The 2014 Nebraska state elections took place on November 4, 2014. Voters in Nebraska elected all three of the state's representatives to the United States House of Representatives, as well as all statewide executive officials, including the Governor. Additionally, elections were held for half of the seats in the Nebraska Legislature, positions on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Regents. Judicial retention elections and several constitutional amendments were also on the ballot.
Incumbent Republican senator Mike Johanns declined to run for re-election to a second term. Republican Ben Sasse, the President of Midland University, won the Republican primary to succeed him over banker Sid Dinsdale, former State Treasurer Shane Osborn, attorney Bart McLeay, and businessman Clifton Johnson. In the general election, Sasse defeated Democratic nominee David Domina, a prominent attorney.
All of Nebraska's three seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014, and all three incumbent Republican congressmen ran for re-election. Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith won landslide re-elections in the 1st and 3rd districts, respectively. Congressman Lee Terry was narrowly defeated for re-election by Democrat Brad Ashford, one of just two Democratic gains in the House that year.
Incumbent RepublicanGovernorDave Heineman was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term. Businessman and 2006 Senate candidate Pete Ricketts narrowly won the Republican primary over Attorney General Jon Bruning and faced former University Regent Chuck Hassebrook in the general election, whom he defeated in a landslide.
Incumbent Secretary of State John A. Gale ran for re-election to a fourth full term in office. He did not face major-party opposition and defeated Libertarian nominee Ben Backus in the general election with 75% of the vote.
Incumbent State Treasurer Don Stenberg ran for re-election to a second term in office. He was challenged in the Republican primary by Omaha businessman Christopher Costello,[3] whom he defeated with 85% of the vote. In the general election, Stenberg was opposed by the Democratic nominee, Michael O'Hara, a law and economics professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and Libertarian nominee Michael Knebel, a futures broker. Stenberg defeated both to win re-election with 68% of the vote.
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jon Bruning did not run for a fourth term, instead unsuccessfully running 2014 Nebraska gubernatorial election#Republican primary for Governor. A crowded Republican primary developed, with three attorneys in private practice—Doug Peterson, Brian C. Buescher, and Mike Hilgers—and State Senator Pete Pirsch all running.[5] Peterson won the primary with a 34% plurality and advanced to the general election, where he faced attorney Janet Stewart, the Democratic nominee. He won his first term as Attorney General over Stewart with 66% of the vote.
Incumbent Auditor Mike Foley opted to run for Governor instead of seeking re-election. State Senator Charlie Janssen won the Republican primary over Larry Anderson, an employee in the office,[7] and faced fellow State Senator Amanda McGill, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Janssen defeated McGill by a wide margin to win his first term.
Long-time incumbent Public Service Commissioner Anne Boyle, a Democrat, declined to seek re-election. Crystal Rhoades, a member of the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors, narrowly won the Democratic primary over attorney Jim Esch and John Green, a member of the Omaha Public Power District Board of Directors.[8] In the general election, she faced State Board of Education member John Sieler, the Republican nominee, and defeated him to win her first term on the Commission.
Incumbent Board member Patricia H. Timm ran for re-election, and was challenged by Tecumseh businesswoman Christine Lade. Timm ran as a supporter of public education, while Lade campaigned against federal intervention in local schools, in support of "local and parental control of their children's education," and on her "conservative views."[9] Timm defeated Lade by a wide margin to win re-election.
Incumbent Board member Lynn Cronk declined to run for re-election. Maureen Nickels, a former teacher in the Grand Island Public School district,[10] ran to succeed her, and was elected unopposed.
Incumbent Board member Molly O'Holleran ran for re-election to a second term, and was challenged by retired school administrator Robin Stevens. O'Holleran and Stevens largely agreed on the need to reduce the emphasis on standardized testing and on their opposition to the adoption of Common Core standards.[9] O'Holleran ultimately defeated Stevens by a wide margin to win re-election.
Incumbent Board member John Sieler opted to run for the Public Service Commission instead of seeking re-election. Political consultant Patrick McPherson, who previously served on the Papio Natural Resources District Board of Directors; retired school administrator and former Grand Island City Councilman Bob Meyers; and children's advocate Clarice Jackson all ran to succeed him. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, McPherson was a Republican and Meyers and Jackson were both Democrats. Meyers was endorsed by the Nebraska State Education Association,[11] while Jackson, a charter school advocate, received endorsements from local Democrats and Republicans.[12] In the nonpartisan primary, McPherson placed first and Meyers placed second, advancing to the general election. At the ensuing general election, McPherson defeated Meyers.
Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer, who was appointed to the Board in 2013 to replace Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann, ran for re-election for a full term. He was challenged for re-election by businessman Steve Glenn and former Regent Robert J. Prokop, who had previously served from 1971 to 1983.[13] At the nonpartisan primary, Glenn and Schafer placed first and second, respectively, and advanced to the general election. In the general election, both candidates agreed on the need to keep spending and tuition low, and each argued that their experience was better suited for the position. Schafer received the endorsement of the Nebraska Republican Party and Governor Dave Heineman, while Glenn was supported by comedian and Nebraska native Dan Whitney, known as Larry the Cable Guy.[14] Schafer ultimately defeated Glenn by a narrow margin to win re-election.
