2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska
The 2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Nebraska, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Ben Sasse is running for reelection to a second term in office.
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Elections in Nebraska |
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Republican primary
Candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Matt Innis, businessman and former chair of the Lancaster County Republican Party[2][3]
Declined
- Charles Herbster, farmer[4]
- Pete Ricketts, Governor of Nebraska[5]
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Matt Innis |
Ben Sasse |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
We Ask America | February 19–20, 2020 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 17% | 65% | 18% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ben Sasse (incumbent) | 215,207 | 75.21% | |
Republican | Matt Innis | 70,921 | 24.79% | |
Total votes | 284,212 | 100.00% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
On June 16, 2020, Janicek lost the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party after allegations of sending sexually explicit text messages about a female campaign staff member and allegedly using racist slurs to insult a guest at a party 20 years ago surfaced.[9][10][11] Nonetheless, Janicek refused to drop out of the race and his name remained on the ballot in the general election.
Eliminated in primary
Declined
- Chris Beutler, former mayor of Lincoln[18]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Chris Janicek | 46,247 | 30.69% | |
Democratic | Angie Philips | 35,929 | 23.84% | |
Democratic | Alisha Shelton | 34,284 | 22.75% | |
Democratic | Andy Stock | 17,156 | 11.38% | |
Democratic | Larry Marvin | 6,868 | 4.56% | |
Democratic | Daniel Wik | 5,765 | 3.83% | |
Democratic | Dennis Macek | 4,453 | 2.95% | |
Total votes | 150,702 | 100.00% |
Other candidates
Libertarian Party
Nominee
- Gene Siadek, former chairman of the Libertarian Party of Nebraska[12]
Withdrawn
- Eric Dilliard[19]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Libertarian | Gene Siadek | 2,517 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 2,517 | 100.00% |
General election
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[20] | Safe R | July 23, 2020 |
Inside Elections[21] | Safe R | July 10, 2020 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] | Safe R | August 5, 2020 |
Daily Kos[23] | Safe R | July 22, 2020 |
Politico[24] | Safe R | July 6, 2020 |
RCP[25] | Safe R | August 6, 2020 |
Niskanen[26] | Safe R | July 26, 2020 |
270towin[27] | Safe R | August 6, 2020 |
Polling
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ben Sasse (incumbent) | ||||
Democratic | Chris Janicek | ||||
Libertarian | Gene Siadek | ||||
Total votes | 100.00% |
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
References
- Akin, Stephanie (August 5, 2019). "Ben Sasse, one of the Senate's last remaining Republican Trump critics, to seek reelection". Roll Call. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- Walton, Don (July 21, 2019). "Don Walton: Hateful politics, the moonshot, another ag blow". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- Walton, Don (August 2, 2019). "Matt Innis will oppose Sasse in 2020 GOP primary". Hastings Tribune.
- Cohen, Zach C. (April 1, 2019). "How Sasse Is Prepping for 2020—in Nebraska". National Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- Isenstadt, Alex (July 9, 2018). "Sasse tempts Trump's wrath by refusing to bow". Politico. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- "Ben Sasse (NE-SEN)". Club for Growth. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- "Primary Election Official Results" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Sherrod, Brian (September 18, 2019). "Chris Janicek runs for U.S. Senate 2020 seat representing Nebraska". NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- Astor, Maggie. "Nebraska Democrat Urged to Quit Senate Race Over Sexual Texts to Aide". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- Astor, Maggie. "Nebraska Senate Candidate Used Racist Slur at a Party, Guests Recall". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- Nebraska, Democratic Party. "Nebraska Democratic Party demands that Chris Janicek drop out of Senate race after sexual harassment complaint". nebraskademocrats.org. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- "Nebraska Secretary of State Statewide Candidate List as of 12/11/2019 8:49:50 AM" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State.
- Walton, Don. "Don Walton: Mike Flood, Lady Liberty and Sonny Perdue". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- Morton, Joseph (July 15, 2019). "Will Sen. Ben Sasse seek another term? Signs point to yes". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- "Alisha Shelton for Senate | Official Site". Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- Hicks, Nancy. "Andrew Stock files for Lancaster County treasurer on Democratic ticket". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
- Star, DON WALTON Lincoln Journal. "Don Walton: Mike Flood, Lady Liberty and Sonny Perdue". Hastings Tribune. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- Jordan, Joe (November 13, 2018). "Democrat Names for 2020 Starting to Surface". Sandhills Express. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- "13 changes to the candidate list". The Green Papers. December 6, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- "2020 Senate Race Ratings for April 19, 2019". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- "2020 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- "2020 Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- "Daily Kos Elections releases initial Senate race ratings for 2020". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019.
- "Battle for White House". RCP. April 19, 2019.
- "2020 Negative Partisanship and the 2020 Congressional Elections". Niskanen Center. April 28, 2020.
- "2020 Senate Map Based on Polls". 270towin.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.