Legislative Primaries Narrrow Field

Primaries in races for the Nebraska Legislature narrowed the field Tuesday, with at least one race looking like it will require a recount. (For results of all legislative races from the Secretary of State's office, click here).

There were 65 candidates for a maximum of 48 slots in the general election, with those slots going to the top two vote-getters in each race.

All incumbents running came out on top, except one: Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in February to succeed former Sen. Mike Groene, who resigned, trailed challenger Chris Bruns, 45-44 percent. Another incumbent – Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh in Omaha’s District 6, received less than a majority in a three way race.

In Omaha’s District 18, only 63 votes, or less than one percent separated Clarice Jackson in third place from Christie Armendariz in second, in a race led by Michael Young with 42 more votes.

All told, it looks like 13 of 24 races for the officially nonpartisan Legislature this fall will have candidates from different parties, 9 will be races between members of the same party, and two will be uncontested.

Correction: The audio and an earlier text version of this story omitted incumbent Sen. Mike Jacobson's trailing challenger Chris Bruns.