John Cavanaugh
Nebraska State Senator, District 9 since 2020. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 6 yrs
- Since 2020
- Bills became law
- 3
- 42 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.8%
- Chamber median 2.7%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +40.3
- Won 2024
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- General Affairs · vice chair
- Government, Military and Veterans Affairs
- Select Committee on Committees
- Urban Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Feb 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Cavanaugh sits in the Nebraska Legislature
Cavanaugh is closer to the center than 20% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: George Dungan, Danielle Conrad, Machaela Cavanaugh
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:56 PM ET
With Cavanaugh’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Nebraska Legislature.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Cavanaugh’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Cavanaugh | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2026 | LB 1187: Change provisions of the Livestock Brand Act | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 39–9 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | LB 1067: Change provisions relating to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rate and… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–13 |
| Apr 7, 2026 | LB 1114: Adopt the Community Improvement District Act and the New Taxpayer Recruitment Grant Act,… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 21–18 |
| Apr 7, 2026 | LB 937: Adopt the Prior Learning Act and the K-12 Education Cybersecurity Act and change… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 21–17 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | LB 986: Allow expenditure of campaign funds for security services and systems under the Nebraska… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 18–20 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Cavanaugh was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nebraska Legislature, District 9 | Won | D+40.3 |
| 2020 | Nebraska Legislature, District 9 | Won | D+8.3 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Cavanaugh has held
- Nebraska Legislature, District 9 · since 2020
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cavanaugh has run against
- Julia K. Palzer (I) · 2024 general, won
- Marque Snow (I) · 2020 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Cavanaugh
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/0436186a-3b62-46f1-8f36-55e09fca3e77
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET