Final unofficial counts point to a Legislature without a 33-vote Republican bloc, a reopened speaker race, Flood's narrow 1st District win, and Democratic gains in Douglas and Lancaster county law enforcement offices.
Update: Republicans projected to fall to 30 seats in the Legislature
Unofficial results point to a 30-18-1 split when senators convene Jan. 6
Unofficial results as of Wednesday afternoon would leave the Legislature with 30 Republicans, 18 Democrats and one registered nonpartisan, ending the 33-seat Republican supermajority. Democrat Christy Knorr defeated Sen. Merv Riepe in District 12, Jess Goldoni led in District 18, and nonpartisan Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek led Sen. Brad von Gillern by 292 votes in District 4.
Why it matters: It takes 33 votes to overcome a filibuster. Thirty Republicans would still meet the 30-vote threshold to override a veto or change legislative rules, but they would lack a filibuster-proof bloc.
Read the full story: Nebraska Examiner via News From The States
Von Gillern's apparent loss reshapes the speaker race
Sens. Kathleen Kauth and Mike Jacobson emerge as potential contenders to lead the Legislature
Von Gillern had been considered a leading candidate to succeed term-limited Speaker John Arch, and his apparent loss sets up a possible race between Sen. Kathleen Kauth and Sen. Mike Jacobson. Kauth said she will continue gauging support among conservative colleagues, while Jacobson said he will decide within two to three weeks.
Why it matters: The speaker plays a key role in setting the agenda for senators, so the choice will shape how a Legislature without a filibuster-proof majority sets its priorities in 2027.
Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media
Update: Flood wins narrow reelection in the 1st District
Backemeyer concedes after the race was too close to call on election night
Rep. Mike Flood declared victory Wednesday morning after Democrat Chris Backemeyer called to concede, and Flood said the race was called in his favor shortly before his press conference at Nebraska Republican Party headquarters. Unofficial results showed Flood leading 50.1% to 46.4% as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Why it matters: With Flood and Rep. Adrian Smith reelected and Democrat Denise Powell winning the 2nd District, Republicans will hold two of Nebraska's three U.S. House seats.
Read the full story: Nebraska Examiner
Democrats win sheriff and county attorney offices in Douglas and Lancaster
Three Republican incumbents were unseated, including Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine
Democrats won the county attorney and sheriff's offices in both counties. Makayla Danner unseated Kleine, Mark Martinez defeated Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, Randall Ritnour defeated Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon, and Jay Pitts won the open Lancaster sheriff's seat. Douglas County last elected a Democratic sheriff in 1990, and Lancaster's retiring Republican sheriff had served since 1994.
Why it matters: The state's two largest counties will have new leadership over prosecution and county law enforcement. State GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper called the losses "very disappointing" and said the party would work on retaking them.
Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media
Education board shifts Republican as NU regents add nonpartisans
Unofficial results would make the State Board of Education 5-3 and the NU Board of Regents 4-2-2
Republican Lou Ann Goding led nonpartisan Sherrye Hutcherson by 1,883 votes in the Omaha-based District 8, putting Republicans on track to flip the State Board of Education from its 4-4 split. On the NU Board of Regents, nonpartisans Brent Comstock and Elizabeth Butler won open seats, and Democrat Justin Solomon led the special election. New members take office Jan. 7.
Why it matters: The education board oversees the Nebraska Department of Education and its 2030 achievement goals, while a more mixed Board of Regents must navigate slowing state investment in the NU system.
Read the full story: Nebraska Examiner
Omaha voters appear to approve $185 million in bonds
The measures fund a joint police-fire headquarters and the Tranquility Park makeover
Omaha voters appear to have passed both bond measures. One authorizes up to $155 million toward a $181 million joint Omaha Police and Fire headquarters at the Crossroads site, and the other authorizes up to $30 million to complete a $68 million Tranquility Park redevelopment. City officials say neither measure raises the city's property tax levy.
Why it matters: The approvals let Nebraska's largest city move ahead on a long-sought police headquarters, which Mayor John Ewing said is $80 million cheaper than a downtown alternative.
Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media
Around Nebraska
- Lynne Walz conceded the governor's race to Gov. Jim Pillen shortly after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, after the AP called the race overnight.
- Statewide turnout reached 59.44%, with 752,061 ballots cast among 1,265,162 registered voters, according to unofficial state results.
- Lincoln officials are holding off on declaring charter results because about 6,000 early and 3,000 provisional Lancaster County ballots remain uncounted.
- Four of nine school bond elections failed statewide, and Johnson County Central's $35 million bond is separated by a single vote.
- Omaha accepted a $3.9 million FEMA grant to help fund 18 new firefighter positions, with the city contributing about $2.4 million.
- State Auditor Mike Foley won a fourth term with 75% of the vote.
Watch Next
- Nov. 6: The Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee holds an interim hearing on LR415.
- Nov. 6: The State Board of Education holds its final meeting of 2026.
- Nov. 9: Applications close for the first cohort of the Nebraska Rural Health Technology Catalyst Fund.
- Nov. 10: The Omaha City Council is scheduled to vote on the delayed plumbing code changes.
- Nov. 12-13: The NPPD Board of Directors meets in Columbus, including a customer committee session on the 2026 wholesale power contract.
- Nov. 18: Gov. Pillen's executive order easing fuel-hauling rules expires.
- Jan. 6, 2027: The 110th Legislature convenes.
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