United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2000

United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2000

November 7, 2000

Nominee Ben Nelson Don Stenberg Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 353,093 337,977 Percentage 51.0% 48.8%

U.S. senator before election Bob Kerrey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ben Nelson Democratic

The 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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ben Nelson, former Governor of Nebraska and 1996 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate
• Al Hamburg, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson	105,661	92.12
	Democratic	Al Hamburg	8,482	7.39
	Democratic	Write-ins	558	0.49
Total votes			114,701	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Don Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska
• Scott Moore, Secretary of State of Nebraska
• David Hergert
• George Grogan
• John DeCamp, former State Senator
• Elliott Rustad

Results

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Stenberg	94,394	49.99
	Republican	Scott Moore	41,120	21.77
	Republican	David Hergert	32,228	17.07
	Republican	George Grogan	8,293	4.39
	Republican	John DeCamp	7,469	3.96
	Republican	Elliott Rustad	5,317	2.82
	Republican	Write-ins	21	0.01
Total votes			188,842	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Ben Nelson (D), former Governor of Nebraska and 1996 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate
• Don Stenberg (R), Attorney General of Nebraska

Campaign

Nelson won one of the closest elections of 2000.

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ben Nelson	353,093	51.00%	-3.78%
	Republican	Don Stenberg	337,977	48.82%	+3.81%
	Write-ins		1,280	0.18%
Majority			15,116	2.18%	-7.59%
Turnout			692,350
	Democratic hold		Swing