Today is Primary Election Day in Nebraska with the polls open statewide till 7:00 pm MDT. Secretary of State John Gale is predicting only a 30% turnout, in between the turnout of the last two non-presidential primaries of 35% in 2006 and 26% in 2010.

Because there are hotly contested Republican Party races for governor and U-S Senate, Gale is predicting 44% turnout for the GOP but only 20% for both the Democratic and Libertarian parties and just 12% of independent voters.

The ballot itself is thinner than in the past because of a new state law that puts local and county offices on the ballot only if there’s more than one candidate.

We will have periodic reports on Double Q Country and KCOW throughout the evening with local and state results, but Secretary Gale’s office will post the results for all statewide and multi-county races…including natural resource districts…online with updates every 5-minutes at http://electionresults.sos.ne.gov/

U-S Senator and former governor Mike Johanns, who is not seeking reelection, is encouraging everyone to vote today.

Republicans have contested races for all statewide offices except Secretary of State, where incumbent Gale is the only person to have filed in any of the parties.

The closest race is the Republican battle for governor…which has 6 candidates: Pete Ricketts, Attorney General Jon Bruning, State Senators Tom Carlson and Beau McCoy, State Auditor Mike Foley, and attorney Bryan Slone. A poll done last week put the top 4 within 9 points of each other.

The race that’s drawn the most attention, money, and vitriol is the GOP fight for the U-S Senate…where outside groups have spent over $3-million dollars on ads. The candidates are Midland University President Ben Sasse, former State Treasurer Shane Osborn, Pinnacle Bank President Sid Dinsdale, attorney Bart McLeay, and Clifton Johnson…who has done little active campaigning.

Incumbent State Treasurer Don Stenberg is challenged by Christopher Costello, the race to succed Bruning as Attorney General has Doug Peterson, Pete Pirsch, Mike Hilgers, Brian Buescher while Charlie Janssen and Larry Anderson are vying to follow Foley as State Auditor.

All three incumbent Republican Congressman have primary opponents; Adrian Smith faces retired Army Col. Tom Brewer in the 3rd District, Lee Terry has had a bitter race against Dan Frei in Omaha’s 2nd District, and the 1st District’s Jeff Fortenberry is running against Dennis Parker and Jessica Turek.

The Democrats have just 2 contested statewide primaries and one of those is essentially unopposed because Larry Marvin has not actively campaign against David Domina in the Senate race. That leaves the Attorney General’s race between Janet Stewart and Allan Eurek as the party’s only true race.

Among non-partisan races, incumbent State Board of Education District 7 member Molly O’Holleran of Ogallala is challenged by retired Schuyler Superintendent Robin Stevens. Both are Republicans and both will advance to the November general election.