Nebraska Legislature seat · lines in effect since 2022
Nebraska Legislative District 21
A district of about 42,000 people, 40% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+13.9 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Beau Ballard (OTH) · won55.3%
- Seth Derner (OTH)44.7%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 49 seats
Every Nebraska Legislature seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
16 races since 1968. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Beau Ballard (OTH) | Seth Derner (I) | 10.6 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Mike Hilgers (OTH) | Brodey Weber (I) | 9.9 |
| 2016 | Mike Hilgers (OTH) | Larry Scherer (I) | 13.3 |
| 2012 | Ken Haar (OTH) | Mike Hilgers (I) | 0.6 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Ken Haar (OTH) | James Arthur Jeffers (I) | 0.1 |
| 2004 | Carol L. Hudkins (OTH) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Carol L. Hudkins (OTH) | — | Unopposed |
| 1996 | Carol L. Hudkins (OTH) | Carol M. Yoakum (I) | 16.4 |
| 1992 | Carol L. Hudkins (OTH) | Bill Saap (I) | 13.8 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Richard Peterson (OTH) | T. Patrick Stinson (I) | 18.5 |
| 1984 | Richard Peterson (OTH) | J. R. Peterson (I) | 50.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Richard Peterson (OTH) | J. Paul McIntosh (I) | 7.8 |
| 1978 special | Thomas C. Kennedy (OTH) | Merle E. Hansen (I) | 42.3 |
| 1976 | Keith M. Boughn (OTH) | J. Paul McIntosh (I) | 7.3 |
| 1972 | Thomas C. Kennedy (OTH) | Merle Finkral (I) | 45.0 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Thomas C. Kennedy (OTH) | S. H. Brauer Sr. (I) | 2.7 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 21
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 21's area in each.
- U.S. House
- NE-1 100%
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 49 seats. Small marks are other seats in Nebraska. The black marker is District 21.
Higher than 65% of seats.
Higher than 52% of seats.
Lower than 60% of seats.
Higher than 58% of seats.
Higher than 92% of seats.
Less dense than 56% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean. 2 of the 4 flipped this year.
District 4946% college gradsR+11.7Not up in 2026District 36
51% college gradsR+22.9Flipped ODistrict 27
33% college gradsD+5.2Not up in 2026District 2
40% college gradsR+24.8Flipped O
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET