2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska
The 2020 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Nebraska , concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election , as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections .
Incumbent Republican Senator Ben Sasse was challenged by Democratic nominee Chris Janicek, who was disavowed by his party after numerous scandals; by write-in candidate Preston Love Jr. , who received the support of the state Democratic Party; and by Libertarian nominee Gene Siadek.
Sasse was reelected to a second term in office with 62.7% of the vote and a 38.3% margin. He outperformed President Donald Trump by almost 27,000 votes, or 8.9%, compared to the concurrent presidential election , the largest overperformance by any Republican Senate candidate in the country that year. In contrast, Janicek was the worst performing Democratic Senate candidate in the country compared to Joe Biden , underperforming him by 13.1%. This was attributed to a sexual misconduct scandal affecting Janicek and split-ticket voting in Omaha suburbs.[ 1] [ 2]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Matt Innis
Ben Sasse
Undecided
We Ask America [ 9]
February 19–20, 2020
400 (LV)
± 4.9%
17%
65%
18%
Results
Republican primary results by county 50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Chris Janicek, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 [ 11]
On June 16, 2020, Janicek lost the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party after allegations surfaced of sending sexually explicit text messages about a female campaign staff member and allegedly using racist slurs to insult a guest at a party 20 years prior.[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] Nonetheless, Janicek refused to drop out of the race and his name remained on the ballot in the general election. In September the state Democratic party supported Preston Love Jr. via a write-in candidacy.[ 15] [ 16]
Eliminated in primary
Dennis Frank Maček[ 17]
Larry Marvin, perennial candidate [ 18]
Angie Philips, mental health advocate[ 19]
Alisha Shelton, behavioral health clinical supervisor[ 20]
Andy Stock, former candidate for Lancaster County Treasurer[ 17] [ 21]
Dan Wik, physician[ 22]
Declined
Results
Democratic primary results by county 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
Other candidates
Libertarian Party
Nominee
Withdrawn
Results
Democratic write-in
Declared
Withdrawn
General election
Predictions
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Ben Sasse (R)
Chris Janicek (D)
Gene Siadek (L)
Undecided
Cygnal [ 38]
October 19–21, 2020
625 (LV)
± 3.9%
47%
18%
6%
29%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Generic Republican
Generic Democrat
Undecided
Cygnal [ 38]
October 19–21, 2020
625 (LV)
± 3.9%
53%
38%
9%
Results
By county
By county
County[ 39]
Ben Sasse
Republican
Chris Janicek
Democratic
Preston Love Jr. (write-in)
Democratic
Gene SiadekLibertarian
Write-in
Total votes
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
%
#
Adams
70.88%
9,995
18.32%
2,583
3.89%
