Nebraska's 2nd congressional district
Nebraska's 2nd congressional district | |||
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Representative |
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Distribution |
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Population (2022) | 658,116 | ||
Median household income | $77,535[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | EVEN[2] |
Nebraska's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Nebraska that encompasses the core of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area. It includes all of Douglas County, which includes the state's largest city Omaha; it also includes Saunders County and areas of Western Sarpy County. It has been represented in the United States House of Representatives since 2017 by Don Bacon, a member of the Republican Party. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of EVEN, it is the least Republican district in Nebraska, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.[2]
History
While the rest of the state's electorate tends to be solidly Republican, the 2nd district is much more closely divided between the Republican and Democratic parties.[3] In the 2010s, the district became known as a swing district; it was one of two districts with a margin of less than 5% in all elections held after the 2010 census. Since 2000, it has backed the electoral winner of the presidential election with the exception of 2012.
Since 1992,
In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won only a plurality of the 2nd district over Democrat Hillary Clinton; he won only 2% over Clinton, a sharp reduction of Romney's seven-point advantage over Obama. In 2020, Trump notably targeted the district in a fashion similar to Obama as Democrat Joe Biden polled at an advantage in the district.[8] Trump's campaigning in the district drew criticism after rally attendees were left stranded in freezing temperatures due to transportation issues.[9] Biden ultimately won in the district over Trump by six points, nearly matching Romney's margin over Obama.[10] Precious McKesson cast the electoral vote, making her the first woman of color in the state to cast an Electoral college ballot.[11][12]
Demographics
According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools[13] (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 473,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 80% are White, 9% Black, and 6% Latino. Immigrants make up 5% of the district's potential voters.The median income among households (with one or more potential voters) in the district is about $73,400, while 8% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 40% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.
Redistricting controversies
During redistricting in 2011, state lawmakers removed the city of Bellevue — an area with a large minority population — and Offutt Air Force Base from the district, and moved it to Omaha's Republican-heavy suburbs in western Sarpy County. The move was criticized by Democrats as a gerrymander meant to dilute the urban vote due to its support of Obama in 2008.[14]
Following its support of Joe Biden in the 2020 election, State Senator Lou Ann Linehan proposed a new map that would again dilute the Democratic vote by splitting the city of Omaha into two separate districts, and adding heavily Republican-leaning Sarpy and Saunders Counties.[15][16] State Senator Justin Wayne proposed an alternative map that would restore the map to its pre-2011 movement by adding Bellevue back to the district and remove areas that lean Republican. Linehan's congressional redistricting plan passed the committee 5-4 on a party-line vote, but failed a cloture vote following a filibuster; both maps received bipartisan criticism for splitting Douglas and/or Sarpy counties.[16] The legislature ultimately passed a map that kept Douglas County intact, while retaining rural parts in Western Sarpy County and adding the rural Saunders County. The resulting maps have again been criticized as gerrymanders, and both Linehan's and the final maps have again been characterized as diluting urban voters.[17]
Election results from statewide races
Year | Office | Results |
---|---|---|
1992 | President | George H.W. Bush 48% – Bill Clinton 32%
|
1996 | President | Bob Dole 53% – Bill Clinton 38% |
2000 | President | George W. Bush 57% – Al Gore 39% |
2004 | President | George W. Bush 60% – John Kerry 38% |
2008 | President | Barack Obama 50% – John McCain 49% |
2012 | President | Mitt Romney 53% – Barack Obama 46% |
2016 | President | Donald Trump 48% – Hillary Clinton 46% |
2020 | President | Joe Biden 52% – Donald Trump 46% |
2022 | Governor | Jim Pillen 48.2% – Carol Blood 48.1% |
List of members representing the district
Member | Party | Years of Service | Cong ress |
Electoral history | Counties |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District established March 4, 1883 | |||||
James Laird (Hastings) |
Republican | March 4, 1883 – August 17, 1889 |
48th 49th 50th |
Re-elected in 1888 .Died. |
1883–1893: Cass, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington |
Gilbert L. Laws (McCook) |
Republican | December 2, 1889 – March 3, 1891 |
51st | Elected to finish Laird's term .Retired. | |
William A. McKeighan (Red Cloud) |
Populist | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 |
52nd | Elected in 1890. .
