Honestly, Nebraska is usually one of those states where you can bet the farm on a red outcome. But the 2024 United States presidential election in Nebraska results tell a story that's a bit more tangled than just a sea of red. While Donald Trump easily secured the statewide victory, the unique way Nebraska handles its electoral votes meant the night didn't end in a total sweep.
You’ve probably heard of the "Blue Dot." It’s that one electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District, centered around Omaha. It’s been a thorn in the side of Nebraska Republicans for a few cycles now, and 2024 was no different. Even with redistricting efforts that were supposed to make the area "safer" for conservatives, the district went its own way.
Trump took home four of the state's five electoral votes. Kamala Harris grabbed that lone remaining one.
The Breakout of the 2024 United States Presidential Election in Nebraska Results
If you look at the raw numbers, the statewide gap was massive. Trump pulled in about 59.3% of the total vote, which translates to roughly 564,816 ballots. Harris trailed behind at 38.9%, or 369,995 votes. It sounds like a blowout, and in 91 out of 93 counties, it absolutely was.
But the math in Nebraska is weird. It’s one of only two states (Maine is the other) that doesn't use a "winner-take-all" system. Instead, they give two votes to the statewide winner and one vote to the winner of each of the three congressional districts.
Here is how that actually shook out:
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The Statewide Winner
Trump won Nebraska as a whole. No surprise there. This gave him his first two electoral votes from the Cornhusker State.
District 1 (Lincoln and surrounding areas)
This district covers the capital and some more suburban-to-rural stretches. Trump won here with about 55.8% of the vote. That’s a decent margin, though Lincoln itself (Lancaster County) actually leaned toward Harris. The surrounding rural counties were enough to keep the district red.
District 2 (Omaha and the Blue Dot)
This is where the drama lives. Kamala Harris won the 2nd District with 51.6% of the vote compared to Trump’s 47%. It’s the second time in a row this district has flipped blue, and it’s basically become a symbol of the urban-rural divide in the Midwest.
District 3 (The Big Empty)
This district is massive, covering most of western and central Nebraska. It is one of the reddest districts in the entire country. Trump absolutely crushed it here, winning 76.3% of the vote. Harris didn’t even clear 23% in this part of the state.
Why the Blue Dot Stayed Blue
There was a lot of talk before the election about the Nebraska legislature trying to change the rules. A group of Republicans pushed hard to move the state back to a winner-take-all system. They knew that one electoral vote could, in a very tight national race, be the difference between a tie and a win.
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Basically, it didn't happen. The effort stalled out in the statehouse because they couldn't get enough votes to overcome a filibuster.
So, Omaha stayed competitive. Even though Don Bacon, the Republican incumbent for the House seat, managed to win his re-election in that same district, the top of the ticket went the other way. It shows a fascinating trend of "split-ticket" voting. People were comfortable keeping their Republican Congressman but wanted a Democrat in the White House.
Down-Ballot Surprises and Senate Scares
The 2024 United States presidential election in Nebraska results weren't the only thing keeping people up late. The Senate race turned into a total nail-biter.
Deb Fischer, the Republican incumbent, was expected to cruise to victory. Instead, she faced a massive challenge from Dan Osborn, an independent candidate who ran a "non-partisan" populist campaign. He didn't take any corporate PAC money and focused on labor issues.
For a few hours on election night, it looked like Fischer might actually lose. She eventually pulled it off with 53.3% of the vote to Osborn's 46.7%, but the fact that an independent got that close in Nebraska sent shockwaves through the state's political establishment.
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A Note on Voter Turnout
Nebraska saw pretty high engagement this time around. Certified results show turnout was roughly 68% to 74% depending on how you count registered versus eligible voters. In Douglas County (Omaha), the energy was palpable. People really leaned into the "Blue Dot" identity—you could see those blue dot signs in yards all over the city.
Third-Party Performance
While the big two took most of the oxygen, a few others were on the ballot:
- Chase Oliver (Libertarian): Got about 0.7% of the vote.
- Cornel West (Independent): Took 0.3%.
- Jill Stein (Green): Also ended with around 0.3%.
None of them really moved the needle, but in a state where one electoral vote can be decided by a few thousand people in Omaha, every decimal point gets scrutinized by the party data nerds.
What This Means for the Future
The 2024 results proved that Nebraska isn't a total monolith. Yes, the state is deeply conservative, but the urban centers of Omaha and Lincoln are shifting. The "Blue Dot" is no longer a fluke; it's a trend.
If you're looking for what to do next with this information, keep an eye on the Nebraska Unicameral (the state's one-house legislature). There is almost certainly going to be another push to get rid of the split-electoral vote system before 2028. Republicans don't like giving away points, and Democrats are going to fight like crazy to keep their one "Omaha insurance policy."
For now, the map stays as it is: a mostly red state with a very loud, very persistent blue dot right in the middle of the Missouri River valley.
Next Steps for Research:
- Review the final certified county-by-county data from the Nebraska Secretary of State.
- Analyze the shift in Sarpy County, which is becoming a key suburban battleground.
- Monitor the 2025 legislative session for any bills regarding "Winner-Take-All" voting changes.