2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

Redistricting

A redistricting plan was passed by the Nebraska Legislature on May 24, 2011, after a five-hour Democratic-led filibuster was defeated. The plan signed into law by Republican Governor Dave Heineman.

District 1

Republican Jeff Fortenberry, who has represented Nebraska's 1st congressional district since 2005, did not run for the U.S. Senate, and is running for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jeff Fortenberry, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Dennis Parker, former professional musician and candidate for the 3rd district in 2010,
• Jessica Turek, writer and drummer

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Korey Reiman, attorney

Withdrawn

• Robert Way, Army combat medic

Primary results

General election

Polling

Results

Predictions

District 2

Republican Lee Terry, who has represented Nebraska's 2nd congressional district since 1999, did not run for the U.S. Senate, and ran for re-election.

David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report rates the race as "Likely Republican."

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Lee Terry, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Paul Anderson, employee of BNSF Railway
• Glenn Freeman, former chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party
• Jack Heidel, the chairman of the mathematics department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha;
• Brett Lindstrom, a financial adviser and former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Ewing Jr., Douglas County Treasurer

Eliminated in primary

• Gwen Howard, state senator

Declined

• Howard Warren Buffett, director of the U.S. Department of Defense's agriculture development program in Iraq and Afghanistan and the grandson of investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett

Primary results

General election

Campaign

After his primary victory, Ewing promptly took a break from fundraising before starting up again at the end of June.By the end of the fundraising quarter had only raised $300,000 to Terry's $1.3 million. The Omaha World-Herald would later describe this is "perhaps the race's defining moment" and one that prevented Ewing from gaining much traction in the general election.

Terry's campaign also made mistakes, most notably releasing an ad that inaccurately quoted a nonprofit advocacy group.

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Federation of Independent Business

Newspapers

• Omaha World-Herald

Polling

Predictions

Results

Despite receiving very little help from national Democrats, Ewing outperformed Obama and lost to Terry by just 4,197 votes.

District 3

Republican Adrian Smith, who has represented Nebraska's 3rd congressional district since 2007, is running for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Adrian Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Bob Lingenfelter, farmer and former NFL offensive lineman

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Sullivan, farmer

Primary results

General election

Polling

Predictions

Results

References

References

1. "2012 Elections". [[Secretary of State of Nebraska.
2. (May 25, 2011). "Redistricting bill advances". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
3. Walton, Don. (May 23, 2011). "Congressional redistricting plan jumps Democratic roadblock". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
4. Hammel, Paul. (May 24, 2011). "Redistricting rides to final vote". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
5. Schulte}}{{Dead link, Grant. (May 26, 2011). "Nebraska lawmakers approve, governor signs congressional and legislative redistricting maps". Times-Post.
6. Tysver, Robynn. (January 9, 2012). "No Senate bids for Terry, Fortenberry". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
7. Walton, Don. (October 11, 2011). "1st district congressional candidate plans faith-based message". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
8. Warneke, Kent. (March 2, 2012). "Final day sets up contested races in area". [[Norfolk Daily News]].
9. Walton, Don. (March 1, 2012). "Democrats will contest all House races". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
10. Triebsch, Chris. (March 24, 2012). "Robert Way Withdraws from Congressional Race, Endorses Korey Reiman". [[Nebraska Democratic Party]].
11. "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska". [[Secretary of State of Nebraska]].
12. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104220836/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/wiese-omaha-world-herald-16300 Wiese Research Associates]
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14. "Official Results of Nebraska General Election - November 6, 2012".
15. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
16. (November 2, 2012). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com.
17. [http://www.rollcall.com/politics/race-ratings-chart-2012-house-elections.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
18. [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2012-house/ Crystal Ball], {{As of. 2012. 11. 05
19. [http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/ratings/house House Race Ratings], ''The New York Times'', {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
20. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/house/2012_elections_house_map.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
21. (November 3, 2012). "House Ratings". The Hill.
22. Green, Joshua. (June 3, 2011). "Is Warren Buffett's Grandson Running for Congress?". [[The Atlantic]].
23. (April 19, 2012). "5 Republicans Hope To Be U.S. Congressman". [[KETV]].
24. O'Brien, Maggie. (January 5, 2012). "Freeman to challenge Terry". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
25. (September 6, 2011). "UNO chairman to run for Congress". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
26. Walton, Don. (June 22, 2011). "GOP opponent challenges Terry leadership". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
27. Walton, Don. (July 18, 2011). "Douglas County treasurer seeks Terry's House seat". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
28. Szalewski, Susan. (October 4, 2011). "Gwen Howard to run for Congress". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
29. Jordon, Steve. (June 10, 2011). "Buffett grandson to run dad's foundation". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
30. (6 November 2012). "Lee Terry unhappy with close race with John Ewing, but eager to work". Omaha World-Herald.
31. (16 October 2012). "Terry and Ewing Debate in Second District Race".
32. (13 September 2012). "Ewing challenging Terry in Omaha-area congressional race".
33. (18 October 2012). "Terry, Ewing debate in wake of key endorsement, tightening polls". KVNO News.
34. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131019204606/http://www.omaha.com/article/20121029/NEWS/121029470/1685 Wiese Research Associates]
35. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121112135502/http://www.scribd.com/doc/110350280/NE-02-DCCC-IVR-Oct-2012 DCCC (D)]
36. [http://www.omaha.com/article/20120924/NEWS/709249949/1685#campaign-2012-incumbency-helps-terry-to-hefty-edge-over-ewing Wiese Research Associates]
37. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
38. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104220857/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/wiese-omaha-world-herald-16301 Wiese Research Associates]
39. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104220858/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/wiese-omaha-world-herald-15337 Wiese Research Associates]