Nebraska United States Senate election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Nelson
won re-election to a second term.
contributed $14.35 million of his own money to his campaign; he raised an additional $485,000 in contributions. The race also attracted national attention and generated several high-level campaign appearances. President George W. Bush
appeared at a rally for Ricketts on November 5, 2006, in Grand Island
, while then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama
appeared at a fundraiser for Nelson and other Nebraska Democrats on May 5, 2006 in Omaha
. However, he won re-election by a wide margin.
Ben Nelson
Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the senior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000....
won re-election to a second term.
Results
Candidates
- Pete RickettsPete RickettsJohn Peter "Pete" Ricketts is the former Chief Operating Officer of Ameritrade. He was the Republican nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska which he lost to incumbent Ben Nelson.-Biography:...
, former COO of Ameritrade - Don StenbergDon StenbergDon Stenberg is a Republican politician and attorney from Nebraska. He served as Attorney General of Nebraska from 1991 to 2003 and currently serves as State Treasurer of Nebraska to which he took office in 2011. He also served as legal counsel to Governor Charles Thone from 1979 to 1983.-Stenberg v...
, former Attorney General of Nebraska, 2000United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2000The 2000 United States election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey decided to retire. Democrat Ben Nelson won the open seat.-Candidates:...
Republican nominee for the United States Senate - David J. Kramer, Chairman of the Nebraska Republican PartyNebraska Republican PartyThe Nebraska Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Nebraska. The party is headed by Chairman Mark Fahleson. Its headquarters are in Lincoln.- Political plans :...
Campaign
Since Ricketts was a millionaire, he could finance his own campaign. His opponents could not raise enough money to keep up. Kramer raised $330,000 and Stenberg raised $246,000 in 2005.Results
Candidates
- Ben NelsonBen NelsonEarl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the senior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000....
(D), incumbent U.S. Senator - Pete RickettsPete RickettsJohn Peter "Pete" Ricketts is the former Chief Operating Officer of Ameritrade. He was the Republican nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska which he lost to incumbent Ben Nelson.-Biography:...
(R), former COO of Ameritrade
Campaign
The primary election was held on May 9, 2006. Pete Ricketts won the Republican nomination with 48% of the vote. Ben Nelson was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Nelson was elected in 2000 by a margin of 51% to 49% after serving as the state's governor for two terms. Nelson, considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, is the lone Democrat in Nebraska's Congressional delegation. This election was one of the most expensive in Nebraska history. In 2005, Ben Nelson raised $3.9 million for his re-election campaign. Pete RickettsPete Ricketts
John Peter "Pete" Ricketts is the former Chief Operating Officer of Ameritrade. He was the Republican nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska which he lost to incumbent Ben Nelson.-Biography:...
contributed $14.35 million of his own money to his campaign; he raised an additional $485,000 in contributions. The race also attracted national attention and generated several high-level campaign appearances. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appeared at a rally for Ricketts on November 5, 2006, in Grand Island
Grand Island, Nebraska
Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 48,520 at the 2010 census.Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state,...
, while then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
appeared at a fundraiser for Nelson and other Nebraska Democrats on May 5, 2006 in Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
. However, he won re-election by a wide margin.
Polling
| Source | Date | Nelson (D) | Ricketts (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen | October 19, 2006 | 54% | 34% |
| Rasmussen | September 26, 2006 | 55% | 32% |
| Rasmussen | August 17, 2006 | 55% | 32% |
| Rasmussen | July 17, 2006 | 57% | 31% |
| Rasmussen | May 13, 2006 | 54% | 35% |
| Rasmussen | April 26, 2006 | 54% | 36% |
| Rasmussen | November 23, 2005 | 52% | 29% |
Results
External links
- Ben Nelson for U.S. Senate(Not Active)
- Pete Ricketts for U.S. Senate (Inactive)