Machaela Cavanaugh
Nebraska State Senator, District 6 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 2
- 41 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 5.6%
- Chamber median 2.7%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +11.2
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations
- Legislative Performance Audit Special
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Apr 2026
Failed in the Senate Apr 2026
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 7% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Danielle Conrad, John Cavanaugh, George Dungan
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nebraska Legislature, District 6 | Won | D+11.2 |
| 2018 | Nebraska Legislature, District 6 | Won | D+1.9 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Cavanaugh has held
- Nebraska Legislature, District 6 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cavanaugh has run against
- Christian Mirch (I) · 2022 general, won
- Theresa Thibodeau (I) · 2018 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Cavanaugh
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/fd6e1947-c274-4ff5-b2ee-5e5a79d6a729
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET