, Slone, Ashford among Nebraska U.S. Senate applicants". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Mastre, Brian (December 15, 2022). "Nebraska Senate candidates feeling optimistic as Pillen mulls appointment". WOWT. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ KRVN News (December 7, 2022). "West-central Nebraska journalist applies for U.S. Senate seat". KRVN. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ Everett, Burgess (January 12, 2023). "Ricketts tapped to fill Nebraska's open Senate seat". Politico. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "Nebraska Statewide Candidate List". Nebraska Secretary of State. January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Lt. Col. (ret.) John Glen Weaver running for Nebraska's open Class II U.S. Senate seat". Nebraska Television Network. February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Emilee (July 19, 2023). "Americans for Prosperity Action Announces First Wave of Endorsements in 2024 U.S. Senate Races". Americans for Prosperity Action. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ NRA-PVF. "NRA-PVF | Grades | Nebraska". NRA-PVF. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Ricketts Endorsed by Nebraska Farm Bureau". KRVN. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 27, 2024). "Nebraska GOP fight with delegation spills over into its endorsements". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "2024 Election United States Senate - Nebraska". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Official Results: Primary Election - May 14, 2024" (PDF). Secretary of State of Nebraska. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (January 11, 2023). "Democrat Preston Love, a North Omaha advocate, to run for U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts' seat". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (July 14, 2023). "Democrat Paul Theobald decides not to challenge Sen. Pete Ricketts; Republican Herbster still mulling his options". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Beck, Margery A. (January 17, 2024). "Nebraska Democrats back Omaha activist Preston Love Jr. to challenge Ricketts for US Senate seat". Midland Daily News. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "Our Recommended Candidates". Education Votes. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Senate prediction map". elections2024.thehill.com/. The Hill. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ "Election Ratings". Elections Daily. August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "'24 Senate Forecast". CNalysis. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Senate Forecast". Split Ticket. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Economist/YouGov
- ^ NYT/Siena College
- ^ SurveyUSA
- ^ SurveyUSA
- ^ SurveyUSA
- ^ "Official Results" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ https://x.com/TheDrewSav/status/1856457586045796636
External links
[edit]Official campaign websites