548
6.36%
897
0.56%
79
14,102
Antelope
82.14%
2,828
10.28%
354
0.84%
29
5.34%
184
1.39%
48
3,443
Arthur
84.44%
228
7.78%
21
0.00%
0
7.78%
21
0.00%
0
270
Banner
84.17%
335
9.80%
39
0.50%
2
5.28%
21
0.25%
1
398
Blaine
75.00%
222
11.82%
35
0.68%
2
11.49%
34
1.01%
3
296
Boone
79.51%
2,402
11.62%
351
1.79%
54
5.89%
178
1.19%
36
3,021
Box Butte
75.59%
3,840
16.18%
822
1.34%
68
6.42%
326
0.47%
24
5,080
Boyd
83.62%
883
8.43%
89
0.00%
0
7.10%
75
0.85%
9
1,056
Brown
85.20%
1,387
7.68%
125
0.86%
14
5.71%
93
0.55%
9
1,628
Buffalo
72.45%
16,729
16.68%
3,851
3.38%
780
6.95%
1,605
0.55%
126
23,091
Burt
73.57%
2,639
18.90%
678
1.95%
70
5.21%
187
0.36%
13
3,587
Butler
80.16%
3,512
13.99%
613
1.05%
46
4.52%
198
0.27%
12
4,381
Cass
70.77%
10,493
19.38%
2,874
3.55%
527
5.98%
886
0.31%
46
14,826
Cedar
81.34%
3,902
11.36%
545
0.96%
46
5.67%
272
0.67%
32
4,797
Chase
85.70%
1,666
8.90%
173
0.62%
12
4.06%
79
0.72%
14
1,944
Cherry
78.49%
2,365
9.39%
283
1.16%
35
9.09%
274
1.86%
56
3,013
Cheyenne
75.54%
3,505
15.47%
718
0.45%
21
6.96%
323
1.57%
73
4,640
Clay
77.73%
2,660
12.62%
432
1.55%
53
7.10%
243
0.99%
34
3,422
Colfax
73.24%
2,652
20.63%
747
1.66%
60
4.31%
156
0.17%
6
3,621
Cuming
82.07%
3,566
11.71%
509
1.57%
68
4.56%
198
0.09%
4
4,345
Custer
82.56%
4,824
9.09%
531
0.74%
43
6.18%
361
1.44%
84
5,843
Dakota
60.53%
3,951
34.24%
2,235
1.33%
87
3.68%
240
0.21%
14
6,527
Dawes
71.75%
2,883
19.54%
785
2.17%
87
6.22%
250
0.32%
13
4,018
Dawson
72.31%
6,460
20.48%
1,830
1.42%
127
5.36%
479
0.43%
38
8,934
Deuel
82.71%
837
10.28%
104
0.49%
5
6.13%
62
0.40%
4
1,012
Dixon
74.05%
2,206
16.82%
501
1.58%
47
6.92%
206
0.64%
19
2,979
Dodge
69.07%
11,397
20.65%
3,408
3.47%
572
6.51%
1,074
0.30%
50
16,501
Douglas
50.71%
136,745
32.49%
87,608
10.10%
27,229
5.94%
16,019
0.76%
2,046
269,647
Dundy
85.82%
835
7.91%
77
0.82%
8
4.93%
48
0.51%
5
973
Fillmore
78.46%
2,418
14.11%
435
2.21%
68
5.06%
156
0.16%
5
3,082
Franklin
82.67%
1,398
11.24%
190
1.24%
21
4.20%
71
0.65%
11
1,691
Frontier
84.14%
1,183
9.17%
129
0.92%
13
5.19%
73
0.57%
8
1,406
Furnas
81.43%
2,079
10.85%
277
0.71%
18
6.31%
161
0.71%
18
2,553
Gage
70.44%
7,656
20.61%
2,240
2.83%
308
5.70%
620
0.41%
45
10,869
Garden
82.06%
938
11.11%
127
0.09%
1
6.47%
74
0.26%
3
1,143
Garfield
84.52%
868
8.86%
91
0.78%
8
4.87%
50
0.97%
10
1,027
Gosper
82.42%
900
10.16%
111
1.56%
17
5.40%
59
0.46%
5
1,092
Grant
86.29%
321
3.76%
14
1.08%
4
6.72%
25
2.15%
8
372
Greeley
79.97%
938
14.15%
166
0.85%
10
4.77%
56
0.26%
3
1,173
Hall
68.54%
16,231
21.87%
5,180
2.76%
653
6.29%
1,489
0.54%
129
23,682
Hamilton
77.24%
4,114
12.73%
678
2.23%
119
7.02%
374
0.77%
41
5,326
Harlan
81.37%
1,529
11.07%
208
1.22%
23
5.59%
105
0.75%
14
1,879
Hayes
88.91%
457
5.84%
30
0.39%
2
4.47%
23
0.39%
2
514
Hitchcock
81.65%
1,179
9.97%
144
0.69%
10
7.55%
109
0.14%
2
1,444
Holt
77.98%
4,165
11.29%
603
1.14%
61
6.98%
373
2.60%
139
5,341
Hooker
81.73%
349
11.24%
48
0.94%
4
3.98%
17
2.11%
9
427
Howard
78.86%
2,660
13.22%
446
1.54%
52
6.14%
207
0.24%
8
3,373
Jefferson
75.17%
2,764
18.06%
664
1.25%
46
5.19%
191
0.33%
12
3,677
Johnson
72.93%
1,576
19.30%
417
1.90%
41
5.78%
125
0.09%
2
2,161
Kearney
