2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

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.

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

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.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jeff Fortenberry, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Dennis Parker, former professional musician and candidate for the 3rd district in 2010, Jessica Turek, writer and drummer

Primary results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Korey Reiman, attorney

Withdrawn Robert Way, Army combat medic

Primary results

General election Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of error JeffFortenberry (R) KoreyReiman (D) UndecidedWiese Research AssociatesWiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 200 (RV) ±6.9% 65% 24% 11%Wiese Research AssociatesWiese Research Associates September 17–20, 2012 169 (LV) ±5.4% 69% 24% 7%

Results

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

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.

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

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lee Terry, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Paul Anderson, employee of BNSF Railway Glenn Freeman, former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party Jack Heidel, the chairman of the mathematics department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Brett Lindstrom, a financial adviser and former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback

Primary results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Ewing Jr., Douglas County Treasurer

Eliminated in primary Gwen Howard, state senator

Declined Howard Warren Buffett, director of the U.S. Department of Defense's agriculture development program in Iraq and Afghanistan and the grandson of investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett

Primary results

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.

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

Endorsements

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of error LeeTerry (R) JohnEwing (D) UndecidedWiese Research AssociatesWiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 352 (LV) ±5.2% 47% 42% 11%DCCC (D)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 SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

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

District 3

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

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Adrian Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Bob Lingenfelter, farmer and former NFL offensive lineman

Primary results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mark Sullivan, farmer

Primary results

General election Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of error AdrianSmith (R) MarkSullivan (D) UndecidedWiese Research AssociatesWiese Research Associates October 23–25, 2012 200 (RV) ±6.9% 64% 24% 12%Wiese Research AssociatesWiese Research Associates September 17–20, 2012 156 (LV) ±5.4% 70% 19% 11%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

References

External links Elections from the Nebraska Secretary of State United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2012 at Ballotpedia Nebraska U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Nebraska at OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation Map of Nebraska's new congressional districts, published by the Nebraska Legislature