Incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer ran for re-election to a third term in the Senate. She did not face any major-party opposition, and was instead challenged by independent Dan Osborn, who had the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Fischer narrowly defeated Osborn to win re-election.
In 2023, Senator Ben Sasse resigned to become the President of the University of Florida, and Governor Jim Pillen appointed outgoing Governor Pete Ricketts as Sasse's successor and called a special election in 2024 to fill out the remaining two years of Sasse's term. Ricketts ran for re-election and faced Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr. in the general election. Ricketts defeated Love in a landslide to win re-election.
2024 United States Senate special election in Nebraska[2]
Following gains by social conservatives on the State Board of Education in 2022, conservative challengers sought to gain control of the State Board in the 2024 elections.[4] The Protect Nebraska Children political action committee endorsed socially conservative candidates, while the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) supported moderate and liberal candidates.[5] Following the election, after conservative-aligned candidate Lisa Schonhoff was elected to succeed moderate Patti Gubbels in the 3rd district, control of the Board flipped to conservatives.[4]
Incumbent Board member Patsy Koch John declined to seek re-election. Kristin Christensen, a former teacher who worked for a literacy nonprofit, and Liz Davids, a homeschooling advocate, ran to replace her.[4] Christensen was supported by the Nebraska State Education Association and Davids ran with the support of Protect Nebraska Children.[5] Christensen defeated Davids by a wide margin in the general election, winning 58% of the vote.
Incumbent Board member Lisa Fricke declined to seek re-election. One Republican, former clinical psychology professor Linda Vermooten, and two Democrats, retired teachers Maggie Douglas and Karen Morgan, ran to succeed her.[6] Vermooten, who was supported by Protect Nebraska Children, and Douglas, who was endorsed by the NSEA, both advanced to the general election. In the general election, Douglas narrowly defeated Vermooten.
Incumbent Board member Patti Gubbels declined to seek re-election. Two Republicans, former teacher Lisa Schonhoff and former school administrator Bill McAllister, ran to succeed her. Schonhoff won the endorsement of the Nebraska Republican Party,[4] and defeated McAllister by a wide margin.
Incumbent Board member Jacquelyn Morrison declined to seek re-election and resigned in October 2024, leaving the seat vacant at the time of the election. Writer and producer Liz Renner, who produced documentaries about the state's public schools, ran to succeed her, along with administrator Stacy Matula and homeschool advocate LeDonna Griffin.[7] Renner placed first in the primary, winning 45% of the vote, while Griffin narrowly edged out Matula, who was endorsed by Protect Nebraska Children, winning 28% of the vote to Matula's 27%. In the general election, Renner defeated Griffin in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote.
Incumbent Regent Jim Scheer, who was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2023, ran for re-election to a full term. He was unopposed and won re-election uncontested.
Incumbent Regent Elizabeth O'Connor ran for re-election to a second term. She was challenged by Jim Rogers, a retired mathematics professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha.[8]
Incumbent Regent Rob Schafer, the Chair of the Board, ran for re-election. He was challenged by Gary Rogge, a retired farmer, and Jerome Wohleb, a retired hospital administrator.[9] Schafer placed first in the primary with 48% of the vote and advanced to the general election against Rogge, who won 22%. Schafer ultimately defeated Rogge in a landslide, winning 63% of the vote.
Incumbent Regent Barbara Weitz ran for re-election to a second term. She was challenged by Zach Mellender, an IT technician at the Omaha Zoo.[8] She ended up defeating Mellender in a landslide, winning 64% of the vote.
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