Don Stenberg

Don Stenberg
Stenberg in 2011
43rd Treasurer of Nebraska
In office
January 6, 2011 – January 9, 2019
GovernorDave Heineman
Pete Ricketts
Preceded byShane Osborn
Succeeded byJohn Murante
30th Attorney General of Nebraska
In office
January 14, 1991 – January 13, 2003
GovernorBen Nelson
Mike Johanns
Preceded byRobert Spire
Succeeded byJon Bruning
Personal details
Born (1948-09-20) September 20, 1948 (age 76)
Tekamah, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSue Hoegemeyer
EducationUniversity of Nebraska, Lincoln (BA)
Harvard University (JD, MBA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Don Stenberg (born September 30, 1948) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 31st Attorney General of Nebraska from 1991 to 2003 and 43rd Treasurer of Nebraska from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was legal counsel to Governor Charles Thone from 1979 to 1983.

He unsuccessfully ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska in 1978; Attorney General of Nebraska in 1986; and the United States Senate in 1996, 2000, 2006, and 2012.

Early life, education, and law career

Stenberg was born and raised in Tekamah, Nebraska. To pay for college, he detasseled corn, hauled bales, mowed lawns, and life guarded at the local swimming pool. After graduating from University of Nebraska–Lincoln (1970), Harvard Law School (1974), and Harvard Business School (1974) he practiced law in Lincoln.[1]

Early political career (1978–1989)

1978 run for lieutenant governor

In 1978, Stenberg ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, coming in fourth in the Republican primary with just 13% of the vote. Roland A. Luedtke won the primary with a plurality of 31%.[2]

Thone administration

In 1979, he was named as legal counsel to Republican governor of Nebraska Charles Thone. Stenberg has also served as director of the Governor's Policy Research Office, assistant to the governor, and director of the Department of Administrative Services.[3]

1986 run for attorney general

He first ran for Nebraska Attorney General in 1986, but lost in the Republican primary to incumbent Robert Spire 53%–47%.[4]

State attorney general (1991–2003)

Elections

In 1990, he ran for attorney general again. In the Republican primary, he won with a plurality of 38%.[5] In the general election, he defeated Democrat Gene Crump 54%–46%.[6] He won re-election in 1994 (67%) and 1998 (68%).

Tenure

Stenberg was the named defendant in the noted Supreme Court abortion case, Stenberg v. Carhart 530 U.S. 914 (2000).[7]

1996 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 1996

Stenberg first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Senator J. James Exon. Initially seen as the frontrunner, he was defeated by business executive Chuck Hagel 62%–38%.[8] Hagel went on to win an upset against Democratic Governor Ben Nelson.

2000 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2000

After being re-elected Attorney General in 1998, Stenberg again ran for the U.S. Senate in 2000 to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey. He won the six candidate primary with 50% of the vote.[9] In one of the closest elections in Nebraska history, Nelson defeated Stenberg 51%–49%,[10] even as Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush won the state with 62%.

Post-Attorney General career (2003–present)

Private sector

Stenberg left office as attorney general in 2003 and returned to work in the private sector as of counsel at Erickson and Sederstrom, the same firm where his former boss, Charles Thone, is a partner.

2006 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2006

In 2006, Stenberg launched his third bid for the U.S. Senate. Once again, an early frontrunner, he was defeated by former Ameritrade chief operating officer Pete Ricketts 48%–38%.[11] Ricketts went on to lose to incumbent U.S. Senator Nelson.

State Treasurer

In 2010, Stenberg ran for Nebraska State Treasurer to succeed retiring Shane Osborn. He won the primary over state Senator Tony Fulton 52%–28%[12] and won the general election with 73% of the vote.[13]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2012

In 2011, he announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate a fourth time.

After receiving endorsements from Club for Growth and Freedomworks, Stenberg split the Tea Party vote with attorney general Jon Brunning. Stenberg came in third place, taking 18.8% of the vote. The nomination went to State senator Deb Fischer.

2014 election

Main article: Nebraska elections, 2014

Following the withdrawal of the two leading candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor, Stenberg said that he would consider "what is the best way to serve the state of Nebraska". He has said that it was "unlikely, but possible" that he would run for governor.[14] He also considered running for the open U.S. Senate seat, but decided instead to run for re-election to a second term as Treasurer.[15]

Personal life

He is married to Sue Hoegemeyer of Hooper, Nebraska. They have been married 39 years and have four children.

