2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska
Introduction The '''2012 United States Senate election in Nebraska''' took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections.Incumbent Democratic senator Ben Nelson chose to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democrat Bob Kerrey, who held this seat from 1989 to 2001, and Republican state senator Deb Fischer won their respective parties' primary elections on May 15, 2012.Fischer won the general election with 57.8% of the vote. Her election marked the first time since 1970 that a Republican was elected to Nebraska's Class 1 Senate seat, as well as the first time that a woman was elected to a full Senate term in the state's history. This was the only Republican flip of the 2012 U.S. Senate elections.Deb Fischer's inauguration marked the first time since the resignation of Roman Hruska in 1976 where Republicans held both Senate seats from Nebraska.
Democratic primary === Candidates ======= Declared ====* Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator and former governor of Nebraska* Steven Lustgarten, video production company owner* Larry Marvin, landlord and perennial candidate* Sherman Yates==== Withdrew ====* Chuck Hassebrook, Regent of the University of Nebraska==== Declined ====* Chris Beutler, Mayor of Lincoln* Jane Kleeb, founder and director of Bold Nebraska* Scott Kleeb, businessman, Democratic nominee for the 3rd congressional district in 2006 and for the U.S. Senate in 2008* Steve Lathrop, state senator* Ben Nelson, incumbent U.S. senator* Kim Robak, former lieutenant governor=== Endorsements ====== Results ===
Republican primary === Candidates ===* Jon Bruning, Attorney General of Nebraska* Sharyn Elander* Deb Fischer, state senator* Pat Flynn, financial adviser* Don Stenberg, treasurer of Nebraska, former attorney general of Nebraska and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000* Spencer Zimmerman, truck driver and Air Force veteran==== Declined ====* Bob Bennie, businessman* Rex Fisher, businessman* Mike Flood, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature* Jeff Fortenberry, U.S. representative* Dave Heineman, Governor of Nebraska* Kay Orr, former governor of Nebraska* Mike Simmonds, businessman* Adrian Smith, U.S. Representative* Lee Terry, U.S. Representative=== Polling === Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JonBruning SharynElander DebFischer PatFlynn DonStenberg SpencerZimmerman Undecided  Public Policy Polling January 26–27, 2011 519 ±4.3% '''47%''' – 6% 7% 19% – 20%  Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2011 400 ±4.9% '''37%''' – 14% 6% 16% – 27%  Public Policy Polling March 22–25, 2012 440 ±4.7% '''46%''' 3% 12% 4% 18% 0% 18%  We Ask America May 6, 2012 1,173 ±2.9% '''42.2%''' 3.4% 25.9% 4% 22.5% 2% –  We Ask America May 13, 2012 1,109 ±2.95% 34% 4% '''39%''' 3% 18% 2% –  Public Policy Polling May 14, 2012 272 ±5.9% 33% 1% '''37%''' 2% 17% 1% 7%=== Endorsements ====== Results ===
