99chambers

Nebraska Legislature seat · lines in effect since 2022

Nebraska Legislative District 9

A district of about 42,000 people, 48% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+44.1 relative to the nation for president.

John Cavanaugh (D) · since Nov 3, 2020Next election Nov 7, 2028

2024 election

Nov 5, 2024
  1. John Cavanaugh (OTH) · won70.1%
  2. Julia K. Palzer (OTH)29.9%

Full results →

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.

D+44.12nd most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican25th seat · the majority lineDistrict 9

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.

YearWinnerRunner-upWon by
Lines first used in 2022
2024John Cavanaugh (OTH)Julia K. Palzer (I)40.3
Lines first used in 2012
2020John Cavanaugh (OTH)Marque Snow (I)8.3
2016Sara Howard (OTH)Larry Roland (I)58.4
2012Sara Howard (OTH)Erica Fish (I)31.9
Lines first used in 2002
2008Gwen Howard (OTH)—Unopposed
2004Gwen Howard (OTH)Scott Knudsen (I)13.4
Lines first used in 1992
2000Chip Maxwell (OTH)Scott Knudsen (I)10.8
1996Shelley Kiel (OTH)Robert J. Swick (I)18.8
1992John C. Lindsay (OTH)William J. Brown (I)54.2
Lines first used in 1982
1988John C. Lindsay (OTH)Frances Mendenhall (I)1.4
1984Marge Higgins (OTH)C. Bruce Davis (I)4.0
Lines first used in 1972
1980Marge Higgins (OTH)Ray Powers (I)2.2
1976Bill Brennan (OTH)Sam J. Howell III (I)10.1
1972John J. Cavanaugh III (OTH)Leonard H. Powers (I)7.2
Lines first used in 1962
1968Sam Klaver (OTH)Nick L. Pillege (I)53.2

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 9

The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 9's area in each.

U.S. House
NE-2 100%

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 9.

Adults with a bachelor's degree48% 85th pct · 8th of 49 in NE

Higher than 85% of seats.

White adults without a degree33% 4th pct · 47th of 49 in NE

Lower than 96% of seats.

Hispanic residents15% 75th pct · 13th of 49 in NE

Higher than 75% of seats.

Black residents10% 92nd pct · 5th of 49 in NE

Higher than 92% of seats.

Asian residents4% 79th pct · 11th of 49 in NE

Higher than 79% of seats.

People per square mile6,105 100th pct · 1st of 49 in NE

Densest of 49 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 8
42% college gradsD+36.9Held ODistrict 28
42% college gradsD+34.2Flipped ODistrict 6
51% college gradsD+15.7Flipped ODistrict 29
45% college gradsD+23.3Not up in 2026

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