The 2008 congressional elections in Nebraska were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the state of Nebraska in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011.
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All 3 Nebraska seats to the United States House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nebraska has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of three Republicans. No district changed hands, although CQ Politics had forecasted district 2 to be at some risk for the incumbent party.
The party primary elections were held May 13.[1]
Match-up summary
| District | Incumbent | 2008 Status | Democratic | Republican | Other Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Fortenberry | Re-election | Max Yashirin | Jeff Fortenberry | |
| 2 | Lee Terry | Re-election | Jim Esch | Lee Terry | |
| 3 | Adrian Smith | Re-election | Jay C. Stoddard | Adrian Smith |
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska, 2008[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 510,513 | 65.84% | 3 | — | |
| Democratic | 264,885 | 34.16% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 775,398 | 100.00% | 3 | — | |
District 1
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 County results Fortenberry: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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This district encompassed most of the eastern quarter of the state. Republican incumbent Jeff Fortenberry (campaign website) won re-election. Max Yashirin (campaign website) was the Democratic nominee. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Fortenberry (inc.) | 184,923 | 70.36 | |
| Democratic | Max Yashirin | 77,897 | 29.64 | |
| Total votes | 262,820 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 2
This district encompassed the core of the Omaha metropolitan area. Republican incumbent Lee Terry won against Democratic nominee Jim Esch, an Omaha businessman. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up'. The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Toss-Up/Tilt Democratic'.
While campaigning, Terry had pledged that he would serve no more than three two year terms. However, he announced just months later that he would break the pledge. This garnered some bad press, but he won three more terms with little trouble. However, in 2006, he won by 55% to 45%, much less than expected in a solidly Republican district. His Democratic opponent in that race, Jim Esch, faced him again in 2008.
- Lee Terry (R) - Incumbent (campaign website)
- Jim Esch (D) (campaign website)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lee Terry (inc.) | 142,473 | 51.93 | |
| Democratic | Jim Esch | 131,901 | 48.07 | |
| Total votes | 274,374 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 3
This district encompassed the western three-fourths of the state. Republican incumbent Adrian Smith (campaign website) won against Democratic nominee Jay C. Stoddard (campaign website). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Adrian Smith (inc.) | 183,117 | 76.87 | |
| Democratic | Jay C. Stoddard | 55,087 | 23.13 | |
| Total votes | 238,204 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- Specific
- General
- 2008 Competitive House Race Chart The Cook Political Report, October 30, 2008.
- 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, November 2, 2008
External links
- 2008 Elections from the Nebraska Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Nebraska at Project Vote Smart
- Nebraska U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions for Nebraska congressional races from OpenSecrets
| Preceded by 2006 elections | United States House elections in Nebraska 2008 | Succeeded by 2010 elections |