2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska
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November 5, 2002
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All 3 Nebraska seats to the United States House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Nebraska |
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 Government |
The 2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on November 5, 2002, to elect the state of Nebraska's three members to the United States House of Representatives. All three incumbent Republican members of Congress were re-elected by wide margins.
Overview
| 2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska[1] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 386,869 | 81.65% | 3 | 
| |
| Democratic | 46,843 | 9.89% | 0 |
| |
| Libertarian | 36,866 | 7.78% | 0 | — | |
| Green | 3,236 | 0.68% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 473,814 | 100.00% | 3 | — | |
District 1
Incumbent Republican Congressman Doug Bereuter ran for re-election. He faced no major-party challengers and was opposed only by Libertarian nominee Robert Eckerson in the general election.[2] Bereuter defeated Eckerson in a landslide, winning 85 percent of the vote. Bereuter ultimately did not serve out his full term; he declined to seek re-election in 2004 and resigned on August 31, 2004.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Doug Bereuter, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Bereuter (inc.) | 40,911 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 40,911 | 100.00% | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
- Robert Eckerson, immigration attorney[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Robert Eckerson | 83 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 83 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Doug Bereuter (Republican)
- Robert Eckerson (Libertarian)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Bereuter (inc.) | 133,013 | 85.35% | |
| Libertarian | Robert Eckerson | 22,831 | 14.65% | |
| Total votes | 155,844 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 2
Incumbent Republican Congressman Lee Terry ran for re-election to a third term. He was challenged by businessman Jim Simon, the Democratic nominee, and two third-party candidates. Terry ultimately defeated Simon in a landslide, winning 63 percent of the vote to Simon's 33 percent.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Lee Terry, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lee Terry (inc.) | 24,193 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 24,193 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jim Simon, businessman[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jim Simon | 16,377 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 16,377 | 100.00% | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
- Dave Stock
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Dave Stock | 73 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 73 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Lee Terry (Republican)
- Jim Simon (Democratic)
- Doug Paterson (Green)
- Dave Stock (Libertarian)
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Lee Terry (R) |
Jim Simon (D) |
Doug Paterson (G) |
Dave Stock (L) |
Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Survey and Research[6] | October 23–28, 2002 | 604 (LV) | ± 3.98% | 54% | 33% | 3% | 1% | 9% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lee Terry (inc.) | 89,917 | 63.32% | |
| Democratic | Jim Simon | 46,843 | 32.98% | |
| Green | Doug Paterson | 3,236 | 2.28% | |
| Libertarian | Dave Stock | 2,018 | 1.42% | |
| Total votes | 142,014 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 3
Incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Osborne ran for re-election to a second term. No Democratic candidates filed to run against him,[2] and he was challenged only by Libertarian nominee Jerry Hickman, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.[7] Osborne defeated Hickman in a landslide, winning re-election with 93 percent of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Tom Osborne, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Osborne | 78,297 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 78,297 | 100.00% | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
- Jerry Hickman, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 1998 and 2000 Libertarian candidate for Congress[7]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Jerry Hickman | 73 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 73 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Tom Osborne (Republican)
- Jerry Hickman (Libertarian)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Osborne (inc.) | 163,939 | 93.17% | |
| Libertarian | Jerry Hickman | 12,017 | 6.83% | |
| Total votes | 175,956 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- ^ a b c d John A. Gale. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 7, 2002 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ a b "No Democratic candidates in two races". Lincoln Journal Star. March 2, 2002. p. 5B. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g John A. Gale. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 14, 2002 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ Walton, Don (October 19, 2002). "Intelligence role occupies Bereuter". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 2B. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kotok, C. David (February 19, 2002). "Jim Simon candidate for House". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kotok, C. David (October 30, 2002). "Poll: Iraq options determine support". Omaha World-Herald. p. 46024. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Fowler, Gretchen (March 28, 2002). "Hickman running for Congress for third time". The Grand Island Independent. p. 1-B. Retrieved January 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.