Map: Nebraska Republicans Voted Along Geographic Lines

A geographic review of the results from Tuesday’s primary election reveals a geographic trend largely driven by population density.

NU Regent Jim Pillen won the GOP nomination for Governor Tuesday evening, winning a total of 58 Nebraska counties largely along Interstate 80 and much of northeastern Nebraska. Pillen came out on top in Lancaster County as well, home to the state’s second largest city: Lincoln.

Agribusinessmen Charles Herbster succeeded in most of Nebraska’s Sandhills winning counties along the state’s northern border as well as some other counties in the southwest and the southeast.

The third place candidate, Omaha State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, only won 4 counties - Burt, Washington, Douglas and Sarpy. He came in second place in several other eastern Nebraska counties including Lancaster, Cass, Otoe and 4 others.

The result suggests that the Nebraska GOP is not as divided as it is in other states, with the establishment candidate — Jim Pillen — beating Herbster by nearly 4 percentage points.

Explore the map below to see how the race turned out across the state:

This story comes from the Midwest Newsroom, an investigative journalism collaboration including IPR, KCUR 89.3, Nebraska Public Media News, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR.
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