Robert Clements (Nebraska politician)

Robert Clements (born December 11, 1950) is an American politician and businessman.

Robert Clements
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
February 6, 2017
Preceded byBill Kintner
Personal details
Born (1950-12-11) December 11, 1950 (age 73)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Peggy Sue Bogenreif
(m. 1972)
Children5
EducationUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln

Clements was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from Elmwood High School in Elmwood, Nebraska in 1969. Clements received his bachelor's degree in 1973 from University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Clements is a banker at America Exchange Bank in Elmwood, Nebraska. On February 6, 2017, Clements was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature replacing Bill Kintner who resigned. He is involved with the Republican Party.[1][2]

Clements became a leading state election denier by embracing "the Big Lie" (President Trump's false claims of a stolen election) following the 2020 presidential contest by insisting Donald Trump actually won. Clements signed a public letter demanding a "forensic audit of every state election" similar to the fruitless 2021 Maricopa County presidential ballot audit.[3][4] That same year, he joined a fringe right-wing group, the Nebraska Freedom Coalition, in asking for a state-backed effort to audit the 2020 Nebraska election results, specifically in Douglas and Sarpy counties, despite no evidence of fraud.[5][6] Clements claimed that he was baffled how both Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Rep. Don Bacon could win in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, despite the fact the district experienced a similar split in 2008.[7][8]

Electoral history

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Nebraska's 2nd Legislative District Election, 2022[9][10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 5,154 53.69
Democratic Sarah Slattery 2,221 23.14
Democratic Janet Chung 1,674 17.44
Libertarian Schuyler Windham 550 5.73
Total votes 9,599 100.00
General election
Republican Robert Clements (incumbent) 9,261 56.55
Democratic Sarah Slattery 7,117 43.45
Total votes 16,378 100.00
Republican hold

Notes

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  1. ^ Nebraska Legislature-Robert Clements
  2. ^ 'Elmwood bank chosen to replace Kintner,' Lincoln Journal-Star, Zach Pluhacek, February 6, 2017
  3. ^ "Nebraska state senator calls for 50-state audit of presidential election".
  4. ^ 'Nebraska state senator calls for 50-state audit of presidential election,' Omaha World-Herald, Martha Stoddard, Oct. 5, 2021
  5. ^ "Group wants audit of Nebraska election, state senator backs it". 30 September 2021.
  6. ^ Group wants audit of Nebraska election, state senator backs it,' KMTV News, Jon Kipper, Sept. 30, 2021
  7. ^ "Nebraska state senator calls for 50-state audit of presidential election".
  8. ^ 'Nebraska state senator calls for 50-state audit of presidential election,' Omaha World-Herald, Martha Stoddard, Oct. 5, 2021
  9. ^ Robert B. Evnen, "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers: Primary Election, May 10, 2022" (PDF), Nebraska Secretary of State, p. 31
  10. ^ Robert B. Evnen, "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers: General Election, November 8, 2022" (PDF), Nebraska Secretary of State, p. 21