Theresa Thibodeau

Theresa Thibodeau is an American politician who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 2017 to 2019. In November 2021, Thibodeau entered the Republican primary for Governor of Nebraska.

Early life and career

Thibodeau was born Theresa Sanderson on June 9, 1975, in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended Capistrano Valley High School and graduated in 1993. She attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1996 to 1998, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Thibodeau was appointed to represent District 6, in Omaha, by Governor Pete Ricketts in October 2017. The seat became vacant following the resignation of the incumbent Republican, Joni Craighead. Thibodeau was encouraged by Pete Rickets to submit her name for the position, which she did on October 13, two weeks after the deadline to submit on September 29. Thibodeau was defeated by Democrat Machaela Cavanaugh in the 2018 midterm elections held in November 2018.
Thibodeau unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in the 2022 Nebraska gubernatorial election. She came in fourth place with 6.05% of the vote, behind Jim Pillen, Charles Herbster, and Brett Lindstrom.

Thibodeau is a Catholic. She and her husband, Joseph Thibodeau, live in Nebraska with their three children, two daughters and a son.