Nebraska held its general election on November 8, 2022, deciding 24 legislative seats and 8 statewide offices led by the governorship. Nebraska's unicameral Legislature is officially nonpartisan; the composition shown reflects the party affiliation of its members.
Highlights
- Republicans swept every statewide office but fell one seat short of the 33 they needed for a filibuster-proof majority in the Legislature, a goal they had made a top priority.
- The supermajority came down to Omaha's District 20, open because independent Republican John McCollister was term-limited. Stuart Dornan (R) led on election night, but late-counted absentee ballots moved John Fredrickson (D) ahead, and he won by fewer than 100 votes. That one seat left Republicans short of the votes to break filibusters on constitutional carry, private-school tax credits, and further abortion limits on their own. In 2023 the Legislature still passed permitless carry and a 12-week abortion ban, but a six-week ban fell one vote short of ending a filibuster.
- In the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Pete Ricketts, Jim Pillen (R), who declined to debate state Sen. Carol Blood (D), beat her by about 23 points and carried every county but Douglas and Lancaster. Blood keeps her legislative seat, with two years left in her term.
- Democrats fielded no candidate for secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, or auditor. Secretary of State Bob Evnen (R) was unopposed. Treasurer John Murante (R), Legislative Speaker Mike Hilgers (R), elected attorney general, and Lt. Gov. Mike Foley (R), returning to the auditor's office he had held from 2007 to 2015, faced only Libertarian or Legal Marijuana Now challengers.
- Every incumbent senator on the ballot won. Beyond District 20, the closest legislative race was District 26, where George Dungan beat Russ Barger by about 220 votes.
- Voters approved all 3 statewide measures. Initiative 432 adds a photo ID requirement for voting to the state constitution, leaving the details to legislators. Initiative 433 raises the minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026. Amendment 1 lets local governments spend money to develop commercial air service at local airports.
Legislature
- Legislature (49 seats): 17 D, 32 R before the election, 17 D, 32 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
Statewide races
Legislative races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | Authorize local governments to spend revenue to develop commercial air travel service at local airports | Passed (79% yes) |
| Initiative 432 | Require photo identification in order to vote | Passed (65% yes) |
| Initiative 433 | Increase the minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026 | Passed (59% yes) |