DEMOCRATS HAVE HEADED OFF GOP GOAL OF GAINING FILIBUSTER-PROOF MAJORITY IN UNICAMERAL

OMAHA- On Friday Douglas County officials completed their count of election ballots. Candidate John Fredrickson is the expected winner over Stu Dornan, a Republican whose loss thwarts Nebraska GOP's wishes for a supermajority in the Legislature. Fredrickson finished 1 vote outside of the margin for a mandatory recount, beating Dornan by 82 votes.

On election night, Dornan sat just 122 votes ahead of Fredrickson, and was set to take hold of a seat held previously by Sen. John McCollister of Omaha.

Frederickson's election to the Legislature stops Republicans from holding 33 seats in the 49-member unicameral, which would have given them a filibuster-proof majority. Republicans will hold 32 seats while Democrats will hold 17 in the officially nonpartisan unicameral.

The Nebraska GOP made gaining a 33-seat majority a top priority of the election cycle, and celebrated gaining that number the night after the election. There, state GOP Chairman Eric Underwood celebrated securing a "filibuster-proof majority", but perhaps he spoke too soon.

Final numbers from Lancaster County also gave a win to George Dungan over Russ Barger in the closely contested race to replace Senator Matt Hansen in Lincoln.

For the full article click HERE