The 2024 Nebraska State Legislature elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nebraska voters elected state senators for the 25 odd-numbered seats of the 49 legislative districts in the Nebraska Unicameral. State senators serve four-year terms in the Nebraska Legislature. All elections are technically non-partisan in the State Legislature; therefore, any parties listed are from candidates' websites and official party endorsement lists. Candidates all appear on the ballot as nonpartisan. Senators are limited to two consecutive terms, after which they must wait four years before running again.
Overview
Summary by district
In the 2020 Presidential Election, Republican Donald Trump received the most votes in 34 of Nebraska's legislative districts and Democrat Joe Biden received the most votes in 15 districts. Out of the 25 districts which have elections in 2024, there are three districts where Donald Trump won the most votes in 2020 that a Democrat currently represents: District 3, based in Sarpy County ( Trump 7%); District 15, based in Dodge County ( Trump 33%); and District 49, based in Sarpy County ( Trump 12%).
Retirements
Fifteen incumbents did not seek re-election.
Democrats
- District 3: Carol Blood was term-limited (ran for U.S. Representative).
- District 7: Tony Vargas was term-limited (ran for U.S. Representative).
- District 13: Justin Wayne was term-limited.
- District 15: Lynne Walz was term-limited.
- District 27: Anna Wishart was term-limited.
Republicans
- District 1: Julie Slama retired.
- District 5: Mike McDonnell was term-limited.
- District 17: Joni Albrecht was term-limited.
- District 23: Bruce Bostelman was term-limited.
- District 33: Steve Halloran was term-limited.
- District 37: John Lowe was term-limited.
- District 39: Lou Ann Linehan was term-limited.
- District 41: Fred Meyer retired.
- District 43: Tom Brewer was term-limited.
- District 47: Steve Erdman was term-limited.
Predictions
Redistricting greatly reduced the number of competitive seats in the state, making it almost certain that the chamber would remain in Republican hands.
Statewide
Competitive districts
Race by district
- 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
The incumbent was Republican Julie Slama, Incumbent retired, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dennis Schaardt, businessman and former Pawnee County commissioner, mayor, city councilman and volunteer fire chief.
- Robert Hallstrom, lawyer
Eliminated in primary
- Glenda Willnerd, Librarian
Withdrawn
- Bob Holman
- Mike Powers
- Julie Slama, lawyer (incumbent)
Predictions
Results
District 3
The incumbent was Democratic Carol Blood, Incumbent term-limited, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Victor Rountree, pastor and former United States Air Force chief master sergeant
- Felix Ungerman, former deputy chief of staff for US Representative Don Bacon
Predictions
Results
District 5
The incumbent was Republican Mike McDonnell, Incumbent term limited, Democratic gain.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Gilbert Ayala, unsuccessful candidate in District 5 in 2016 and 2020
- Margo Juarez, member of the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education
Eliminated in primary
- Flint Harkness, resource teacher for special education
Withdrawn
- Tim Benak, firefighter and adjunct instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Predictions
Results
District 7
The incumbent was Democratic Tony Vargas, Incumbent term-limited, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dunixi Guereca
- Tim Pendrell, clerk of the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee in the Nebraska Legislature
Eliminated in primary
- Christopher Geary, former candidate in the 2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election Republican primary, former candidate for District 7 in 2012 against Jeremy Nordquist, and former candidate in the 2017 Omaha mayoral election.
- Ben Salazar, former lawyer and publisher of the Nuestro Mundo Newspaper
Predictions
Results
District 9
The incumbent was Democratic John Cavanaugh, Incumbent running, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- John Cavanaugh (incumbent)
- Julia Palzer, attorney and former dean of admissions at Creighton University School of Law
Predictions
Results
District 11
The incumbent was Democratic Terrell McKinney, Incumbent running, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Terrell McKinney (incumbent)
Withdrawn, then reenter, Failed to qualify
- Ernie Chambers, former member of the Nebraska Legislature from 1971 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2021
Eliminated in primary
- Calandra Cooper
Predictions
Results
District 13
The incumbent was Democratic Justin Wayne, Incumbent term-limited, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Nick Batter, attorney and corporate counsel for a construction company
- Ashlei Spivey, director of the nonprofit organization I Be Black Girl
Eliminated in primary
- Matthew Clough, former chief operating officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- Tracy Hightower-Henne, attorney
Predictions
Results
District 15
The incumbent was Democratic Lynne Walz, Incumbent term-limited, Republican gain.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dave "Woody" Wordekemper, firefighter
- Roxie Kracl, former chair of the Dodge County Republican Party
Eliminated in primary
- Anthony Hanson
- Peter Mayberry,
- Scott Thomas
Withdrawn
- Chuck Emanuel
Predictions
Results
District 17
The incumbent was Republican Joni Albrecht, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Mike Albrecht
- Glen Meyer, farmer and chairman of the Thurston County, Nebraska, Board
Eliminated in primary
- Cindy Kai
Predictions
Results
District 19
Candidates
The incumbent was Republican Rob Dover, Incumbent running, Republican hold.
