OMAHA — The crowded primary races for three of Nebraska's most high-profile school boards, the University of Nebraska Board of Trustees and the State Board of Education, narrowed down Tuesday.
The top two vote-getters from each seat, who are officially independents, will face off in the November general election.
For the NU Board of Trustees:
- In the 5th District, Republican incumbent Rob Schaefer of Beatrice came out on top with more than half of the votes in the three-person primary. His likely opponent will be Auburn resident Gary Rogge, an independent who won the primary over Democrat Jerome Wohleb.
- In District 3, Norfolk's Jim Scheer has no opponent. The Republican from Norfolk is the incumbent appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen to fill Pillen's own seat in February 2023.
- In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Elizabeth O'Connor (Democrat) significantly outperformed her opponent Jim Rogers (Republican) in the primary vote. Both will advance to the general election.
- In the 8th District, incumbent Barbara Weitz (Democrat) had a significant lead over her only challenger, independent Zachary Melender. They will face off in the general election.
All of the candidates for the State Board of Education are new, and all incumbents in the four open districts chose not to run for re-election even though they could have run for re-election.8 Questions were raised about the political leanings of the board of education, which is made up of several members. policy.
In the two preliminary races contested:
- In the 2nd District, Republican Linda Vermoten and Democrat Maggie Douglas held a lead for two seats in the general election. Democrat Karen Morgan followed in third place.
- In District 4, Democrat Liz Renner and independent Ledna White-Griffin held the lead in a three-way primary that included Republican Stacey Matula.
There were only two primary candidates in the remaining two school board races, and both won.
- In the 1st District, Democrat Christine Christensen will face Republican Liz Davids.
- In District 3, Republican Lisa Schoenhoff will face fellow Republican Bill McAllister.
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