Nebraska Attorney General election, 2014

Nebraska Attorney General Election

Primary Date: May 13, 2014

General Election Date: November 4, 2014

November 4 Election Winner: Doug Peterson

Incumbent prior to election: Jon Bruning

Nebraska State Executive Elections Top Ballot Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General Down Ballot Treasurer, Auditor, Public Service Commissioner

The Nebraska Attorney General election took place on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Jon Bruning (R) was first elected in 2002 and instead of seeking re-election, ran for the office of Governor of Nebraska. The race to replace Bruning featured Republican candidate Doug Peterson and Democratic candidate Janet Stewart. Doug Peterson won election to a four-year term.

The contest between Peterson and Stewart was the first contested race for attorney general in Nebraska since 2002. Bruning ran for re-election without opposition in 2006 and 2010 after a 32-point margin-of-victory in 2002. Learn more about where the candidates stood on the issues by jumping to the campaign themes section.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Nebraska, a top-two primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races. All other primaries are semi-closed.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Candidates

General election

• Doug Peterson
• Janet Stewart

Lost in primary

• Pete Pirsch
• Brian Buescher
• Mike Hilgers
• Allan Eurek

Filed for other office

• Jon Bruning - Incumbent

Withdrew

• Van Argyrakis - Attorney

Results

General election

Attorney General of Nebraska, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Doug Peterson	66.1%	339,846
	Democratic	Janet Stewart	33.9%	174,614
Total Votes				514,460
Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State

Primary election

Republican Primary

Nebraska Attorney General, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Doug Peterson	35.6%	67,578
Brian Buescher	25.5%	48,316
Mike Hilgers	22.9%	43,371
Pete Pirsch	16%	30,321
Total Votes		189,586
Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State.

Democratic Primary

Nebraska Attorney General, Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Janet Stewart	72.3%	47,151
Allan Eurek	27.7%	18,083
Total Votes		65,234
Election results via Nebraska Secretary of State.

Campaign themes

Peterson and Stewart made public statements about their positions on issues facing Nebraska voters. The following sections quote these statements verbatim from candidate websites.

Doug Peterson

“	PROTECTING THE GOOD LIFE The Attorney General is the lead law-enforcement officer for the state of Nebraska. One of the most important responsibilities for the Attorney General is to provide leadership and support for all County Attorneys and law enforcement agencies in the state. I have spoken with several County Attorney’s across the state and they confirm that in order to most effectively fight criminals they need the support of the Attorney General’s office. I will make this my highest priority as Nebraska’s Attorney General because it truly does affect the good life for all communities. Cracking down on all types of criminal activity will send a message to those criminals that Nebraska will never surrender any community to lawlessness. PROTECTING NEBRASKANS FROM FEDERAL OVERREACH Over the last several years we have seen the federal government under President Obama impose more and more control over both individuals and state rights. The United States Constitution limits federal authority. Nebraskan’s simply cannot back down to power plays by this current federal administration. Government works only when it operates within the constitutional boundaries. I strongly support government at the most local level. I will not allow the federal government to intimidate Nebraska individuals or businesses by overplaying its federal authority. Our founding fathers understood that our country is strongest when our states are strong. PROTECTING THE NEBRASKA CONSUMERS There have been snake oil salesman in Nebraska about as long as there have been snakes. Fortunately, in Nebraska the Attorney General’s office has a dedicated department to protect Nebraskans from consumer fraud. Motivated by greed and acting with deceit, corporations and individuals pray upon the most vulnerable Nebraskans. I intend to be very aggressive in going after these crooks. I want to send a very strong message that if you mess with Nebraskan’s through consumer fraud you will pay a very high price. Fortunately, in Nebraska the Attorney’s General’s office has a department dedicated to protect Nebraskans from consumer fraud and I want to use my 28 years of legal experience to lead this unit and fight for you.	”
—Doug Peterson's campaign website, (2014)

Janet Stewart

“	I am ready to put my experience managing litigation for a major Nebraska business to work for all Nebraska. My experience practicing law in Nebraska state and federal courts gives me a solid foundation from which to vigorously represent the interests of our state. I intend to follow the example of Attorney General Robert Spire, a nonpartisan and ethical lawyer, who elevated the standards of the office. Partisan politics and divisive ideologies compromise sound legal analysis and decisions. Electing an Attorney General with no aspirations to advance a political agenda, or run for higher office gives Nebraskans the legal representation they deserve. Managing Nebraska’s litigation and the Attorney General’s office with experienced legal and business skills will conserve state resources saving taxpayer dollars.	”
—Janet Stewart's campaign website, (2014)

Past elections

2010

Jon Bruning won re-election without opposition.

2006

Jon Bruning won re-election without opposition.

2002

2002 Race for Attorney General - General Election
Party		Candidate	Vote Percentage
	Republican Party	a Jon Bruning	66.0%
	Democratic Party	Mike Meister	34.0%
Total Votes			443,499

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $1,157,587 during the election. This information was last updated on April 25, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Doug Peterson	Nebraska Attorney General		$384,853
Brian Buescher	Nebraska Attorney General		$319,362
Mike Hilgers	Nebraska Attorney General		$222,955
Pete Pirsch	Nebraska Attorney General		$185,053
Janet Stewart	Nebraska Attorney General		$23,666
Allan Eurek	Nebraska Attorney General		$21,698
Grand Total Raised			$1,157,587

Key deadlines

Deadline	Event
May 13, 2014	Primary election
November 4, 2014	General election
December 1, 2014	Certification of election results
January 8, 2015	Inauguration day for state executive officials

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Nebraska + attorney + general + election"

Nebraska Attorney General Election News Feed

See also

• Nebraska Attorney General
• Nebraska state executive official elections, 2014
• State executive official elections, 2014

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Attorney General of Nebraska