Nebraska's thirty-first state senate district is represented by Rick Kolowski.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 36,914 civilians reside within Nebraska's thirty-first state senate district. Nebraska state senators represent an average of 37,272 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 34,924.

About the office

Members of the Nebraska State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. It is unique in that it is the only American state legislature that is unicameral. Half of the seats up for election every second year. Nebraska legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.

Nonpartisan

Members are selected in nonpartisan elections. Rather than separate primaries held to choose Republican, Democratic, and other partisan contenders for a seat, Nebraska uses a single nonpartisan primary election, in which the top two vote-getters are entitled to run in the general election. There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Legislature. Coalitions tend to form issue by issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Nebraska Senate, a candidate must be:

• At least 21 years of age
• A resident of Nebraska, and specifically a resident of the legislative district he or she wishes to serve, for at least one year prior to the general election
• Must not have ever been convicted of a felony

Salaries

Term limits

The Nebraska State Senate is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Nebraska Term Limits Act in 2000. That initiative said that Nebraska senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 2000 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2008.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the legislature, it is up to the Governor to select a replacement. If a vacancy happens in the last 60 days before a general election, the replacement appointed by the Governor serves the remainder of the term until a new representative is elected. If the vacancy happens more than 60 days before the general election, the replacement serves the remainder of the unfilled term until the next general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 12, 2020. The filing deadline is March 2, 2020.

2016

Elections for the Nebraska State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016, for incumbents. Challengers were required to file by March 1, 2016.

Incumbent Rick Kolowski defeated Ian Swanson in the Nebraska State Senate District 31 general election.

Nebraska State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2016

Ian Swanson and incumbent Rick Kolowski defeated Peter Mayberry in the Nebraska State Senate District 31 primary.

Nebraska State Senate, District 31 Primary, 2016

2012

Elections for the office of Nebraska State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 15, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Rick Kolowski defeated Acela Turco in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the May 15 Nonpartisan primary. A total of $296,852 was raised by 2012 candidates in the district, with Turco outspending Kolowski by a margin of $149,969 to $146,883.

Nebraska State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2016, candidates for Nebraska State Senate District 31 raised a total of $795,419. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $72,311 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Nebraska State Senate District 31