2006Final results
2006 election for U.S. Senate in Nebraska
U.S. Senate · Nebraska
E. Benjamin Nelson (D) won with 63.9% of the vote, defeating Pete Ricketts (R) by 27.8 points.
E. Benjamin NelsonDemocrat · winner
63.9%378,388
Pete RickettsRepublican
36.1%213,928
592,316 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2006
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
E. Benjamin NelsonPete Ricketts
$6.1M
Raised by the campaign
$13.4M
$7M
Spent by the campaign
$13.4M
$300.5K
Cash on hand
$7.2K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2006.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2006