2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska
← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →
All 3 Nebraska seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 3 0
Seats won 3 0
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 496,276 276,239
Percentage 64.24% 35.75%
Swing Decrease 3.31% Increase 7.43%
Elections in Nebraska
Federal offices
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House of Representatives elections
State government
State elections
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections
Secretary of State elections
Attorney General elections
State Legislature elections
Ballot measures
2000
Initiative 416
Lincoln
Mayoral elections
Omaha
Mayoral elections
Government

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the three U.S. representatives from the state of Nebraska. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on May 15, 2012.[1]

Redistricting

A redistricting plan was passed by the Nebraska Legislature on May 24, 2011,[2] after a five-hour Democratic-led filibuster was defeated.[3][4] The plan signed into law by Republican Governor Dave Heineman.[5]

District 1

Republican Jeff Fortenberry, who has represented Nebraska's 1st congressional district since 2005, did not run for the U.S. Senate, and is running for re-election.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Primary results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Fortenberry (incumbent) 55,658 86.4
Republican Jessica Turek 5,255 8.2
Republican Dennis Parker 3,511 5.4
Total votes 64,424 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Withdrawn

Primary results

Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Korey Reiman 14,804 62.9
Democratic Robert Way (withdrawn) 8,728 37.1
Total votes 23,532 100.0

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Jeff
Fortenberry (R) 		Korey
Reiman (D) 		Undecided
Wiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 200 (RV) ±6.9% 65% 24% 11%
Wiese Research Associates September 17–20, 2012 169 (LV) ±5.4% 69% 24% 7%

Results

Nebraska's 1st congressional district, 2012[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Fortenberry (incumbent) 174,889 68.3
Democratic Korey L. Reiman 81,206 31.7
Total votes 256,095 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

Republican Lee Terry, who has represented Nebraska's 2nd congressional district since 1999, did not run for the U.S. Senate, and ran for re-election.[6]

David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report rates the race as "Likely Republican."[13]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Primary results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lee Terry (incumbent) 27,998 59.5
Republican Brett Lindstrom 10,753 22.8
Republican Jack Heidel 5,406 11.5
Republican Glenn Freeman 1,885 4.0
Republican Paul Anderson 1,051 2.2
Total votes 47,093 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined

Primary results

Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Ewing 17,954 62.0
Democratic Gwen Howard 11,009 38.0
Total votes 28,963 100.0

General election

Campaign

After his primary victory, Ewing promptly took a break from fundraising before starting up again at the end of June.By the end of the fundraising quarter had only raised $300,000 to Terry's $1.3 million. The Omaha World-Herald would later describe this is "perhaps the race's defining moment" and one that prevented Ewing from gaining much traction in the general election.[21]

Terry's campaign also made mistakes, most notably releasing an ad that inaccurately quoted a nonprofit advocacy group.[22]

Endorsements

Lee Terry (R)
Organizations
John Ewing (D)
Newspapers

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Lee
Terry (R) 		John
Ewing (D) 		Undecided
Wiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 352 (LV) ±5.2% 47% 42% 11%
DCCC (D) October 14, 2012 525 (LV) ±4.3% 48% 44% 7%
Wiese Research Associates September 17–20, 2012 331 (LV) ±5.4% 52% 39% 10%

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Likely R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[26] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[27] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[28] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[29] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[30] Lean R November 4, 2012
The Hill[31] Likely R November 4, 2012

Results

Despite receiving very little help from national Democrats, Ewing outperformed Obama and lost to Terry by just 4,197 votes.

Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, 2012[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lee Terry (incumbent) 133,964 50.8
Democratic John W. Ewing Jr. 129,767 49.2
Total votes 263,731 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

Republican Adrian Smith, who has represented Nebraska's 3rd congressional district since 2007, is running for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Primary results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Adrian Smith (incumbent) 62,645 81.4
Republican Bob Lingenfelter 14,297 18.6
Total votes 76,942 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Sullivan 17,500 100.0
Total votes 17,500 100.0

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Adrian
Smith (R) 		Mark
Sullivan (D) 		Undecided
Wiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 200 (RV) ±6.9% 64% 24% 12%
Wiese Research Associates September 17–20, 2012 156 (LV) ±5.4% 70% 19% 11%

Results

Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, 2012[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Adrian Smith (incumbent) 187,423 74.2
Democratic Mark Sullivan 65,266 25.8
Total votes 252,689 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "2012 Elections". Nebraska Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  2. ^ Hammel, Paul; Stoddard, Martha (May 25, 2011). "Redistricting bill advances". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  3. ^ Walton, Don (May 23, 2011). "Congressional redistricting plan jumps Democratic roadblock". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Hammel, Paul (May 24, 2011). "Redistricting rides to final vote". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  5. ^ Schulte, Grant (May 26, 2011). "Nebraska lawmakers approve, governor signs congressional and legislative redistricting maps". Times-Post. Retrieved June 11, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b Tysver, Robynn (January 9, 2012). "No Senate bids for Terry, Fortenberry". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  7. ^ Walton, Don (October 11, 2011). "1st district congressional candidate plans faith-based message". Lincoln Journal Star.
  8. ^ a b Warneke, Kent (March 2, 2012). "Final day sets up contested races in area". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska" (PDF). Secretary of State of Nebraska. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c Walton, Don (March 1, 2012). "Democrats will contest all House races". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  11. ^ Triebsch, Chris (March 24, 2012). "Robert Way Withdraws from Congressional Race, Endorses Korey Reiman". Nebraska Democratic Party. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Official Results of Nebraska General Election - November 6, 2012" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State.
  13. ^ Green, Joshua (June 3, 2011). "Is Warren Buffett's Grandson Running for Congress?". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  14. ^ "5 Republicans Hope To Be U.S. Congressman". KETV. April 19, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Maggie (January 5, 2012). "Freeman to challenge Terry". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  16. ^ "UNO chairman to run for Congress". Omaha World-Herald. September 6, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Walton, Don (June 22, 2011). "GOP opponent challenges Terry leadership". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  18. ^ Walton, Don (July 18, 2011). "Douglas County treasurer seeks Terry's House seat". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  19. ^ Szalewski, Susan (October 4, 2011). "Gwen Howard to run for Congress". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  20. ^ Jordon, Steve (June 10, 2011). "Buffett grandson to run dad's foundation". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  21. ^ Roseann Moring; Erin Grace (November 6, 2012). "Lee Terry unhappy with close race with John Ewing, but eager to work". omaha.com. Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  22. ^ Robyn Wisch (October 16, 2012). "Terry and Ewing Debate in Second District Race". nebraskapublicmedia.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "Ewing challenging Terry in Omaha-area congressional race". nebraskapublicmedia.org. September 13, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  24. ^ Robyn Wisch (October 18, 2012). "Terry, Ewing debate in wake of key endorsement, tightening polls". kvnonews.com. KVNO News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  25. ^ "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com. November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  26. ^ "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  27. ^ [1], as of November 4, 2012
  28. ^ Crystal Ball, as of November 5, 2012
  29. ^ House Race Ratings, The New York Times, as of November 4, 2012
  30. ^ [2], as of November 4, 2012
  31. ^ "House Ratings". The Hill. November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.

External links

(2011 ←)   2012 United States elections   (→ 2013)
Categories