1990 United States Senate election in Nebraska
November 5, 1990
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County results Exon: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Daub: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Nebraska |
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| Government |
The 1990 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1990. Incumbent Senator J. James Exon ran for re-election to a third term.[1] He was challenged by Republican nominee Hal Daub, who had previously represented the 2nd congressional district before unsuccessfully running for the U.S. Senate in 1988.
National Republicans targeted Exon's seat, given President George Bush's landslide victory in the state in 1988 and Exon's narrow victory in 1984.[2] However, the midterm elections saw comparatively little change nationwide, and saw the fewest number of Senate seat changes since the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913. Exon ultimately defeated Daub in a landslide, winning 59% of the vote.
This was the last time that a Democratic candidate won the Class II Senate seat in Nebraska, and Exon remains the only Democrat to have held this seat in the Senate.
Background
In 1984, despite Ronald Reagan's landslide presidential victory in the concurrent election,[3] J. James Exon held the Senate seat, defeating Republican Nancy Hoch with nearly 52% of the vote. By contrast, Reagan won Nebraska in the presidential election with 70% of the vote to 28% for Democratic candidate Walter Mondale.[4]
Primaries
Democratic primary
Candidates
- J. James Exon, incumbent U.S. Senator[1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. James Exon (inc.) | 157,959 | 98.75% | |
| Democratic | Write-ins | 2,006 | 1.25% | |
| Total votes | 159,965 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Hal Daub, former U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 2nd congressional district[6]
- Otis Glebe, real estate investor[7]
Declined
- Doug Bereuter, U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 1st congressional district[8]
- Ron Staskiewicz, Douglas County Attorney[9]
Campaign
Congressman Doug Bereuter, who was passed over for an appointment to the U.S. Senate in 1987, considered running for the Senate against Exon, and was heavily recruited by national Republicans.[10] However, on June 5, 1989, Bereuter announced that he would not seek the Republican nomination, and would instead seek re-election, citing a lack of "adequate campaign resources" for a statewide campaign with a competitive gubernatorial election and the possibility that Republicans would lose his seat.[8]
Following Bereuter's decision to not challenge Exon, former Congressman Hal Daub emerged as the favorite candidate of national and state party leaders. Douglas County Attorney Ron Staskiewicz explored a campaign, and launched a statewide tour in anticipation of a possible campaign.[11] Daub announced his campaign on February 12, 1990,[6] and Staskiewicz announced shortly thereafter that he would run for Congress from the 2nd district.[9] Daub's only challenger in the Republican primary was Otis Glebe, a real-estate investor.[7] Daub defeated Glebe in a landslide, winning 91 percent of the vote.[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Hal Daub | 178,237 | 91.26% | |
| Republican | Otis Glebe | 16,367 | 8.38% | |
| Republican | Write-ins | 711 | 0.36% | |
| Total votes | 195,315 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. James Exon (inc.) | 349,779 | 58.90% | +6.97% | |
| Republican | Hal Daub | 243,013 | 40.92% | −7.09% | |
| Write-in | 1,036 | 0.17% | — | ||
| Majority | 106,766 | 17.98% | +14.06% | ||
| Total votes | 593,828 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Aftermath
On January 3, 1991, Exon was sworn in to the 102nd United States Congress by then–Vice President Dan Quayle alongside his fellow Senators-elect.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b Heussmann, Annette (February 6, 1990). "Exon announces bid for third Senate term". Star-Herald. Scottsbluff, Nebraska. p. 2. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Atwater says state among the most promising for GOP". Grand Island Independent. February 9, 1990. p. 3. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Raines, Howell (November 7, 1984). "Reagan Wins By a Landslide, Sweeping at Least 48 States; G.O.P. Gains Strength in House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Ladd, Thomas E. (May 1, 1985). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional election of November 6, 1984" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 33. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Beermann, Allen J. (May 30, 1991). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (PDF). Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska. pp. 4, 9, 44.
- ^ a b "Daub is off and running". Lincoln Journal. February 12, 1990. p. 1. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Howard, Ed (March 17, 1990). "DeCamp bid for attorney general among last-minute filings". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 3. Retrieved February 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Bereuter declines run at Senate". Kearney Hub. June 6, 1989. p. 11A. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Staskiewicz seeks 2nd District seat". York News-Times. March 1, 1990. p. 5. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lynch, David E. (April 16, 1989). "Bereuter must make a difficult decision". North Platte Telegraph. p. 4. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Staskiewicz to launch 8-day whistle-stop tour across state". Lincoln Journal-Star. December 24, 1989. p. 4D. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1990). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (PDF).
- ^ Raines, Howell (November 7, 1984). "Reagan Wins By a Landslide, Sweeping at Least 48 States; G.O.P. Gains Strength in House". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2025.