The 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on November 4, 2006 to determine who will represent the
state
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
of
Nebraska
Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...
in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
. Nebraska has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the
2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms.
Overview
District 1
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Jeff Fortenberry, who was first elected in
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
, ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by former Lieutenant Governor
Maxine Moul, the Democratic nominee. Fortenberry defeated Moul by a wide margin, winning his second term with 58% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Jeff Fortenberry, incumbent Congressman
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Maxine Moul, former Lieutenant Governor
* James Wilson, former sportscaster
Results
General election
District 2
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Lee Terry ran for re-election to a fifth term. He faced attorney Jim Esch, the Democratic nominee. Esch ran a stronger campaign against Terry than many of his past opponents, but Terry ultimately won re-election with 55% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Lee Terry, incumbent Congressman
* Steven Laird,
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
Republican candidate for Congress
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
* Jim Esch, attorney
Results
General election
District 3
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Tom Osborne opted to
run for Governor rather than seek re-election. State Senator
Adrian Smith won the Republican primary to succeed Osborne, and faced farmer
Scott Kleeb in the general election. Even though the 3rd district typically voted for Republican candidates in landslide margins, the race narrowed, and Smith defeated Kleeb with just 55% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Adrian Smith, State Senator
* John Hanson, former district director for Congressman
Tom Osborne
* Jay Vavricek, Mayor of
Grand Island
* David Harris, national security analyst
* Douglas Polk,
Kearney social studies teacher
Campaign
State Senator
Adrian Smith, former Osborne aide John Hanson, and
Grand Island Mayor Jay Vavricek emerged as the leading Republican candidates to succeed Osborne. During the campaign, Smith received significant financial support from the
Club for Growth, which his primary rivals criticized, pointing to the group's opposition to farm subsidies. Smith ultimately won the primary with just 39% of the vote, and advanced to the general election.
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Scott Kleeb, farmer
Results
General election
Campaign
Despite the conservative nature of the 3rd district, which historically supported Republican candidates by wide margins, Smith entered the general election following a difficult primary election, and Kleeb ran a strong campaign. As Democrats performed well
nationwide, both political parties unexpectedly focused attention on the race. President
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
held a campaign rally for Smith in
Grand Island, urging voters to support Smith and other Republican candidates on the ballot.
Toward the end of the campaign, a series of automated telephone calls purporting to be from the Kleeb campaign were placed to voters, using Kleeb's voice and taking place in the middle of the night. Following the campaign, several Democratic leaders in the district filed complaints with the
Nebraska Public Service Commission, and the state legislature considered legislation that would limit the number of automated calls that campaigns could place. Ultimately, the Commission's investigation concluded without any action, and Governor
Dave Heineman vetoed the proposed legislation.
Endorsements
Results
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska
2006 Nebraska elections
Neb
United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska