The 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on November 6, 1990, to elect the state of Nebraska's three members to the United States House of Representatives. In the 1st and 2nd districts, the incumbent members of Congress—Republican Doug Bereuter and Democrat Peter Hoagland—won re-election by wide margins. In the 3rd district, Republican Congresswoman Virginia D. Smith retired, and Republican Bill Barrett, the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, narrowly defeated State Senator Sandra K. Scofield, the Democratic nominee.

Overview

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Republican 309,106 52.68% 2 Steady
Democratic 276,724 47.16% 1 Steady
Write-in 916 0.16% 0 —
Totals 586,746 100.00% 3 —

District 1

Incumbent Republican Congressman Doug Bereuter ran for re-election. He was challenged by Larry Hall, the former President of the Nebraska Farmers Union and the Democratic nominee. Bereuter won re-election in a landslide, receiving 66 percent of the vote to Hall's 34 percent.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Bereuter (inc.) 59,898 99.67%
Republican Write-ins 197 0.33%
Total votes 60,095 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Larry Hall, former President of the Nebraska Farmers Union[3]
  • Marlin Pals, perennial candidate[4]

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Hall 39,126 81.52%
Democratic Marlin Pals 8,725 18.18%
Democratic Write-ins 145 0.30%
Total votes 47,996 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1990 Nebraska's 1st congressional district general election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Bereuter (inc.) 129,654 64.70%
Democratic Larry Hall 70,587 35.23%
Write-ins 140 0.07%
Total votes 200,381 100.00%
Republican hold

District 2

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Peter Hoagland ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by attorney Ally Milder, who won the Republican primary over Douglas County Attorney Ronald Staskiewicz. Hoagland defeated Milder by a wide margin, winning 58 percent of the vote to Milder's 42 percent.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ally Milder 29,678 56.35%
Republican Ronald Staskiewicz 22,808 43.30%
Republican Write-ins 185 0.35%
Total votes 52,671 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Peter Hoagland, incumbent U.S. Representative
  • Jess M. Pritchett, 1988 Democratic candidate for Congress[7]

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter Hoagland (inc.) 49,693 86.60%
Democratic Jess M. Pritchett 7,439 12.96%
Democratic Write-ins 251 0.44%
Total votes 57,383 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1990 Nebraska's 2nd congressional district general election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter Hoagland (inc.) 111,903 57.85%
Republican Ally Milder 80,845 41.80%
Write-ins 673 0.35%
Total votes 193,421 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 3

Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Virginia D. Smith declined to seek re-election to an eighth term.[8] Bill Barrett, the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, won a crowded Republican primary to succeed Smith with just 30 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating rancher Merlyn Carlson. In the general election, Barrett faced State Senator Sandra K. Scofield. Despite the district's strong Republican lean, Barrett only narrowly defeated Scofield,[9] winning 51–49 percent.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Barrett 25,199 29.75%
Republican Merlyn Carlson 23,097 27.27%
Republican Fred Lockwood 20,390 24.07%
Republican Rod Johnson 12,961 15.30%
Republican Dan A. Govier 3,021 3.57%
Republican Write-ins 39 0.05%
Total votes 84,707 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sandra Scofield 27,734 57.45%
Democratic Scott E. Sidwell 17,329 35.89%
Democratic Bill Haivala 3,168 6.56%
Democratic Write-ins 48 0.10%
Total votes 48,279 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1990 Nebraska's 3rd congressional district general election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Barrett 98,607 51.11%
Democratic Sandra K. Scofield 94,234 48.84%
Write-ins 103 0.05%
Total votes 192,944 100.00%
Republican hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Beermann, Allen J. (1992). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election Held November 6, 1990. Nebraska Secretary of State.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beermann, Allen J. (1990). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election Held May 15, 1990. Nebraska Secretary of State.
  3. ↑ Alberts, Cheryl (January 17, 1990). "Hall launches congressional bid with call for campaign spending lid". Beatrice Daily Sun. p. A-2. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Howard, Ed (March 17, 1990). "DeCamp bid for attorney general among last-minute filings". Lincoln Journal. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Brennan, Joe (February 9, 1990). "Miss Milder Enters Race For Seat in 2nd District". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Brennan, Joe (February 27, 1990). "Staskiewicz Joins the Race In 2nd District". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Jess Pritchett to Run For Hoagland's Seat". Omaha World-Herald. January 20, 1990. p. 31. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Beeder, David C. (June 2, 1989). "Mrs. Smith Says Time To Bow Out". Omaha World-Herald. p. 7. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Cordes, Henry J. (November 7, 1990). "Sens. Scofield, Barrett Locked In Close Fight". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Barrett announces run at Congress". Kearney Hub. June 26, 1989. p. 2A. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Carlson to Seek 3rd District Seat". Omaha World-Herald. July 20, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Lockwood to Join GOP House Race". Omaha World-Herald. October 13, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Senator enters race for U.S. House seat". Star-Herald. Scottsbluff, Nebraska. June 22, 1989. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Political novice challenges Rep. Smith". Star-Herald. Scottsbluff, Nebraska. April 21, 1989. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Cordes, Henry J. (February 7, 1990). "Sen. Scofield Enters Race For 3rd District House Seat". Omaha World-Herald. p. 16. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Cordes, Henry J. (September 7, 1989). "Sidwell Enters Race for House In 3rd District". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Aubrey, Rodd (November 15, 1989). "G.I. man joins Democratic race for Smith's House seat". The Grand Island Independent. p. 3. Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.

See also

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Nebraska