2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska

← 2006 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2010 →
All 3 Nebraska seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 3 0 Seats won 3 0 Seat change Popular vote 510,513 264,885 Percentage 65.84% 34.16%
Congressional District Results Precinct Results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Tie/No Data

Elections in Nebraska
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v t e

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.

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]

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

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	—

2006 Nebraska's 1st congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Jeff Fortenberry Max Yashirin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 184,923 77,897 Percentage 70.4% 29.6%

County results Fortenberry:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Jeff Fortenberry Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry Republican

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'.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Nebraska's 1st congressional district election, 2008

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

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)

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Nebraska's 2nd congressional district election, 2008

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

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'.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Nebraska's 3rd congressional district election, 2008

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

Specific

General

• 2008 Competitive House Race Chart The Cook Political Report, October 30, 2008.
• 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, November 2, 2008

• 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