79.56%
2,790
11.75%
412
2.02%
71
6.27%
220
0.40%
14
3,507
Keith
78.92%
3,355
13.01%
553
1.62%
69
5.98%
254
0.47%
20
4,251
Keya Paha
84.39%
427
8.10%
41
0.20%
1
6.72%
34
0.59%
3
506
Kimball
79.85%
1,458
13.36%
244
0.49%
9
6.13%
112
0.16%
3
1,826
Knox
75.78%
3,376
15.89%
708
0.65%
29
6.46%
288
1.21%
54
4,455
Lancaster
51.74%
79,436
31.75%
48,756
10.41%
15,990
5.47%
8,405
0.62%
954
153,541
Lincoln
75.39%
12,679
15.61%
2,626
1.81%
304
6.62%
1,113
0.57%
96
16,818
Logan
85.22%
369
8.31%
36
0.23%
1
5.08%
22
1.15%
5
433
Loup
84.28%
370
6.38%
28
4.10%
18
4.78%
21
0.46%
2
439
Madison
75.31%
11,552
15.64%
2,399
2.20%
337
6.15%
943
0.71%
109
15,340
McPherson
88.14%
260
4.07%
12
0.68%
2
6.44%
19
0.68%
2
295
Merrick
79.81%
3,242
12.58%
511
1.03%
42
6.57%
267
0.00%
0
4,062
Morrill
76.14%
1,870
13.23%
325
0.53%
13
9.00%
221
1.10%
27
2,456
Nance
78.57%
1,353
14.05%
242
1.63%
28
5.23%
90
0.52%
9
1,722
Nemaha
75.11%
2,511
15.67%
524
2.54%
85
6.16%
206
0.51%
17
3,343
Nuckolls
82.27%
1,856
11.30%
255
1.20%
27
4.74%
107
0.49%
11
2,256
Otoe
73.18%
5,961
18.43%
1,501
2.49%
203
5.59%
455
0.32%
26
8,146
Pawnee
77.46%
1,072
15.68%
217
2.02%
28
4.70%
65
0.14%
2
1,384
Perkins
85.18%
1,270
9.26%
138
0.74%
11
4.63%
69
0.20%
3
1,491
Phelps
80.46%
3,896
10.08%
488
1.18%
57
6.69%
324
1.59%
77
4,842
Pierce
83.85%
3,261
9.08%
353
1.05%
41
5.25%
204
0.77%
30
3,889
Platte
79.26%
12,055
14.35%
2,183
1.40%
213
4.77%
725
0.22%
34
15,210
Polk
80.97%
2,276
12.63%
355
1.39%
39
4.66%
131
0.36%
10
2,811
Red Willow
80.65%
4,290
10.79%
574
1.69%
90
6.39%
340
0.47%
25
5,319
Richardson
76.05%
3,023
17.11%
680
1.06%
42
4.93%
196
0.86%
34
3,975
Rock
86.94%
699
5.35%
43
0.00%
0
5.97%
48
1.74%
14
804
Saline
65.91%
3,675
25.29%
1,410
1.99%
111
6.81%
380
0.00%
0
5,576
Sarpy
61.46%
57,763
25.00%
23,500
6.88%
6,471
6.20%
5,826
0.46%
432
93,992
Saunders
74.06%
9,210
16.06%
1,997
3.22%
400
6.18%
768
0.49%
61
12,436
Scotts Bluff
71.36%
10,820
20.06%
3,042
1.82%
276
6.29%
953
0.47%
71
15,162
Seward
75.04%
6,718
16.35%
1,464
3.21%
287
5.08%
455
0.32%
29
8,953
Sheridan
78.87%
2,042
11.20%
290
0.50%
13
8.07%
209
1.35%
35
2,589
Sherman
75.60%
1,233
15.14%
247
0.98%
16
7.85%
128
0.43%
7
1,631
Sioux
84.92%
597
7.40%
52
0.71%
5
6.69%
47
0.28%
2
703
Stanton
76.80%
2,304
12.47%
374
1.63%
49
8.07%
242
1.03%
31
3,000
Thayer
81.38%
2,356
12.85%
372
1.38%
40
4.25%
123
0.14%
4
2,895
Thomas
82.25%
329
10.00%
40
0.00%
0
5.25%
21
2.50%
10
400
Thurston
53.30%
1,218
38.73%
885
2.36%
54
3.24%
74
2.36%
54
2,285
Valley
80.47%
1,821
12.37%
280
1.33%
30
5.39%
122
0.44%
10
2,263
Washington
72.88%
8,808
16.39%
1,981
4.10%
495
6.30%
761
0.34%
41
12,086
Wayne
73.62%
3,000
15.66%
638
3.26%
133
6.77%
276
0.69%
28
4,075
Webster
80.43%
1,443
12.82%
230
1.78%
32
4.96%
89
0.00%
0
1,794
Wheeler
80.79%
387
10.23%
49
0.63%
3
7.52%
36
0.84%
4
479
York
77.84%
5,406
14.64%
1,017
1.83%
127
5.46%
379
0.23%
16
6,945
Notes
^ a b c Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
References
^ Rakich, Nathaniel (December 2, 2020). "There Wasn't That Much Split-Ticket Voting In 2020" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved December 2, 2020 .
