How a Nebraska gubernatorial election influenced the composition of the United States Senate
In short: The 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial race became unexpectedly consequential when a U.S. senator announced his resignation. The outgoing governor pledged that the election winner would choose the replacement for that federal seat. This unique political maneuver ultimately led to the appointment of the former governor himself to the Senate.
The 2022 election for governor of Nebraska, held on November 8, 2022, saw Republican Jim Pillen secure victory with a 23-point margin. Pillen, who previously served as chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, defeated Democratic nominee Carol Blood. The primary elections had taken place earlier that year on May 10, narrowing the field of candidates.
The political stakes shifted significantly in October 2022. U.S. Senator Ben Sasse declared he would step down from his position. Incumbent Governor Pete Ricketts, who was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term, announced that the incoming governor would be responsible for appointing a successor to fill the vacancy. Following his successful election, Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to the Senate seat.
The electoral map revealed distinct regional preferences among the candidates. Jim Pillen, Charles Herbster, and Brett Lindstrom each carried their own home counties. Pillen secured Platte County with 66.3% of the vote, while Herbster won Richardson County with 55.7% and Lindstrom took Douglas County with 39.5%. Lindstrom performed well in the Omaha metropolitan area and narrowly lost Lancaster County, home to the state capital of Lincoln, to Pillen by about 2.1%.
Geographically, the support for the candidates varied across the state. Herbster found success across the Sandhills region, whereas Pillen dominated northeastern Nebraska and the counties situated along the I-80 corridor. Ultimately, Pillen’s broad support allowed him to carry all three of Nebraska's congressional districts, cementing his path to the governorship and his role in the subsequent Senate appointment.
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