General election === Candidates ===* Bob Kerrey, (Democrat), former U.S. senator and former governor of Nebraska* Deb Fischer, (Republican), state senator=== Debates ===The first debate took place at the Heartland Events Center during the Nebraska State Fair at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 25, 2012.Kerrey and Fischer participated.The second debate took place on September 28, 2012, KETV-TV, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Omaha. Kerrey and Fischer participated.The third debate took place on October 1, 2012, NET-TV. Kerrey and Fischer participated. Topics included agriculture policy, the economy, taxes and education. ;External links*  Complete video at ''Grand Island Independent'', first debate, August 25, 2012*  Complete video of debate, September 28, 2012 - C-SPAN*  Complete video of debate, October 1, 2012 - C-SPAN=== Fundraising === Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Bob Kerrey (D) $4,877,704 $4,582,224 $295,480 $0 Deb Fischer (R) $4,536,837 $3,472,721 $1,458,122 $65,000 Source: Federal Election Commission==== Top contributors ==== Bob Kerrey Contribution Deb Fischer Contribution Rural Media Group $62,500 Elliott Management Corporation $29,413 MacAndrews & Forbes $51,000 Hawkins Construction $20,000 Tenet Healthcare $25,650 Kelly PAC $20,000 Nix, Patterson & Roach $25,000 Tenaska Energy $17,500 Allen & Company $22,500 Werner Enterprises $15,250 Kirkland & Ellis $21,500 T&L Irrigation $13,200 Level 3 Communications $17,000 Union Pacific $11,500 Genworth Financial $16,000 Pinnacle Financial Partners $10,500 Williams Kherkher $16,000 21st Century Majority Fund $10,000 Bank of America $15,250 AG Processing $10,000==== Top industries ==== Bob Kerrey Contribution Deb Fischer Contribution Lawyers/Law Firms $293,434 Leadership PACs $165,500 Retired $219,224 Retired $124,546 Leadership PACs $203,500 Agribusiness $105,052 Financial Institutions $182,150 Commercial Banks $54,990 Entertainment Industry $119,000 Financial Institutions $54,416 Lobbyists $104,400 General Contractors $54,300 Real Estate $87,675 Real Estate $38,000 Manufacturing & Distributing $61,700 Insurance $36,000 Education $53,000 Health Professionals $31,850 Insurance $51,500 Electric Utilities $29,900=== Predictions === Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report  November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball  November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report  November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics  November 5, 2012=== Polling === Poll source    BobKerrey (D) DebFischer (R) Other Undecided  Rasmussen Reports March 5, 2012 500 ±4.5% 34% '''46%''' 10% 10%  Public Policy Polling March 22–25, 2012 1,028 ±3.1% 38% '''48%''' — 14%  Rasmussen Reports May 16, 2012 500 ±4.5% 38% '''56%''' 2% 3%  WeAskAmerica August 14, 2012 1,273 ±2.8% 34% '''55%''' — 11%  Omaha World-Herald September 17–20, 2012 800 ±3.5% 42% '''52%''' — 6%  Pharos Research October 19–21, 2012 783 ±3.5% 46% '''48%''' — 6%  Omaha World-Herald October 23–25, 2012 800 ±3.5% 45% '''48%''' — 7%  We Ask America November 1, 2012 1,178 ±3.0% 41% '''54%''' — 5%; With Kerrey Poll source    BobKerrey (D) JonBruning (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 40% '''51%''' – 9%  Rasmussen Reports March 5, 2012 500 ±4.5% 33% '''55%''' 4% 7%  Public Policy Polling March 22–25, 2012 1,028 ±3.1% 37% '''54%''' – 9% Poll source    BobKerrey (D) DonStenberg (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 39% '''47%''' – 14%  Rasmussen Reports March 5, 2012 500 ±4.5% 34% '''52%''' 5% 9%  Public Policy Polling March 22–25, 2012 1,028 ±3.1% 38% '''52%''' – 10%;With Lathrop Poll source    SteveLathrop (D) JonBruning (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 29% '''52%''' – 19% Poll source    