1982 United States Senate election in Nebraska

The 1982 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 5, 1982. Incumbent Democratic Senator Edward Zorinsky ran for re-election to a second term. Zorinsky was challenged by Republican nominee Jim Keck, a retired United States Air Force general. Zorinsky defeated Keck in a landslide, winning the highest percentage of the vote of any Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in state history.

1982 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1976 November 5, 1982 1988 →

Nominee Edward Zorinsky Jim Keck Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 363,350 155,760 Percentage 66.59% 28.55%

County results Zorinsky:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Keck:      40–50%      50–60% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Edward Zorinsky Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Edward Zorinsky, incumbent Senator

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward Zorinsky (inc.)	124,288	99.42%
	Democratic	Write-ins	731	0.58%
Total votes			125,019	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Keck, retired United States Air Force general, advertising executive^[2]
• Ken Cameron, manufacturers' representative^[2]

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Keck	104,550	66.02%
	Republican	Ken Cameron	53,453	33.76%
	Republican	Write-ins	347	0.22%
Total votes			158,350	100.00%

General election

1982 United States Senate election in Nebraska^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward Zorinsky (inc.)	363,350	66.59%	+13.70%
	Republican	Jim Keck	155,760	28.55%	−18.52%
	Independent	Virginia Walsh	26,443	4.85%	—
	Write-in		94	0.02%	—
Majority			207,590	38.04%	+32.22%
Total votes			545,647	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1982 United States Senate elections