Elroy Hefner

In 1976, Hefner ran to succeed Jules Burbach, the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, in the 19th district, which included Cedar, Knox, Pierce, and Wayne counties.^[2] In the primary election, he faced carpenter James Neal Christensen, funeral director William Hengstler, teacher Ted Hillman, and farmer Warren Patefield.^[3] Hefner placed first in the primary, receiving 38 percent of the vote.^[4] Though the contest was not resolved on election night,^[5] Hengstler narrowly defeated Patefield for second place, winning by 9 votes,^[4] and advanced to the general election with Hefner.^[6] Hefner defeated Hengstler in the general election, winning 58 percent of the vote to Hengstler's 42 percent.^[4]

Following Hefner's victory in the general election, Burbach was appointed the executive director of the state legislature.^[7] Governor J. James Exon appointed Hefner to serve out the remaining month of Burbach's term,^[8] and Hefner was sworn in on November 30, 1976.^[9]

Hefner ran for re-election in 1980,^[10] and was challenged by Bert Evans, an economist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.^[11] In the primary election, Hefner placed first over Evans, winning 71–29 percent.^[12] Hefner defeated Evans in a landslide in the general election, winning his second term, 74–26 percent.^[12]

In 1984, Hefner ran for re-election to a third term.^[13] He was challenged by Evans in a rematch of their 1980 campaign.^[14] In the primary election, Hefner placed first, winning 74 percent of the vote.^[15] In the general election, Hefner won re-election with 65 percent of the vote.^[15]

Hefner ran for a fourth term in 1988.^[16] He was challenged in the primary by Evans, Jack McCarthy, and conservative activist Paul Rosberg.^[17] Hefner placed first in the primary, winning 66 percent of the vote to Evans's 17 percent, McCarthy's 9 percent, and Rosberg's 8 percent.^[18] In the general election, Hefner defeated Evans for a third time, winning 72–28 percent.^[18]

Hefner died on July 26, 2020.^[19]