Frank Lewis (Nebraska politician)

Lewis was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma, in 1939, and grew up in Stratford, and graduated from Stratford High School.^[1] He attended East Central State College, receiving his bachelor's degree,^[1] and completed graduate work at East Central, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.^[2] Lewis worked as a high school teacher in Bellevue, and served as a member of the Bellevue City Planning Commission.^[1][2]

In 1972, Lewis ran for the state legislature from the newly created 45th district, which was created in Sarpy County.^[3] In the nonpartisan primary, Lewis faced Bellevue City Councilman Joseph Baldwin, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel Julius Neal Clemmer, real estate salesman Larry Tatum, and lawyer George Thompson.^[2] Lewis placed first in the primary, winning 28 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Baldwin, who placed second with 20 percent.^[4][5] Lewis defeated Baldwin by a wide margin, winning 58 percent of the vote to Baldwin's 42 percent.^[4][6]

Lewis, who was originally elected as a registered Republican, announced on July 13, 1973, that he would switch to the Democratic Party.^[7] Lewis, who had been a registered Democrat until 1970, then switched to the Republican Party, citing the Vietnam War.^[8] He decided to switch back to the Democratic Party "because my ideas match many of those Democrats I work with every day."^[7]

In 1976, Lewis ran for re-election to a second term, and was challenged by businessman Julius Clemmer.^[9] Lewis placed first in the primary by a wide margin, receiving 73 percent of the vote to Clemmer's 27 percent.^[10] They advanced to the general election, where Lewis won re-election in a landslide, defeating Clemmer, 74–26 percent.^[10][11]

Lewis sought a third term in 1980, and was challenged for re-election by businessman George Fenger.^[12] Lewis placed first in the primary, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Fenger's 40 percent,^[13] and they proceeded to the general election.^[14] Fenger ultimately defeated Lewis, winning 54 percent of the vote to Lewis's 46 percent.^[13][15]