2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election

The 2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Nebraska, who would serve a four-year term that began in January 2011. Republican incumbent Dave Heineman won, defeating Democrat Mike Meister in a landslide. Heineman easily won his party's nomination. Mark Lakers ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, but dropped out in July 2010.[1] Attorney Mike Meister was chosen as a replacement.[2] As of 2022, this was the last time Lancaster County voted for the Republican candidate. To date, this is the last time that the winner of the Nebraska gubernatorial election carried all counties in Nebraska.

2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election

← 2006 November 2, 2010 2014 →
 
Nominee Dave Heineman Mike Meister
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Rick Sheehy Anne Boyle
Popular vote 360,645 127,343
Percentage 73.90% 26.10%

County results
Heineman:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election

Dave Heineman
Republican

Elected Governor

Dave Heineman
Republican

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Heineman (incumbent) 152,931 89.91
Republican Paul Anderson 8,980 5.28
Republican Christopher Geary 8,179 4.81
Total votes 170,090 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Mark Lakers, investment banker

Results

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Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Lakers 57,463 100.00
Total votes 57,463 100.00

Lakers was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. However, he dropped out of the race on July 2, 2010, due to a scandal involving campaign fundraising. Several donors listed on a campaign finance report denied ever giving money to Lakers, prompting criticism from both parties.[4]

After being forced from the race due to investigations by the Nebraska Attorney General's Office and the Nebraska Campaign Disclosure Board, Lakers pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge of abuse of public records and admitted to falsifying his campaign finance reports. As part of the plea, Lakers acknowledged that 51 of the 80 pledges listed on his reports were false and agreed to pay a $500 fine.[5]

Mike Meister, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Nebraska in 2002, was selected to replace him[6] and he selected Nebraska Public Service Commissioner and former state Democratic Party chairwoman Anne Boyle as his running mate.[7]

General election

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[8] Safe R October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[9] Safe R October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[10] Safe R November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] Safe R October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[12] Safe R October 28, 2010

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Dave
Heineman (R)
Mike
Meister (D)
Other Undecided
Rasmussen Reports[13] October 7, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 66% 24% 3% 6%
Rasmussen Reports[14] September 2, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 61% 28% 3% 8%
Rasmussen Reports[15] July 19, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 71% 18% 2% 8%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Dave
Heineman (R)
Mark
Lakers (D)
Other Undecided
Rasmussen Reports[16] March 4, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 61% 23% 2% 14%

Results

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Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2010[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dave Heineman (inc.) 360,645 73.90% +0.50%
Democratic Mike Meister 127,343 26.10% +1.64%
Majority 233,302 47.81% −1.13%
Total votes 174,888 100.00
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NE StatePaper.com - Mark Lakers Drops Out of Nebraska Governor's Race". Nebraska.statepaper.com. July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  2. ^ "Microsoft Word - Candidate List.rtf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Mark Lakers Drops Out of Nebraska Governor's Race - NE StatePaper.com
  5. ^ "Lakers fined $500 for false campaign reports | Crime and Courts | journalstar.com". Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  6. ^ "Mike Meister says he'd provide leadership as Nebraska's governor". Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "August Surprise: Anne Boyle on the Democratic Ticket". Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  8. ^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  9. ^ "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  10. ^ "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  11. ^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  12. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  13. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  14. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  15. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  16. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  17. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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Official campaign sites (Archived)