Nebraska Legislature seat · lines in effect since 2022
Nebraska Legislative District 45
A district of about 41,000 people, 31% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+3.6 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Rita Sanders (OTH) · won52.9%
- Sarah F. Centineo (OTH)47.1%
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
15 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 | Rita Sanders (OTH) | Sarah F. Centineo (I) | 5.7 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Rita Sanders (OTH) | Susan Hester (I) | 7.6 |
| 2016 | Sue Crawford (OTH) | Michael J. Cook (I) | 13.2 |
| 2012 | Sue Crawford (OTH) | Richard Carter (I) | 2.0 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Abbie Cornett (OTH) | — | Unopposed |
| 2004 | Abbie Cornett (OTH) | Jerry Ryan (I) | 11.2 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | D. Paul Hartnett (OTH) | Doug Patton (I) | 13.8 |
| 1996 | D. Paul Hartnett (OTH) | — | Unopposed |
| 1992 | D. Paul Hartnett (OTH) | Clifton N. Foster (I) | 19.3 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | D. Paul Hartnett (OTH) | Mel Cash (I) | 30.2 |
| 1984 | D. Paul Hartnett (OTH) | George Fenger (I) | 4.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | George Fenger (OTH) | Frank Lewis (I) | 8.7 |
| 1976 | Frank Lewis (OTH) | J. Neal Clemmer (I) | 48.2 |
| 1972 | Frank Lewis (OTH) | Joseph H. Baldwin (I) | 15.5 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Ellen E. Craft (OTH) | C. D. Daly (I) | 1.5 |
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 45
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 45'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 45.
Higher than 52% of seats.
Lower than 52% of seats.
Higher than 83% of seats.
Higher than 85% of seats.
Higher than 65% of seats.
Denser than 58% 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 2733% college gradsD+5.2Not up in 2026District 12
36% college gradsD+2.4Flipped ODistrict 3
42% college gradsR+6.6Not up in 2026District 14
42% college gradsR+8.8Flipped 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