Nebraska — 1978 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1978 Senate electionNebraska · U.S. SenateExonD+35.3
How it voted
Share of the 1978 vote
| James J. Exon ✓Democrat | 67.7% | 334,096 |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Eugene ShastenRepublican | 32.3% | 159,706 |
1978Senate margin
D+60R+60
93 counties, each filled by 1978 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (93 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ADAMS, NE | Democratic | D+30.7 |
| ANTELOPE, NE | Democratic | D+17.1 |
| ARTHUR, NE | Democratic | D+10.7 |
| BANNER, NE | Democratic | D+26.7 |
| BLAINE, NE | Democratic | D+14.8 |
| BOONE, NE | Democratic | D+38.0 |
| BOX BUTTE, NE | Democratic | D+27.8 |
| BOYD, NE | Democratic | D+16.8 |
| BROWN, NE | Democratic | D+7.5 |
| BUFFALO, NE | Democratic | D+33.4 |
| BURT, NE | Democratic | D+22.9 |
| BUTLER, NE | Democratic | D+54.9 |
| CASS, NE | Democratic | D+45.2 |
| CEDAR, NE | Democratic | D+30.0 |
| CHASE, NE | Democratic | D+27.9 |
| CHERRY, NE | Democratic | D+11.1 |
| CHEYENNE, NE | Republican | R+1.9 |
| CLAY, NE | Democratic | D+29.2 |
| COLFAX, NE | Democratic | D+44.8 |
| CUMING, NE | Democratic | D+33.3 |
| CUSTER, NE | Democratic | D+25.9 |
| DAKOTA, NE | Democratic | D+37.7 |
| DAWES, NE | Democratic | D+14.3 |
| DAWSON, NE | Democratic | D+15.6 |
| DEUEL, NE | Democratic | D+1.4 |
| DIXON, NE | Democratic | D+19.5 |
| DODGE, NE | Democratic | D+41.0 |
| DOUGLAS, NE | Democratic | D+41.1 |
| DUNDY, NE | Democratic | D+23.0 |
| FILLMORE, NE | Democratic | D+40.8 |
| FRANKLIN, NE | Democratic | D+27.6 |
| FRONTIER, NE | Democratic | D+20.6 |
| FURNAS, NE | Democratic | D+27.6 |
| GAGE, NE | Democratic | D+40.2 |
| GARDEN, NE | Democratic | D+16.9 |
| GARFIELD, NE | Democratic | D+19.3 |
| GOSPER, NE | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| GRANT, NE | Democratic | D+13.4 |
| GREELEY, NE | Democratic | D+46.5 |
| HALL, NE | Democratic | D+35.3 |
| HAMILTON, NE | Democratic | D+29.5 |
| HARLAN, NE | Democratic | D+34.5 |
| HAYES, NE | Democratic | D+23.3 |
| HITCHCOCK, NE | Democratic | D+25.4 |
| HOLT, NE | Democratic | D+15.2 |
| HOOKER, NE | Democratic | D+2.5 |
| HOWARD, NE | Democratic | D+43.7 |
| JEFFERSON, NE | Democratic | D+33.3 |
| JOHNSON, NE | Democratic | D+36.4 |
| KEARNEY, NE | Democratic | D+37.3 |
| KEITH, NE | Democratic | D+20.5 |
| KEYA PAHA, NE | Democratic | D+11.8 |
| KIMBALL, NE | Democratic | D+23.0 |
| KNOX, NE | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| LANCASTER, NE | Democratic | D+42.9 |
| LINCOLN, NE | Democratic | D+41.3 |
| LOGAN, NE | Democratic | D+21.5 |
| LOUP, NE | Democratic | D+34.0 |
| MADISON, NE | Democratic | D+18.0 |
| MCPHERSON, NE | Democratic | D+19.8 |
| MERRICK, NE | Democratic | D+31.4 |
| MORRILL, NE | Democratic | D+14.0 |
| NANCE, NE | Democratic | D+45.6 |
| NEMAHA, NE | Democratic | D+32.9 |
| NUCKOLLS, NE | Democratic | D+33.9 |
| OTOE, NE | Democratic | D+38.3 |
| PAWNEE, NE | Democratic | D+37.0 |
| PERKINS, NE | Democratic | D+28.1 |
| PHELPS, NE | Democratic | D+32.5 |
| PIERCE, NE | Democratic | D+14.5 |
| PLATTE, NE | Democratic | D+49.1 |
| POLK, NE | Democratic | D+39.4 |
| RED WILLOW, NE | Democratic | D+24.7 |
| RICHARDSON, NE | Democratic | D+35.2 |
| ROCK, NE | Democratic | D+21.3 |
| SALINE, NE | Democratic | D+54.7 |
| SARPY, NE | Democratic | D+40.7 |
| SAUNDERS, NE | Democratic | D+44.7 |
| SCOTTS BLUFF, NE | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| SEWARD, NE | Democratic | D+46.2 |
| SHERIDAN, NE | Democratic | D+5.1 |
| SHERMAN, NE | Democratic | D+48.7 |
| SIOUX, NE | Democratic | D+9.7 |
| STANTON, NE | Democratic | D+29.6 |
| THAYER, NE | Democratic | D+32.1 |
| THOMAS, NE | Democratic | D+18.8 |
| THURSTON, NE | Democratic | D+34.1 |
| VALLEY, NE | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| WASHINGTON, NE | Democratic | D+39.7 |
| WAYNE, NE | Democratic | D+12.1 |
| WEBSTER, NE | Democratic | D+30.2 |
| WHEELER, NE | Democratic | D+39.9 |
| YORK, NE | Democratic | D+38.9 |
presidential baselinePresident 1976R+20.7Senate 1978D+35.3vs. baselineD+56.1
Nebraska's 1978 Senate race ran 56.1 points more Democratic than its 1976 presidential margin.
Nebraska's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | +35.3% |
| 1982 | +38.1% |
| 1984 | +3.9% |
| 1988 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | +18.0% |
| 1994 | +9.8% |
| 1996 | −14.8% |
| 2000 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | −68.1% |
| 2006 | +27.8% |
| 2008 | −17.5% |
| 2012 | −15.5% |
| 2014 | −32.9% |
| 2018 | −19.1% |
| 2020 | −38.6% |
| 2024 | −53.2% |
Same ballot, 1978NE
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1978 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.