1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election
The 1982 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, and featured businessman Bob Kerrey, a Democrat, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican governor Charles Thone.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
- George B. Burrows, Nebraska state senator
- Bob Kerrey, businessman and Vietnam War veteran
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
- Edward Conradt, political newcomer who was a tower operator and clerk for Burlington Northern Railroad from Lincoln, Nebraska
- Donald F. McGinley, former United States Representative from 1959 to 1961 and former member of the Nebraska Legislature in what was then District 39 from 1955 to 1959 and 1963 to 1965 from Ogallala, Nebraska.
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
- Barton E. Chandler
- Stan Deboer
- Charles Thone, incumbent governor
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
- Howard A. Lamb, member of the Nebraska Legislature in District 43 since 1977 from Anselmo, Nebraska.
- Roland A. Luedtke, incumbent Nebraska Lieutenant Governor
- Ken Smith, farmer from Ithaca, Nebraska, and Saunders County supervisor