Nebraska is latest battleground for mainline GOP vs. Tea Party primaries
Thinkstock

Voters head to the polls today for a set of hotly contested primaries in the deeply Republican state of Nebraska. As the Omaha World-Herald notes: "More than $22 million — enough to buy each registered voter in the state a steak dinner — has been poured into the GOP contests for governor and U.S. Senate."
In the Senate race, the frontrunner is now Ben Sasse, who has received the backing of many Tea Party and national conservative groups. He is a former health official under President George W. Bush, and now president of Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. For most of the race his main opponent has been former state Treasurer Shane Osborn — but there is also some question as to whether the mud-slinging between the two of them might have fueled a late surge for a third candidate, bank president Sid Dinsdale.
In the gubernatorial race, the two main Republican candidates are state Attorney General Jon Bruning and businessman Pete Ricketts. Bruning has been endorsed by the outgoing Gov. Dave Heineman, while Ricketts has the support of such national conservative figures as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The polls close tonight at 8 p.m. Central Time.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?
the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
-
In the Spotlight Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been at odds with US forces
-
Music reviews: Ethel Cain, Amaarae, and The Black Keys
Feature "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You," "Black Star," and "No Rain, No Flowers"
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show