SteveLathrop (D) DonStenberg (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 27% '''52%''' – 21%;With Nelson Poll source    BenNelson (D) JonBruning (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies December 15, 2010 1,789 ±2.3% 38% '''52%''' –– 10%  Public Policy Polling January 26–27, 2011 977 ±3.1% 39% '''50%''' –– 11%  Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2011 739 ±3.6% 42% '''46%''' –– 12%  Magellan Strategies November 20–21, 2011 645 ±3.9% 39% '''45%''' –– 16% Poll source    BenNelson (D) DebFischer (R) Other Undecided  Public Policy Polling January 26–27, 2011 977 ±3.1% '''42%''' 35% –– 22%  Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2011 739 ±3.6% '''41%''' 39% –– 20%  Magellan Strategies November 20–21, 2011 645 ±3.9% '''41%''' 35% –– 24% Poll source    BenNelson (D) PatFlynn (R) Other Undecided  Public Policy Polling January 26–27, 2011 977 ±3.1% '''42%''' 33% –– 24%  Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2011 739 ±3.6% '''43%''' 36% –– 21% Poll source    BenNelson (D) DaveHeineman (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies November 20–21, 2011 645 ±3.9% 33% '''51%''' –– 16% Poll source    BenNelson (D) DonStenberg (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies December 15, 2010 1,789 ±2.3% 40% '''46%''' –– 14%  Public Policy Polling January 26–27, 2011 977 ±3.1% 41% '''45%''' –– 14%  Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2011 739 ±3.6% 41% '''44%''' –– 15%  Magellan Strategies November 20–21, 2011 645 ±3.9% 40% '''41%''' –– 19%;With Robak Poll source    KimRobak (D) JonBruning (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 34% '''51%''' – 15% Poll source    KimRobak (D) DonStenberg (R) Other Undecided  Magellan Strategies January 10–11, 2012 675 ±3.77% 32% '''50%''' – 18%=== Results ======= By county ====From Secretary of State of NebraskaCountyDeb Fischer''Republican''Bob Kerrey''Democratic''Totalvotes %# %#Adams'''64.65%'''8,170'''35.35%'''4,46812,638Antelope'''81.32%'''2,625'''18.68%'''6033,228Arthur'''86.74%'''229'''13.26%'''35264Banner'''84.91%'''349'''15.09%'''62411Blaine'''89.23%'''265'''10.77%'''32297Boone'''76.31%'''2,139'''23.69%'''6642,803Box Butte'''60.41%'''2,838'''39.59%'''1,8604,698Boyd'''80.36%'''851'''19.64%'''2081,059Brown'''86.80%'''1,342'''13.20%'''2041,546Buffalo'''70.01%'''13,491'''29.99%'''5,77919,270Burt'''59.55%'''1,977'''40.45%'''1,3433,320Butler'''68.86%'''2,642'''31.14%'''1,1953,837Cass'''59.25%'''7,153'''40.75%'''4,91912,072Cedar'''70.31%'''3,041'''29.69%'''1,2844,325Chase'''83.57%'''1,546'''16.43%'''3041,850Cherry'''77.91%'''2,328'''22.09%'''6602,988Cheyenne'''72.54%'''3,344'''27.46%'''1,2664,610Clay'''74.52%'''2,194'''25.48%'''7502,944Colfax'''65.23%'''1,992'''34.77%'''1,0623,054Cuming'''73.00%'''2,893'''27.00%'''1,0703,963Custer'''80.78%'''4,439'''19.22%'''1,0565,495Dakota'''45.63%'''2,770'''54.37%'''3,3006,070Dawes'''64.86%'''2,405'''35.14%'''1,3033,708Dawson'''69.54%'''5,422'''30.46%'''2,3757,797Deuel'''75.00%'''762'''25.00%'''2541,016Dixon'''60.22%'''1,618'''39.78%'''1,0692,687Dodge'''59.30%'''8,823'''40.70%'''6,05614,879Douglas'''48.25%'''106,951'''51.75%'''114,700221,651Dundy'''78.35%'''767'''21.65%'''212979Fillmore'''67.18%'''1,918'''32.82%'''9372,855Franklin'''72.59%'''1,107'''27.41%'''4181,525Frontier'''77.12%'''1,008'''22.88%'''2991,307Furnas'''77.43%'''1,729'''22.57%'''5042,233Gage'''53.74%'''5,