2014 Nebraska elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Nebraska on November 4, 2014. All of Nebraska's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Nebraska's three seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 13, 2014, for offices that require them.

Governor and lieutenant governor

Main article: 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Governor Dave Heineman is term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term.

Republicans Jon Bruning,^[1] Tom Carlson,^[2] Mike Foley,^[3] Beau McCoy,^[4] Pete Ricketts^[5] and Bryan Slone;^[6] Democrat Chuck Hassebrook^[7] and Libertarian Mark G. Elworth, Jr. ran.

In Nebraska, gubernatorial nominees select their running mates after the primary elections. The Republican ticket, consisting of Pete Ricketts and Mike Foley, defeated the Democratic ticket of Chuck Hassebrook and Jane Raybould.

Attorney general

Main article: 2014 Nebraska Attorney General election

2014 Nebraska Attorney General election

← 2012 November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03) 2018 →

Nominee Doug Peterson Janet Stewart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 339,846 174,614 Percentage 66.06% 33.94%

Attorney General before election Jon Bruning Republican Elected Attorney General Doug Peterson Republican

Incumbent Republican attorney general Jon Bruning did not run for re-election to a fourth term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Brian C. Buescher, attorney^[8]
• Mike Hilgers, attorney and candidate for the state senate in 2012^[9]
• Doug Peterson, attorney, former Lincoln County attorney and nephew of Governor of Nebraska Val Peterson^[10]
• Pete Pirsch, state senator^[11]

Withdrew

• Van Argyrakis, attorney, candidate for attorney general in 2010, for Mayor of Omaha in 2009 and for state senate in 2000^[12]
• Jon Bruning, incumbent Nebraska Attorney General (running for governor)^[12][13]

Results

Nebraska Attorney General Republican Primary, May 13, 2014^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Peterson	67,578	35.65%
	Republican	Brian C. Buescher	48,316	25.49%
	Republican	Mike Hilgers	43,371	22.88%
	Republican	Pete Pirsch	30,321	15.99%
Plurality			19,262	10.16%
Total votes			189,586	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Allan Eurek, attorney and nominee for secretary of state in 1994^[15]
• Janet Stewart, attorney, candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2004 and nominee for Secretary of State of Nebraska in 2010^[11]

Results

Democratic primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janet Stewart	47,159	72.28
	Democratic	Allan Eurek	18,087	27.72

General election

Results

General election results ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Peterson	339,846	66.06
	Democratic	Janet Stewart	174,614	33.94

Secretary of state

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State John A. Gale, who was appointed to the position in December 2000, ran successfully for re-election to a fourth full term in office.^[18]

He was challenged by only Libertarian Ben Backus, an IT technician.^[19] No Democrat filed to run for the office.

State Treasurer

Incumbent Republican Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg had considered running for governor or the U.S. Senate, but he decided to run for re-election to a second term.^[20]

He faced Christopher Costello in the Republican primary.^[21]

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Stenberg	171,227	84.99
	Republican	Christopher Costello	30,240	15.01

Democrat Michael J. O'Hara, former Omaha Public Power District Director, and Libertarian Michael Knebel also ran.^[21]

Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent Republican auditor of public accounts of Nebraska Mike Foley did not run for re-election to a third term. He instead ran unsuccessfully for governor, instead becoming the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Larry Anderson, member of the State Auditor's office^[22]
• Charlie Janssen, state senator^[23]

Withdrew

• Pete Pirsch, state senator (running for attorney general)^[11]

Declined

• Mike Foley, incumbent auditor of public accounts (running for governor)^[3]

Results

 

Republican Primary results by county:

  Janssen

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Anderson

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Tie

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charlie Janssen	92,304	56.65
	Republican	Larry Anderson	70,638	43.35

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Amanda McGill, state senator^[24]

Public Service Commission

One of the five seats on the Nebraska Public Service Commission was up for election. District 2 incumbent Democrat Anne C. Boyle, who was first elected in 1996, retired rather than run for re-election to a fourth term. The district is based in Omaha.^[25]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jim Esch, businessman and nominee for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2006 and 2008^[26]
• John Green, member of the Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors^[27]
• Crystal Rhoades, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives co-ordinator for Douglas County and member of the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors^[27]

Declined

• Anne C. Boyle, incumbent Public Service Commissioner and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010^[27]

