For related races, see 2024 United States Senate elections. For the regular Senate election in Nebraska held in parallel, see 2024 United States Senate election in Nebraska.
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County results Ricketts: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Love Jr.: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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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. On January 12, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Republican former governor Pete Ricketts to fill the seat until the election. 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.
Ricketts outperformed other Republicans who faced contested statewide elections in this cycle.
Appointment
Republican Pete Ricketts, former governor of Nebraska (2015–2023) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006, was appointed on January 12, 2023.
Applied to be appointed
In total, 111 individuals submitted applications for Sasse's seat, and nine candidates were interviewed by Pillen. Applicants included:
- Ann Ashford, attorney, widow of former U.S. Representative Brad Ashford, and candidate for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in 2020 (Democratic)
- Tom Becka, radio personality (Independent)
- Larry Bolinger, author and perennial candidate (Republican)
- Sid Dinsdale, bank president and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (Republican)
- Greg Ibach, former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (2017–2021) and former Nebraska Director of Agriculture (2005–2017) (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 (Republican)
- Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Republican candidate for governor of Nebraska in 2014 (Independent)
- Melanie Standiford, former KNOP-TV news director (Republican)
- John Glen Weaver, U.S. Air Force veteran and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022 (Republican)
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Pete Ricketts, incumbent U.S. senator (2023–present)
Eliminated in primary
- Mac Stevens, realtor
- John Glen Weaver, realtor and candidate for Nebraska's 1st congressional district in 2022
Endorsements
Pete Ricketts- Organizations
- Americans for Prosperity Action
- National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund
- Nebraska Farm Bureau
- Political parties
Fundraising
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 |
Results
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
Candidates
Nominee
- 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
Declined
- Paul Theobald, Wayne State College professor and nominee for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district in 2018
Endorsements
Preston Love Jr.- State legislators
- Tony Vargas, state senator
Party officials
- Precious McKesson, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party
Labor unions
Fundraising
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 |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Preston Love Jr. | 85,114 | 100.0% | |
Total votes | 85,114 | 100.0% |
General election
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report | Solid R | November 9, 2023 |
Inside Elections | Solid R | November 9, 2023 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | November 9, 2023 |
Decision Desk HQ/The Hill | Safe R | June 8, 2024 |
Elections Daily | Safe R | May 4, 2023 |
CNalysis | Solid R | November 21, 2023 |
Split Ticket | Safe R | October 23, 2024 |
538 | Solid R | October 23, 2024 |
Fundraising
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 | $157,747 | $6,542 |
Source: Federal Election Commission |
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Pete Ricketts (R) |
Preston Love Jr. (D) |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economist/YouGov | October 21–28, 2024 | 1,202 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 54% | 36% | 7% |
NYT/Siena College | October 23–26, 2024 | 1,194 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 56% | 38% | 6% |
1,194 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 56% | 37% | 7% | ||
SurveyUSA | October 9–12, 2024 | 563 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 53% | 37% | 9% |
SurveyUSA | September 20–23, 2024 | 558 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 53% | 35% | 12% |
SurveyUSA | August 23–27, 2024 | 1,293 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 50% | 33% | 16% |
Results
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
Ricketts won all 3 congressional districts.
District | Ricketts | Love Jr. | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 59% | 41% | Mike Flood |
2nd | 50.4% | 49.6% | Don Bacon |
3rd | 79% | 21% | Adrian Smith |
See also
Notes
- 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
- ^ Poll sponsored by the campaign of Dan Osborn, an independent candidate for Nebraska's other Senate seat
- Poll sponsored by Split Ticket
References
- ^ Hammel, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Ben Sasse makes it official, will resign U.S. Senate seat Jan. 8". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2024 Election United States Senate - Nebraska". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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
Official campaign websites
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