Redistricted to the 5th district | |
David Henry Mercer (Omaha) |
Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903 |
53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th |
Re-elected in 1900 .Lost re-election. |
1893–1943: Douglas, Sarpy, Washington |
Gilbert M. Hitchcock )
(Omaha |
Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 |
58th | Elected in 1902 .Lost re-election. | |
John L. Kennedy (Omaha) |
Republican | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 |
59th | Elected in 1904 .Lost re-election. | |
Gilbert M. Hitchcock )
(Omaha |
Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911 |
60th 61st |
run for U.S. senator .
| |
Charles O. Lobeck (Omaha) |
Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919 |
62nd 63rd 64th 65th |
Re-elected in 1916 .Lost re-election. | |
Albert W. Jefferis (Omaha) |
Republican | March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 |
66th 67th |
run for U.S. senator .
| |
Willis G. Sears (Omaha) |
Republican | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1931 |
68th 69th 70th 71st |
Re-elected in 1928 .Lost renomination. | |
H. Malcolm Baldrige (Omaha) |
Republican | March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 |
72nd | Elected in 1930 .Lost re-election. | |
Edward R. Burke (Omaha) |
Democratic | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 |
73rd | Elected in 1932. .
Retired to run for U.S. senator | |
Charles F. McLaughlin (Omaha) |
Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1943 |
74th 75th 76th 77th |
Re-elected in 1940 .Lost re-election. | |
Howard Buffett (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1949 |
78th 79th 80th |
Re-elected in 1946 .Lost re-election. |
1943-1963: Cass, Douglas, Otoe, Sarpy, Washington |
Eugene D. O'Sullivan (Omaha) |
Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 |
81st | Elected in 1948 .Lost re-election. | |
Howard Buffett (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 |
82nd | Elected in 1950 .Retired. | |
Roman Hruska (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1953 – November 8, 1954 |
83rd | Elected in 1952. .
Resigned when elected U.S. Senator | |
Jackson B. Chase (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957 |
84th | Elected in 1954 .Retired. | |
Glenn Cunningham )
(Omaha |
Republican | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1971 |
85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st |
Re-elected in 1968 .Lost renomination. | |
1963-1969: Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington | |||||
1969-1983: Burt, Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington | |||||
John Y. McCollister (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 |
92nd 93rd 94th |
Re-elected in 1974. .
Retired to run for U.S. Senator | |
John J. Cavanaugh )
(Omaha |
Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981 |
95th 96th |
Re-elected in 1978 .Retired. | |
Hal Daub (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1989 |
97th 98th 99th 100th |
Re-elected in 1986. .
Retired to run for U.S. Senator | |
1983-1993: Burt, Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Washington | |||||
Peter Hoagland (Omaha) |
Democratic | January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 |
101st 102nd 103rd |
Re-elected in 1992 .Lost re-election. | |
1993-2003: Part of Cass, Douglas, Sarpy | |||||
Jon L. Christensen )
(Omaha |
Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 |
104th 105th |
Re-elected in 1996. .