Results

Democratic primary results^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Crystal Rhoades	5,705	43.46
	Democratic	Jim Esch	5,238	39.91
	Democratic	John Green	2,183	16.63

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• John Sieler, member of the Nebraska State Board of Education^[29]

United States Senate

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2014

Incumbent Republican senator Mike Johanns did not run for re-election to a second term. Republicans Sid Dinsdale,^[30] Clifton Johnson,^[31] Bart McLeay,^[32] Shane Osborn^[33] and Ben Sasse;^[34] Democrats David Domina^[35] and Larry Marvin^[36] and Independents Jim Jenkins^[37] and Todd Watson^[38] ran.

Republican Ben Sasse defeated Democrat David Domina to win the seat.

United States House of Representatives

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2014

All of Nebraska's three seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

References

1. Tysver, Robin. "Attorney General Jon Bruning to run for Nebraska governor". Omaha World-Herald. 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
2. Walton, Don (July 12, 2013). "Sen. Tom Carlson enters governor race". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
3. Walton, Don (September 5, 2013). "Foley pledges fiscally conservative governorship". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
4. Walton, Don (August 23, 2013). "Sen. Beau McCoy enters GOP governor race". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
5. . WOWT. September 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
6. Cordes, Henry J. (December 15, 2013). "Bryan Slone joins the race to replace Dave Heineman". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
7. Walton, Don (June 2, 2013). "Hassebrook will enter 2014 governor's race". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
8. "Omaha Attorney Brian Buescher Announces Run for Attorney General". Nebraska.tv. February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
9. . The Republic. February 18, 2014. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
10. "Lincoln lawyer Doug Peterson to run for Nebraska attorney general". Omaha.com. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
11. . The Republic. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
12. "Nebraska Attorney General Bruning opts out of governor's race, plans re-election bid". Omaha.com. August 9, 2013. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
13. "Attorney General Jon Bruning to run for Nebraska governor". Omaha.com. February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
14. (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State of Nebraska. Government of Nebraska. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
15. "At last minute, Lincoln lawyer Allan Eurek enters Democratic race for attorney general". Omaha.com. March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
16. . Nebraska Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
17. "Nebraska Attorney General election, 2014". Ballotpedia. from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
18. "Secretary of State Gale makes it official, announces re-election bid in North Platte visit". Omaha.com. June 26, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
19. "Gering Libertarian to run for Secretary of State". kneb.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
20. Martin, Brent (December 4, 2013). . Nebraska Radio Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
21. "Candidate Filings" (PDF). Nebraska SOS. March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
22. "Republican Larry Anderson enters Neb. auditor race". The Washington Times. February 27, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
23. "Ballot gets new rewrite as Charlie Janssen files for auditor". Omaha.com. February 19, 2014. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
24. "Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill to run for state auditor". Omaha.com. January 2, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
25. "Nebraska Public Service Commission: Crystal Rhoades wins Democratic nod to face John Sieler". Omaha.com. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
26. "Democrat Jim Esch says he has 'righted the ship' after rough patch". Omaha.com. January 19, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
27. "Anne Boyle to retire from Nebraska Public Service Commission". Omaha.com. September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
28. "Unofficial Results: Primary Election - May 13, 2014". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
29. "Nebraska Public Service Commission seat hot ticket for Dems". Omaha.com. January 14, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
30. Tysver, Robynn (September 16, 2013). "Omaha banker Sid Dinsdale enters the U.S. Senate race". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
31. Walton, Don (December 11, 2013). "New Senate candidate voices tea party values". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
32. Tysver, Robynn (July 1, 2013). "Attorney Bart McLeay to run for Nebraska U.S. Senate seat". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
33. Walton, Don (June 2, 2013). "Shane Osborn enters GOP Senate race". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
34. Beck, Margery A. (July 23, 2013). "University president Sasse files for US Senate". SF Gate. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
35. Duggan, Joe (January 19, 2014). "Omaha attorney David Domina first Democrat in Nebraska U.S. Senate race". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
36. Rickerl, Stephen (October 9, 2013). "Marvin, Fremont Democrat, will seek U.S. Senate seat". Fremont Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
37. "Nebraska rancher, restaurateur Jim Jenkins to run for US Senate". Washington Examiner. October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
38. Tobias, Mike (September 19, 2013). . NET News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2013.