2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election
← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
 
Nominee Pete Ricketts Bob Krist
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Mike Foley Lynne Walz
Popular vote 411,812 286,169
Percentage 59.0% 41.0%
Ricketts:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Krist:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%
     No votes
Governor before election

Pete Ricketts
Republican

Elected Governor

Pete Ricketts
Republican

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The 2018 Nebraska gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Nebraska, concurrently with the election of Nebraska's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various Nebraska and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Pete Ricketts won re-election to a second term.[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Pete Ricketts

Results

Results by county:
  Ricketts—>90%
  Ricketts—80–90%
  Ricketts—70–80%
  Ricketts—60–70%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Ricketts (incumbent) 138,292 81.42
Republican Krystal Gabel 31,568 18.58
Total votes 169,860 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Bob Krist
State legislators
Mayors
Federal Level Politicians

Results

Results by county:
  Krist—70–80%
  Krist—60–70%
  Krist—50–60%
  Krist—40–50%
  Krist—<40%
  Tie
  Ward—40–50%
  Ward—50–60%
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Krist 54,992 59.81
Democratic Vanessa Gayle Ward 26,478 28.80
Democratic Tyler Davis 10,472 11.39
Total votes 91,942 100.00

Independents

State Senator Bob Krist announced in September 2017 he left the Republican Party in order to mount a third party challenge against Governor Ricketts.[7] Krist planned to create a new party in order to run, which will require submitting 5,000 signatures to qualify the party for the ballot.[7] However, in February 2018 he abandoned the independent candidacy and became a Democrat.

Candidates

Withdrawn

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[17] Safe R October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[18] Safe R November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[19] Safe R November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[20] Safe R November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] Safe R November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[22] Safe R November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[23] Safe R November 5, 2018
Fox News[24][a] Likely R November 5, 2018
Politico[25] Safe R November 5, 2018
Governing[26] Safe R November 5, 2018
Notes
  1. ^ The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races

Debates

Host
network/sponsors 		Date Link(s) Participants
Bob
Krist (D) 		Pete
Ricketts (R)
KMTV-TV August 30, 2018
3:00 pm MDT 		[27] Invited Invited

Results

Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2018[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pete Ricketts (incumbent) 411,812 59.00% +1.85%
Democratic Bob Krist 286,169 41.00% +1.77%
Total votes 697,981 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Walton, Don (April 21, 2016). "Ricketts ties conservative goals to two terms". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  2. ^ "Omaha writer, marijuana advocate announces bid for governor as Republican". Lincoln Journal Star. July 22, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Kirkley, Sara (August 28, 2017). "Omaha writer says Nebraskans need options in governor's race". NTV News. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Walton, Don (June 4, 2017). "Ricketts embarks on re-election campaign, promises tax relief every year". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Duggan, Joe (June 29, 2017). "After Heineman says Mike Flood would make an 'outstanding governor,' ex-speaker says it's not his time". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Hammel, Paul (May 3, 2017). "State Sen. Bob Krist says he's thinking about challenging Pete Ricketts for governor in 2018". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d Konnath, Hailey (July 17, 2017). "Nebraska State Sen. Bob Krist to leave GOP, try to challenge Ricketts as third-party candidate". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  8. ^ Koeller, Austin (August 26, 2018). "Pete Ricketts receives NE Farm Bureau endorsement". Grand Island Independent. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.(subscription required)
  9. ^ "NRA Endorses Ricketts, Evnen, Murante for Top State Offices in Nebraska". NRA-ILA. April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) proudly announces its endorsement of Pete Ricketts for Governor of Nebraska
  10. ^ Jordan, Joe (October 26, 2017). "Democrats Short List for Governor Slowly Emerging". News Channel Nebraska. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Schulte, Grant (February 12, 2018). "Nebraska Governor hopeful joins Democratic Party". USNews. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  12. ^ Gaardner, Nancy (April 30, 2018). "State Sen. Lynne Walz chosen as Democrat Bob Krist's running mate". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Walton, Don (July 2, 2017). "Good week for Ricketts in political terms". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  14. ^ Walton, Don (August 30, 2017). "Chuck Hassebrook seeks seat in Legislature". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  15. ^ Hammel, Paul (August 29, 2017). "Ex-State Sen. Steve Lathrop plans to run for his old seat, challenging incumbent Merv Riepe". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Roseann Moring. "Gubernatorial candidate Bob Krist switches to Democratic Party". Omaha World-Herald.
  17. ^ "2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings". The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "2018 Governor Forecast | FiveThirtyEight". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "2018 Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". insideelections.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  21. ^ "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor". www.centerforpolitics.org. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  22. ^ "2018 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
  23. ^ "2018 Governor Race Ratings". Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "2018 Midterm Power Ranking". Fox News.
  25. ^ "Politico Race Ratings". Politico.
  26. ^ "2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups". www.governing.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  27. ^ "WATCH: Ricketts, Krist debate at state fair". KMTV. August 30, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  28. ^ "Official Results: General Election – November 6, 2018". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2018.

External links

Official campaign websites
(2017 ←)   2018 United States elections   (→ 2019)
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