The 2020 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators in the 25 odd-numbered seats of the 49 legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. State senators serve four-year terms in the unicameral Nebraska Legislature.
A top two primary election on May 12, 2020 determined which candidates appear on the November 3 general election ballot. Each candidate technically runs as a non-partisan (i.e., no party preference). The Nebraska State Legislature's website offers a statewide map of the 49 legislative districts here and maps for each individual district can be found on the website.
Following the 2018 elections, the Republicans maintained effective control of the Nebraska State Legislature with 30 seats. The Democrats increased their numbers from 16 to 18.
Republicans flipped three seats from Democrats; Democrats flipped one seat from Republicans and one from nonpartisan Ernie Chambers.
Open seats that changed parties
Democratic seats won by Republicans
District 31: Won by Rich Pahls. District 45: Won by Rita Sanders.
Nonpartisan seats won by Democrats
District 11: Won by Terrell McKinney.
Incumbents defeated
In general elections
Democrats
District 35: Dan Quick (elected in 2016) lost to Raymond Aguilar.
Republicans
District 49: Andrew LaGrone (appointed in 2019) lost to Jen Day.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportOctober 21, 2020
Close races +DistrictWinnerPartyMargin3Carol Blood Democratic0.8%49Jen Day Democratic (flip)1.0%31Rich Pahls Republican (flip)5.4%29Eliot Bostar Democratic6.2%35Raymond Aguilar Republican (flip)7.2%45Rita Sanders Republican (flip)7.6%9John Cavanaugh Democratic8.2%21Mike Hilgers Republican9.92%
Detailed results
Note: All elections are technically non-partisan in the State Legislature; therefore, parties listed here are from candidates' websites and official party endorsement lists. Candidates all appear on the ballot as nonpartisan. Candidates endorsed by the Republican Party: Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party:
District 1
District 3
District 5
District 7
District 9 Sara Howard (incumbent) was term-limited.
District 11 Ernie Chambers (incumbent) was term-limited.
District 13
District 15
District 17
District 19 Jim Scheer (incumbent) was term-limited.
District 21
District 23
District 25
District 27
District 29
Kate Bolz (incumbent) was term-limited.
District 31 Rick Kolowski (incumbent) retired.
District 33
District 35
District 37
District 39
District 41
District 43
District 45 Sue Crawford (incumbent) was term-limited.
District 47
District 49
John Murante (elected in 2016) resigned when elected Treasurer of Nebraska in 2018. Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Andrew LaGrone to fill the vacancy.
Notes
References
External links
(State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)