172'''46.26%'''4,4529,624Garden'''75.76%'''819'''24.24%'''2621,081Garfield'''81.99%'''774'''18.01%'''170944Gosper'''75.31%'''738'''24.69%'''242980Grant'''83.52%'''299'''16.48%'''59358Greeley'''69.61%'''827'''30.39%'''3611,188Hall'''61.32%'''12,350'''38.68%'''7,79020,140Hamilton'''72.27%'''3,498'''27.73%'''1,3424,840Harlan'''75.64%'''1329'''24.36%'''4281,757Hayes'''83.49%'''445'''16.51%'''88533Hitchcock'''74.98%'''1,112'''25.02%'''3711,483Holt'''79.17%'''3,896'''20.83%'''1,0254,921Hooker'''82.84%'''333'''17.16%'''69402Howard'''67.69%'''1,940'''32.31%'''9262,866Jefferson'''60.04%'''2,052'''39.96%'''1,3663,418Johnson'''55.76%'''1,147'''44.24%'''9102,057Kearney'''74.08%'''2,343'''25.92%'''8203,163Keith'''73.76%'''2,988'''26.24%'''1,0634,051Keya Paha'''84.62%'''407'''15.38%'''74481Kimball'''73.39%'''1,233'''26.61%'''4471,680Knox'''71.52%'''2,880'''28.48%'''1,1474,027Lancaster'''46.15%'''58,306'''53.85%'''68,046126,352Lincoln'''66.00%'''10,285'''34.00%'''5,29815,583Logan'''82.45%'''357'''17.55%'''76433Loup'''78.71%'''281'''21.29%'''76357Madison'''72.92%'''10,089'''27.08%'''3,74613,835McPherson'''86.35%'''253'''13.65%'''40293Merrick'''71.44%'''2,491'''28.56%'''9963,487Morrill'''76.24%'''1,675'''23.76%'''5222,197Nance'''66.42%'''1,068'''33.58%'''5401,608Nemaha'''59.09%'''1,901'''40.91%'''1,3163,217Nuckolls'''70.21%'''1,532'''29.79%'''6502,182Otoe'''58.58%'''4,067'''41.42%'''2,8766,943Pawnee'''64.11%'''861'''35.89%'''4821,343Perkins'''78.60%'''1,091'''21.40%'''2971,388Phelps'''77.00%'''3,368'''23.00%'''1,0064,374Pierce'''79.55%'''2,716'''20.45%'''6983,414Platte'''73.13%'''9,801'''26.87%'''3,60113,402Polk'''74.65%'''1,820'''25.35%'''6182,438Red Willow'''75.25%'''3,692'''24.75%'''1,2144,906Richardson'''62.08%'''2,312'''37.92%'''1,4123,724Rock'''86.90%'''683'''13.10%'''103786Saline'''48.30%'''2,387'''51.70%'''2,5554,942Sarpy'''57.56%'''40,682'''42.44%'''29,99670,678Saunders'''63.72%'''6,547'''36.28%'''3,72810,275Scotts Bluff'''64.96%'''9,299'''35.04%'''5,01714,316Seward'''63.18%'''4,764'''36.82%'''2,7767,540Sheridan'''80.24%'''1,986'''19.76%'''4892,475Sherman'''63.20%'''960'''36.80%'''5591,519Sioux'''82.76%'''605'''17.24%'''126731Stanton'''74.99%'''1,979'''25.01%'''6602,639Thayer'''65.79%'''1,742'''34.21%'''9062,648Thomas'''85.23%'''352'''14.77%'''61413Thurston'''40.38%'''900'''59.62%'''1,3292,229Valley'''72.91%'''1,599'''27.09%'''5942,193Washington'''65.52%'''6,660'''34.48%'''3,50510,165Wayne'''67.56%'''2,484'''32.44%'''1,1933,677Webster'''69.66%'''1,203'''30.34%'''5241,727Wheeler'''79.78%'''359'''20.22%'''91450York'''74.78%'''4,726'''25.22%'''1,5946,320====Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican=======By congressional district===Fischer won all 3 congressional districts. District Fischer Kerrey Representative '''55.01%''' 44.99%Jeff Fortenberry '''50.06%''' 49.94%Lee Terry '''68.48%''' 31.52%Adrian Smith
See also * 2012 United States Senate elections* 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska
References
External links *  Elections from the Nebraska Secretary of State*  Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org*  Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation*  Candidate issue positions at On the Issues*  Election news coverage at the ''Omaha World-Herald'';Official campaign websites*  Russell Anderson for U.S. Senate*  Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate*  Bob Kerrey for U.S. Senate