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, and by a slightly bigger margin than in 2014.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Krystal Gabel, writer, candidate for Metropolitan Utilities District in 2016 and candidate for Omaha City Council in 2017 Pete Ricketts, incumbent governor Running mate: Mike Foley, incumbent lieutenant governor
Declined Mike Flood, former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature Bob Krist, state senator (running as a Democrat)
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Tyler Davis, University of Nebraska, Omaha instructor Bob Krist, state senator Running mate: Lynne Walz, state senator Vanessa Gayle Ward, activist
Declined Chuck Hassebrook, former regent of the University of Nebraska and nominee for governor in 2014 (running for the legislature) Steve Lathrop, former state senator (running for the legislature)
Endorsements
Results
Independents State Senator Bob Krist announced in September 2017 that he had left the Republican Party in order to mount a third party challenge against Governor Ricketts. Krist planned to create a new party in order to run, which would require submitting 5,000 signatures to qualify the party for the ballot. However, in February 2018, he abandoned his independent candidacy and became a Democrat.
Candidates Withdrawn Bob Krist, state senator (running as a Democrat)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Debates +Hostnetwork/sponsorsDateLink(s)ParticipantsBobKrist (D)PeteRicketts (R)KMTV-TVAugust 30, 20183:00 pm MDT
Results
By county
CountyPersonDemocraticPersonRepublicanVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotalvotes#%#%#%#%Adams CountyAntelope CountyArthur CountyBanner CountyBlaine CountyBoone CountyBox Butte CountyBoyd CountyBrown CountyBuffalo CountyBurt CountyButler CountyCass CountyCedar CountyChase CountyCherry CountyCheyenne CountyClay CountyColfax CountyCuming CountyCuster CountyDakota CountyDawes CountyDawson CountyDeuel CountyDixon CountyDodge CountyDouglas CountyDundy CountyFillmore CountyFranklin CountyFrontier CountyFurnas CountyGage CountyGarden CountyGarfield CountyGosper CountyGrant CountyGreeley CountyHall CountyHamilton CountyHayes CountyHitchcock CountyHolt CountyHooker CountyHoward CountyJefferson CountyJohnson CountyKearney CountyKeith CountyKeya Paha CountyKimball CountyKnox CountyLancaster CountyLincoln CountyLogan CountyLoup CountyMadison CountyMcPherson CountyMerrick CountyMorrill CountyNance CountyNance CountyNemaha CountyNuckolls CountyOtoe CountyPawnee CountyPerkins CountyPhelps CountyPierce CountyPlatte CountyPolk CountyRed Willow CountyRichardson CountyRock CountySaline CountySarpy CountySaunders CountyScotts Bluff CountySeward CountySheridan CountySioux CountyStanton CountyThayer CountyStanton CountyThurston CountyValley CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWebster CountyWheeler CountyYork County Totals Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Burt (largest village: Tekamah) Saline (largest city: Crete) Thurston (largest village: Pender)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Douglas (largest city: Omaha)
By congressional district Rickets won two of three congressional districts, with Krist winning the remaining one, which elected a Republican. District Ricketts Krist Representative 56% 44%Jeff Fortenberry 49% 51%Don Bacon 74% 26%Adrian Smith
See also Nebraska elections, 2018
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia
Official campaign websites Bob Krist (D) for Governor Pete Ricketts (R) for Governor