1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska

1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska

November 5, 1996

Nominee Chuck Hagel Ben Nelson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 379,933 281,904 Percentage 56.1% 41.7%

County Results Hagel:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Nelson:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election J. James Exon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Republican

The 1996 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican nominee Chuck Hagel won the open seat by 14 points, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Ben Nelson. Nelson was elected to Nebraska's other U.S. Senate seat in 2000.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ben Nelson, Governor of Nebraska

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson	93,140	97.00%
	Democratic	Write-ins	2,882	3.00%
Total votes			96,022	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Chuck Hagel, businessman
• Don Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chuck Hagel	112,953	62.24%
	Republican	Don Stenberg	67,974	37.46%
	Republican	Write-ins	544	0.30%
Total votes			181,471	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• John DeCamp (L), former State Senator
• Bill Dunn (NL)
• Chuck Hagel (R), businessman
• Ben Nelson (D), Governor of Nebraska

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chuck Hagel	379,933	56.14%	+15.21%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson	281,904	41.65%	−17.25%
	Libertarian	John DeCamp	9,483	1.40%
	Natural Law	Bill Dunn	4,806	0.71%
	Write-ins		663	0.10%
Majority			98,029	14.48%	−3.49%
Turnout			676,958
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• 1996 United States Senate elections