LINCOLN — Nearly every Nebraska legislative race in this election cycle has surpassed six figures in spending ahead of Tuesday’s election, already climbing above 2022 records. Together, legislative candidates had raised $9.2 million and spent $7.4 million as of the Oct. 21 campaign finance reporting deadline. The latest deadline leaves about two weeks of fundraising and spending before Election Day to report when final reports are due Jan. 14. In the final 10 days of the election, another $505,000 had already been raised.

Spending in 22 of the 25 races exceeded six figures by Oct. 21, and all but one race exceeded six figures in fundraising. The single fundraising exception is South Omaha’s Legislative District 5 between Margo Juarez and Gilbert Ayala. They raised $93,000 combined, most by Juarez.

The annual salary for a state senator is $12,000. Candidates who spent the most in 2022 legislative races won their elections in all but two cases. The most expensive race that year was about $577,000.

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