Retired to run for Governor | |
Lee Terry (Omaha) |
Republican | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2015 |
106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th |
. Lost re-election. | |
2003–2013: Douglas, Part of Sarpy | |||||
2013–2023: Douglas, Part of Sarpy | |||||
Brad Ashford (Omaha) |
Democratic | January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 |
114th | Elected in 2014. Lost re-election. | |
Don Bacon (Papillion) |
Republican | January 3, 2017 – present |
115th 116th 117th 118th |
Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. | |
2023–present: Douglas, Part of Sarpy, Saunders |
Election history
2006
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Lee Terry (Incumbent) | 99,475 | 54.7% | −6.4% | |
Democratic
|
Jim Esch | 82,504 | 45.3% | +9.1% | |
Republican hold
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 181,979 |
2008
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Lee Terry (Incumbent) | 142,473 | 51.9% | −2.8% | |
Democratic
|
Jim Esch | 131,901 | 48.1% | +2.8% | |
Republican hold
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 274,374 |
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Lee Terry (Incumbent) | 93,840 | 60.8% | +8.9% | |
Democratic
|
Tom White | 60,486 | 39.2% | −8.9% | |
Republican hold
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 154,326 |
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Lee Terry (Incumbent) | 133,964 | 50.8% | −10.0% | |
Democratic
|
John Ewing | 129,767 | 49.2% | +10.0% | |
Republican hold
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 263,731 |
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic
|
Brad Ashford | 83,872 | 49.0% | −0.2% | |
Republican
|
Lee Terry (Incumbent) | 78,157 | 45.7% | −5.1% | |
Libertarian
|
Steven Laird | 9,021 | 5.3% | +5.3% | |
Republican
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 171,050 |
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Don Bacon | 141,066 | 48.9% | +3.2% | |
Democratic
|
Brad Ashford (Incumbent) | 137,602 | 47.7% | −1.3% | |
Libertarian
|
Steven Laird | 9,640 | 3.3% | −2.0% | |
Democratic
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 288,308 |
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Don Bacon (Incumbent) | 126,715 | 51.0% | +2.1% | |
Democratic
|
Kara Eastman | 121,770 | 49.0% | +1.3% | |
Republican hold
|
Swing | ||||
Turnout | 248,485 |
2020
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Don Bacon (Incumbent) | 171,071 | 50.8% | -0.2% | |
Democratic
|
Kara Eastman | 155,706 | 46.2% | -2.8% | |
Libertarian
|
Tyler Schaeffer | 10,185 | 3% | +3% | |
Turnout | 336,962 | ||||
Republican hold
|
Swing |
2022
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Don Bacon (incumbent) | 112,663 | 51.33% | |
Democratic | Tony Vargas | 106,807 | 48.67% | |
Total votes | 219,470 | 100.0% | ||
Republican hold |
See also
References
- ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
- ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (November 15, 2022). "In Nebraska's Sea of Red, few felt splash from 'Republican wave'". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Nebraska's most competitive congressional race in the Omaha area is starting to settle into a pattern that nearly matches the district's 4 percentage point GOP registration advantage. An analysis of 2nd District election results and voting patterns show U.S. Rep. Don Bacon did not secure more votes this year than in 2020 or 2018.
- ^ Curry, Tom (November 2, 2008). "Is Obama-Terry the winning ticket in Omaha?". NBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
If the national electoral vote tally is close, then the one electoral vote in Omaha would loom large. But with Obama apparently ahead in competitive states such as Virginia, the presidency may not hinge on Omaha's vote.
- ^ a b Staff reporter (November 14, 2008). "Obama wins 1 of Nebraska's electoral votes". NBC News. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ Walton, Don (November 7, 2012). "Romney wins 2nd District electoral vote". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
Republican nominee Mitt Romney appeared to have won the battle for Nebraska's only competitive presidential electoral vote Tuesday night. [...] Romney held comfortable leads in both the 1st District, which includes Lincoln, and the vast 3rd District, as well as statewide.
- ^ Robertson, Ryan; Peterson, Lindsey (November 5, 2014). "Lee Terry concedes 2nd Dist. to Brad Ashford". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ "The Latest: Trump heaping attention on 1 Nebraska district". Associated Press. October 27, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Zeleny, Jeff (October 28, 2020). "Hundreds stranded in the cold waiting for buses in chaotic post-Trump rally scene". CNN. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Joe Biden wins one electoral vote from Nebraska's District 2". KETV. November 4, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Sanderford, Aaron (November 29, 2020). "The Elector: Precious McKesson will cast Nebraska's 2nd District electoral vote for Biden". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Behrmann, Savannah (December 15, 2020). "First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden". USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Representing US: 2020 Voter Profiles". APM Research Lab. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Schulte, Grant (May 27, 2011). "Nebraska Redistricting Maps Approved". AP. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
- ^ "Nebraska redistricting panel hits impasse, turns to public".
- ^ a b "First-round debate begins on congressional redistricting plan". September 17, 2021.
- ^ Kipper, Jon (January 28, 2022). "Nebraska's redistricting maps finalized for now, but Unicameral's methods still questioned". KMTV. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Evnen, Robert B. (November 8, 2022). 2022 General Canvass Book (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present