(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA – While the “Blue Tsunami” of 2026 largely stopped short of Nebraska, the Nebraska Democratic Party did replicate Democrats’ nationwide success in Douglas County, with Nebraska’s most populous county turning blue in the sheriff, attorney, and congressional races. Democrats also flipped two confirmed and one likely seat in the Nebraska Legislature, eliminating the GOP supermajority.
In LD-12, which covers Millard and Ralston, Democrat Christy Knorr defeated Merv Riepe, a longtime Republican senator and occasional maverick vote, who had held the seat from 2015-2019 and assumed it once again in 2023. Knorr’s 12-point margin of victory was the second largest among the Democratic targeted battleground seats heading into the election, behind only Cindy Johnson in LD-10, who held a Democratic seat by 18.
“I am still processing and reflecting on last night, and I am overwhelmed by the support this community showed. Thank you to everyone who voted, who volunteered, and who believed in this campaign,” Knorr said in a statement Wednesday. “I look forward to serving District 12, and I plan to hit the ground running starting tomorrow!”
Riepe blamed the political environment as well as bad Election Day weather in a Thursday statement to The Plains Sentinel. “In door-to-door campaigning [in] LD12, the anger and frustration were palpable,” he said.
In LD-18 West Omaha/Bennington, Democrat Jess Goldoni won a razor-thin 400 vote victory over Republican Taylor Royal, who was endorsed by the district’s outgoing Republican senator Christy Armendariz. Royal remained optimistic despite the loss.
“I will be cheering on our state and local representatives to serve Nebraskans with the excellence we deserve,” he told The Plains Sentinel. “Nebraska brightest days are ahead.”
While LD-4 in West Omaha has yet to be called as counting continues for provisional ballots, incumbent Republican Brad von Gillern trails Democrat Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek by 300 votes. Von Gillern was among the favorites to succeed John Arch as Speaker of the Legislature, and had defeated Maxwell-Ostdiek by 800 votes in 2022. When reached by The Plains Sentinel, von Gillern said he would withhold comment until the counting was complete.
Maxwell-Ostdiek told her supporters to stay tuned for more updates. “We will continue to keep you all updated as more results come in over the next few days. For now, I just want to say thank you!” she said Wednesday.
While the gain was enough to end the Nebraska GOP’s Unicameral 33-vote supermajority, Democrats fared worse outside of Douglas. Two other key races targeted by Democrats in Sarpy County went Republicans’ way, with Bill Bowes of LD-14 and Rick Holdcroft of LD-26 winning.
Bowes, a former fireman, assumes the Papillion-La Vista seat of term-limited Speaker of the Legislature John Arch. Holdcroft ran as an incumbent and won by 4 points over Darin Tompkins, who was one of Nebraska Democrats’ most well-funded challengers.
Holdcroft told The Plains Sentinel he was “Just happy to serve my district for four more years.”
Tompkins in a statement Wednesday said he had run a “hard fought campaign.”
“This is not the result we were hoping for but I hope you don’t let this discourage you from continuing to make a difference. I knew this was a tough race to win from the start but I have never let that deter me before,” he said. “A loss does not mean we stop fighting for more Nebraskans to live the good life and I hope my message continues to resonate beyond this campaign.”
Despite Republicans sweeping statewide offices, the Democratic victories in Douglas County will render many Republican legislative priorities dead on arrival without bipartisan support.
“Voters clearly wanted a check on Governor Pillen and the most radical wing of the Republican Party,” said Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb. “Voters want the legislature focused on the fundamentals of bringing down property taxes, fully funding our public schools, and ensuring that there is a level playing field for all Nebraskans.”
Kleeb credited the party apparatus for recruiting candidates who reflected their localities and for working alongside them to keep focus on local issues.
And despite losing their 4-4 split on the State Board of Education, progressives claimed one final victory by gaining a 4-4 split on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, with all three election night races going in their favor.
— Lewis Thune is a College Fix writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.
The Democrats are always willing to work across the aisle, so long as those across the aisle are willing to accept their policies. That's their definition of collaboration. Jane Kleeb wants to "keep Pillen in check along with the most radical wing of the Republican party". Now, does that rhetoric sound like someone wanting to compromise, or words of disdain? I think she wears her non-negotiable ideology as a badge of honor.
Democrats celebrating their victories throughout the country will be short lived. I have yet to witness today's Democratic Party being able to govern with any kind of common sense or prudence. Their leftist political ideology comes before any other consideration. However, one must admit, they know how to manipulate public opinion with the aid of today's media, and win elections.