Electoral history

Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary Election, 1978
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roland Luedtke 53,762 30.68
Republican Dennis Rasmussen 50,627 28.89
Republican Rosemary Mara Skrupe 29,532 16.85
Republican Don Stenberg 22,592 12.89
Republican Herbert Duis 18,736 10.69
Nebraska Attorney General Republican Primary Election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Spike 99,578 55.41
Republican Don Stenberg 80,130 44.59
Nebraska Attorney General Republican Primary Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg 72,177 38.28
Republican Mike Heavican 69,478 36.85
Republican John DeCamp 46,880 24.87
Nebraska Attorney General Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg 297,815 53.68
Democratic Gene Crump 256,686 46.26
Write-ins Write-ins 335 0.06
Nebraska Attorney General Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg (inc.) 367,396 67.48
Democratic Steve Scherr 176,594 32.44
Write-ins Write-ins 463 0.09
Nebraska U.S. Senate Republican Primary Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chuck Hagel 112,953 56.22
Republican Don Stenberg 87,974 43.78
Nebraska Attorney General Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg (inc.) 353,939 68.07
Democratic Pat Knapp 151,054 29.05
Libertarian Andrew Sullivan 14,693 2.83
Write-ins Write-ins 253 0.05
Nebraska U.S. Senate Republican Primary Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg 91,981 50.22
Republican Scott Moore 39,493 21.56
Republican David Hergert 31,560 17.23
Republican George Grogan 7,943 4.34
Republican John DeCamp 7,096 3.87
Republican Elliott Rustad 5,074 2.77
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Nelson 353,093 51.00
Republican Don Stenberg 337,977 48.82
Write-ins Write-ins 1,280 0.18
Nebraska U.S. Senate Republican Primary Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Ricketts 129,643 48.02
Republican Don Stenberg 96,496 35.75
Republican David Kramer 43,815 16.23
Nebraska Treasurer Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg 83,461 51.77
Republican Tony Fulton 44,771 27.77
Republican Tom Nesbitt 32,979 20.46
Nebraska Treasurer Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg 345,661 72.94
Democratic Mark Stoj 128,231 27.06
Nebraska U.S. Senate Republican Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Deb Fischer 79,941 40.99
Republican Jon Bruning 70,067 35.92
Republican Don Stenberg 36,727 18.83
Republican Pat Flynn 5,413 2.78
Republican Spencer Zimmerman 1,601 0.82
Republican Sharyn Elander 1,294 0.66
Nebraska Treasurer Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg (inc.) 172,861 84.97
Republican Christopher Costello 30,566 15.03
Nebraska Treasurer Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Stenberg (inc.) 357,474 68.14
Democratic Michael O'Hara 139,101 26.52
Libertarian Michael Knebel 28,009 5.34

References

  1. ^ "More About Don | Stenberg for Senate 2012". Stenbergforsenate.com. 2012-04-16. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  2. ^ "NE Lt. Governor – R Primary Race – May 09, 1978". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  3. ^ "Nsto | Nebraska State Treasurer John Murante".
  4. ^ "NE Attorney General – R Primary Race – May 13, 1986". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  5. ^ "NE Attorney General – R Primary Race – May 15, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  6. ^ "NE Attorney General Race – Nov 06, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  7. ^ "Stenberg v. Carhart – 530 U.S. 914 (2000) :: Justia US Supreme Court Center". Supreme.justia.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  8. ^ "NE US Senate – R Primary Race – May 14, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  9. ^ "NE US Senate- R Primary Race – May 09, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  10. ^ "NE US Senate Race – Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  11. ^ "NE US Senate – R Primary Race – May 09, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  12. ^ "NE Treasurer- R Primary Race – May 11, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  13. ^ "NE Treasurer Race – Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  14. ^ Hammel, Paul (February 7, 2013). "Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenberg pondering governor bid". Omaha.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  15. ^ Martin, Brent (December 4, 2013). "Treasurer Stenberg to run for re-election, not governor or Senate (AUDIO)". Nebraska Radio Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Robert Spire
 Attorney General of Nebraska
1991–2003 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Robert M. Spire
 Republican nominee for Nebraska Attorney General
1990, 1994, 1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jan Stoney
 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Nebraska
(Class 1)
2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Nebraska State Treasurer
2010, 2014 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Nebraska
2011–2019 		Succeeded by