Ben Nelson

Ben Nelson DEMDemocrat

37th Governor of Nebraska

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Ben NelsonDEMDemocrat 37th Governor of Nebraska
83
Years of Age
20
Years of Experience
NEResidence (state)

Earl Benjamin Nelson (born May 17, 1941) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 37th governor of Nebraska from 1991 to 1999 and as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 2001 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and as of 2024, the last Democrat to hold any statewide elected office in Nebraska. Nelson was an insurance executive before he entered politics. His first run for office was in 1990, when he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Governor Kay Orr. He was reelected by a landslide in 1994. He ran for an open U.S. Senate seat in 1996, losing in an upset to Republican Chuck Hagel. He was elected to Nebraska's other Senate seat in 2000, and reelected in 2006. He did not run for a third term in 2012, and was succeeded by Republican Deb Fischer. Nelson was one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, frequently voting against his party.

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Education5 - 5 of 3
University of Nebraska
JD
1970
University of Nebraska
MA Philosophy
1965
University of Nebraska
BA Philosophy
1963
Past Positions1 - 12 of 12
Senator
United States Senate
2000 - 2012
Governor
State of Nebraska
1990 - 1998
Democratic Nominee
United States Senate
1996
Campaign Manager
Democratic Presidential Candidates
1976
Campaign Manager
Democratic Presidential Candidates
1980
Attorney
Lamson, Dugan, and Murray, Omaha, Nebraska
1999 - Current
Partner
Kaufman, Nelson, and Patlee
1999 - Current
Attorney
Kennedy, Holland, DeLacy, and Swoboda
1985 - 1990
Chief of Staff
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
1982 - 1985
Chief Executive Officer
Central Nebraska Insurance Group
1972 - 1981
Director
Nebraska Department of Insurance
1975 - 1976
Experience
Lay Minister
Other Experience1 - 25 of 25
Co-Chair
Ethanol Across America
2004 - Current
Co-Chair
United States-Russian Federation Parliamentary Council
2004
Chair
Western Governor's Association
1996
President
Council of State Governments
1995
Co-Founder
Governor's Ethanol Coalition
1991
Co-Founder
Governor's Ethanol Coalition
1994
Chair
Nation Education Goals Panel
1993
Board Chair
The Nelson Institute
Board Member
Teammates of Nebraska
Board Member
Boy Scouts of America Mid America Council
Board Member
Nebraska Community Foundation
Eagle Scout
Boys Scouts of America
Experience
Nebraska State Bar Association
Founder
National Drought Mitigation Center
Member
Omaha Bar Association
Member
American Bar Association
Member
Senate New Democrat Coalition
Member
Rockbrook United Methodist Church
Trustee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Co-Chair
Senate Air Force Caucus
2007
Co-Chair
High Tech Working Group
2005 - 2006
Co-chair
Congressional Sportsman's Caucus
2005 - 2006
Co-vice-Chair
Senate Centrist Coalition
2005
Member
Space Power Caucus
2004
United States- Russian Federation Parliamentary Council
2004
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