Nebraska Democrats set an all-time voting record in Tuesday’s Primary Election and sent an impressive slate of candidates on to the Nov. 3 General Election.
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“Enthusiastic voters, the hard work of volunteers and strong candidates with diverse backgrounds is the winning combination, and that is what the Democratic Party has going into the 2020 general election,” said NDP Chair Jane Kleeb. “We continue to build our party across our state, welcoming all shades of blue to the table.”
Rékaman Ngarusak Démokrat dina 2020 primér
The early voting numbers in the Primary Election show enthusiasm is on the side of the Democratic Party and proves the Republican Party was dead wrong when they claimed voting by mail would suppress votes.
Highest Vote-By-Mail and Primary turnout in our state’s history.
–Almost 500,000 Nebraskans requested to vote by mail in the 2020 primary election. In 2016, there were 288,799 total voters in the primary including in-person and mail-in ballots. That is a 71% increase in primary voters in 2020, and this only includes Vote-By-Mail numbers so far!
Democratic voters are seeing larger increases over the 2016 primary numbers than the Republicans.
–Democratic voters are showing up strong with a whopping 89% increase over the 2016 primary numbers (159,199 in 2020 / 84,009 in 2016). Republicans on the other hand have only seen a 26% increase. These numbers will change as the SOS certifies the mail-in ballots and we can then report mail-in and in-person figures.
Population centers are seeing enthusiasm among in Democratic voters.
–In Douglas County, 44% of the Democrats requested to vote by mail on par with to 44% of the Republicans showing a continued split in the county that with investments can turn blue to help secure the electoral vote and a Congressional seat.
–In Lancaster County, 49% of the Democrats requested to vote by mail compared to 44% of the Republicans continuing the trends we’ve seen in the 2018 and 2019 elections where Democrats are sweeping local elections.
—In Sarpy County, 44% of the Democrats requested to vote by mail compared to 38% of the Republicans giving major signs of hope that Democrats can hold their own and stop Republican gains.
More Independent voters requested Democratic ballots.
-In 2020, 18,951 Independents requested a Democratic ballot. The number of Independents taking a Democratic ballot saw an increase of 600% over 2016 ballots (18,951 in 2020 / 2,684 in 2016). In CD2 alone, 10,925 Independents voted on a Democratic ballot which can be a potential margin of victory in the general election.
Strong Slate of Democratic Candidates Advance to the General Election
Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, sailed to victory, while Chris Janicek won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in a race that saw seven candidates vying for the nomination.
In the race for Congressional District 2, Kara Eastman, who barely lost her 2018 bid for the seat, won the nomination.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Kate Bolz won the CD1 nomination with commanding numbers. Sending both women to Congress will change history in our state since we have never sent a Democratic woman to the House.
In races for the State Board of Education, Patsy Koch Johns was unopposed in her bid to retain her District 1 seat, as was Lisa Fricke in District 2. Also advancing to the General Election were Mike Goos in District 3 and Jacquelyn Morrison in District 4.
In legislative races, seven incumbent senators advanced in their reelection bids: Sen. Carol Blood in District 3; Sen. Mike McDonnell in District 5; Sen. Tony Vargas in District 7; Sen. Justin Wayne in District 13; Sen. Lynne Walz in District 15; Sen. Anna Wishart in District 27; and Sen. Dan Quick in District 35.
In addition, 19 candidates advanced in Legislative contests and scores of Dems made it through in other state and local races.
In other legislative races:
–John Cavanaugh and Marque Snow advanced in District 9
–Fred Conley and Terrell McKinney advanced in District 11
–Sheryl Lindau advanced in District 17
–Brodey Weber advanced in District 21
–Stephany Pleasant advanced in District 25
–Eliot Bostar advanced in District 29
–Tim Royers advanced in District 31
–Allison Heimes advanced in District 39
–Susan Hester advanced in District 45
–Jen Day advanced in District 49
See the full list of Democratic candidates.
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