Advanced to general
- Rob Dover, real estate developer (incumbent, appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts)
- Jeanne Reigle, agriculture producer and former member of the Northeast Community College Board of Governors
Eliminated in primary
- Melissa Temple, former teacher and member of the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District
Predictions
Results
District 21
The incumbent was Republican Beau Ballard, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Beau Ballard, business owner (incumbent, appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts)
- Seth Derner, business owner
Eliminated in primary
- Bryan Paseka
Predictions
Results
District 23
The incumbent was Republican Bruce Bostelman, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dennis Fujan, farmer
- Jared Storm, small-business owner and pilot
Eliminated in primary
- Allie French, small-business owner and founder of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach
- Larissa Schultz, nonprofit worker from Yutan, Nebraska
- Jacob Wolff, navy veteran
- Alan Zavodny, former mayor of David City, Nebraska
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 25
The incumbent was Republican Carolyn Bosn, Incumbent running, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Carolyn Bosn, attorney (incumbent, appointed by Governor Jim Pillen)
- Nicki Behmer Popp, realtor and member of the Lincoln Airport Authority
Eliminated in primary
- Aurang Zeb, former unsuccessful candidate for city council in Lincoln, Nebraska
Predictions
Results
District 27
The incumbent was Democratic Anna Wishart, Incumbent term-limited, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dawn Liphardt
- Jason Prokop, director of First Five Nebraska
Withdrawn
- Kameron Neeman, community organizer and activist, board member for Nebraska Abortion Resources and OutNebraska
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 29
The incumbent was Democratic Eliot Bostar, Incumbent term-limited, Democratic hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Eliot Bostar (incumbent), nonprofit executive
Withdrawn
- Phil Bruce, former cybersecurity analyst and nonprofit founder
Predictions
Results
District 31
The incumbent was Republican Kathleen Kauth, Incumbent running, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Mary Ann Folchert
- Kathleen Kauth (incumbent)
Withdrawn
- Jessie McGrath
Predictions
Results
District 33
The incumbent was Republican Steve Halloran, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dan Lonowski, small business owner, retired public school teacher, and veteran
- Michelle Smith, business owner and therapist
Eliminated in primary
- Joshua Frederick, architectural designer, project manager, and veteran
- Paul Hamelink, small business owner and former member of the city council of Hastings, Nebraska
Results
District 35
The incumbent was Republican Ray Aguilar, Incumbent running, Democratic gain.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Ray Aguilar (incumbent)
- Dan Quick, former state senator from 2016 to 2020
Predictions
Results
District 37
The incumbent was Republican John Lowe, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Stan Clouse, mayor of Kearney, Nebraska
- Lana Peister, registered nurse and small-business partner
Eliminated in primary
- Nathan Leach, founder of Nonpartisan Nebraska
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 39
The incumbent was Republican Lou Ann Linehan, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Allison Heimes, attorney and candidate for District 39 in 2020
- Tony Sorrentino, president and founder of Health Plan Fiduciary Compliance, a firm that advises health plans on complying with federal law; adjunct law professor at Creighton University; and unsuccessful candidate for Nebraska Legislature in 2006 in District 4
Predictions
Results
District 41
The incumbent was Republican Fred Meyer, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Dan McKeon, agronomy consultant from Amherst, Nebraska
- Ethan Clark, agriculture marketing professional from Ord, Nebraska
Eliminated in primary
- Nadine Bane, vice chair of the Greeley County Republican Party
Predictions
Results
District 43
The incumbent was Republican Tom Brewer, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Tanya Storer, cattle rancher, former Cherry County commissioner, and unsuccessful candidate for Nebraska Legislature in 2020
- Tony Tangwall, Dawes County Republican Party leadership
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
District 45
The incumbent was Republican Rita Sanders, Incumbent running, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Sarah Centineo
- Rita Sanders (incumbent)
Withdrawn
- Elcireyna Warnell
Predictions
Results
District 47
The incumbent was Republican Steve Erdman, Incumbent term-limited, Republican hold.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Larry Bolinger, former Republican candidate for United States House of Representatives in 2018 and 2020 and Nebraska Attorney General in 2022 with the Legal Marijuana Now Party
- Paul Strommen, deputy mayor and member of the city council of Sidney, Nebraska, and commissioner on the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
Predictions
Results
District 49
The incumbent was Democratic Jen Day, Incumbent running, Republican gain.
Declared
- Bob Andersen, retired Air Force veteran and small-business owner
- Jen Day (incumbent)
Eliminated in primary
- Caleb Muhs, financial consultant and former FBI counterterrorism analyst
Predictions
Results
Notes
References
