The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson. Nelson would later be elected to Nebraska's other U.S. Senate seat in 2000 when Bob Kerrey retired and served alongside Hagel until 2009, when Hagel left the Senate after retiring.
As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent governor failed to hold a Senate seat for his party. This was also the first time since Carl Curtis was elected to his final term in 1972 that a Republican was elected to either of Nebraska's Senate seats.[a]
^David Karnes was appointed to the Senate seat left vacant following the 1987 death of Democratic Senator Ed Zorinsky but was defeated in his bid for a full term by Democratic candidate and former Governor Bob Kerrey.
^"Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
January 01, 1970
1996, united, states, senate, election, nebraska, held, november, 1996, incumbent, democratic, senator, james, exon, decided, retire, instead, seeking, fourth, term, republican, nominee, chuck, hagel, open, seat, points, defeating, incumbent, democratic, gover. The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5 1996 Incumbent Democratic U S Senator J James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson Nelson would later be elected to Nebraska s other U S Senate seat in 2000 when Bob Kerrey retired and served alongside Hagel until 2009 when Hagel left the Senate after retiring 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1990 November 5 1996 2002 Nominee Chuck Hagel Ben Nelson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 379 933 281 904 Percentage 56 14 41 65 County results Hagel 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Nelson 40 50 50 60 U S senator before election J James Exon Democratic Elected U S Senator Chuck Hagel Republican As of 2024 this is the last time an incumbent governor failed to hold a Senate seat for his party This was also the first time since Carl Curtis was elected to his final term in 1972 that a Republican was elected to either of Nebraska s Senate seats a Contents 1 Democratic primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Results 2 Republican primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Results 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesDemocratic primary editCandidates edit Ben Nelson Governor of Nebraska Results edit Democratic primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Ben Nelson 93 140 97 00 Democratic Write ins 2 882 3 00 Total votes 96 022 100 00 Republican primary editCandidates edit Chuck Hagel businessman Don Stenberg Attorney General of Nebraska Results edit Republican primary results 2 Party Candidate Votes Republican Chuck Hagel 112 953 62 24 Republican Don Stenberg 67 974 37 46 Republican Write ins 544 0 30 Total votes 181 471 100 00 General election editCandidates edit John DeCamp L former state senator Bill Dunn NL Chuck Hagel R businessman Ben Nelson D Governor of Nebraska Results edit General election results 3 Party Candidate Votes Republican Chuck Hagel 379 933 56 14 15 21 Democratic Ben Nelson 281 904 41 65 17 25 Libertarian John DeCamp 9 483 1 40 Natural Law Bill Dunn 4 806 0 71 Write ins 663 0 10 Majority 98 029 14 48 3 49 Turnout 676 958 Republican gain from Democratic SwingSee also edit1996 United States Senate electionsNotes edit David Karnes was appointed to the Senate seat left vacant following the 1987 death of Democratic Senator Ed Zorinsky but was defeated in his bid for a full term by Democratic candidate and former Governor Bob Kerrey References edit Election and voting information Election and voting information Office of the Clerk U S House of Representatives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska amp oldid 1210722647, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