^ Beaumont, Thomas (February 12, 2021). "Nebraska Sen. Sasse bets political future on opposing Trump" . Associated Press. Retrieved February 13, 2021 .
^ Akin, Stephanie (August 5, 2019). "Ben Sasse, one of the Senate's last remaining Republican Trump critics, to seek reelection" . Roll Call . Retrieved August 6, 2019 .
^ Walton, Don (July 21, 2019). "Don Walton: Hateful politics, the moonshot, another ag blow" . Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved August 2, 2019 .
^ Walton, Don (August 2, 2019). "Matt Innis will oppose Sasse in 2020 GOP primary" . Lincoln Journal Star .
^ Cohen, Zach C. (April 1, 2019). "How Sasse Is Prepping for 2020—in Nebraska" . National Journal . Retrieved April 2, 2019 .
^ Isenstadt, Alex (July 9, 2018). "Sasse tempts Trump's wrath by refusing to bow" . Politico. Retrieved November 14, 2018 .
^ "Ben Sasse (NE-SEN)" . Club for Growth . Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ We Ask America
^ a b c "Primary Election Official Results" (PDF) . Nebraska Secretary of State . Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
^ Sherrod, Brian (September 18, 2019). "Chris Janicek runs for U.S. Senate 2020 seat representing Nebraska" . NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff . Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019 .
^ Astor, Maggie (June 16, 2020). "Nebraska Democrat Urged to Quit Senate Race Over Sexual Texts to Aide" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 22, 2020 .
^ Astor, Maggie (June 17, 2020). "Nebraska Senate Candidate Used Racist Slur at a Party, Guests Recall" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 22, 2020 .
^ Nebraska, Democratic Party (June 16, 2020). "Nebraska Democratic Party demands that Chris Janicek drop out of Senate race after sexual harassment complaint" . nebraskademocrats.org . Retrieved June 22, 2020 .
^ Sanderford, Aaron (September 1, 2020). "Chris Janicek won't quit Senate race; Democrats eye write-in candidate" . Omaha World-Herald . Retrieved October 6, 2020 .
^ a b Sanderford, Aaron (September 10, 2020). "Preston Love Jr. announces write-in candidacy against Sen. Ben Sasse" . Omaha World-Herald . Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020 .
^ a b c "Nebraska Secretary of State Statewide Candidate List as of 12/11/2019 8:49:50 AM" (PDF) . Nebraska Secretary of State .
^ Walton, Don (August 18, 2019). "Don Walton: Mike Flood, Lady Liberty and Sonny Perdue" . JournalStar.com . Retrieved August 20, 2019 .
^ Morton, Joseph (July 15, 2019). "Will Sen. Ben Sasse seek another term? Signs point to yes" . Omaha World-Herald . Retrieved August 2, 2019 .
^ "Alisha Shelton for Senate | Official Site" . Retrieved December 2, 2019 .
^ Hicks, Nancy (February 15, 2018). "Andrew Stock files for Lancaster County treasurer on Democratic ticket" . JournalStar.com . Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Star, DON WALTON Lincoln Journal. "Don Walton: Mike Flood, Lady Liberty and Sonny Perdue" . Hastings Tribune . Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019 .
^ Jordan, Joe (November 13, 2018). "Democrat Names for 2020 Starting to Surface" . Sandhills Express. Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
^ "13 changes to the candidate list" . The Green Papers . December 6, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ Dvorak, Gina (September 10, 2020). "Nebraska Democrats announce Preston Love Jr. as write-in candidate for Senate" . 6News . Retrieved September 10, 2020 .
^ "Brad Ashford to Launch Write-In Bid for US Senate" . KETV TV. August 24, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020 .
^ Wasikowski, Jake (August 25, 2020). "Fmr. Rep. Ashford feels he can beat U.S. Senator Sasse as write-in candidate" . 3 News Now . Retrieved August 26, 2020 .
^ "Brad Ashford reverses course, says he will not run for U.S. Senate" . KETV . August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020 .
^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings for October 29, 2020" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate Ratings" . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate race ratings" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved March 12, 2021 .
^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings" . Daily Kos Elections . Retrieved March 13, 2021 .
^ "2020 Election Forecast" . Politico . November 19, 2019.
^ "Battle for the Senate 2020" . RCP . October 23, 2020.
^ "2020 Senate Elections Model" . Decision Desk HQ . September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020 .
^ Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate" . FiveThirtyEight . Retrieved September 18, 2020 .
^ "Forecasting the US elections" . The Economist . November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021 .
^ a b Cygnal
^ a b "General Election Official Results" (PDF) . Nebraska Secretary of State . Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
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