Maurice Kremer (Nebraska politician)

In 1961, State Senator Hans Jensen resigned from the legislature to become a consultant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.^[3] Governor Frank B. Morrison did not fill the vacancy caused by Jensen's resignation, and Kremer ran to succeed him in 1962.^[4] In the nonpartisan primary, Kremer faced former Clay County Supervisor Parker W. Aker, Farm Bureau official Walter Beck, businessman Albert Boom, farmer Cloyde Mankin.^[5][6][7] Kremer placed first in the primary election, winning 37 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Berck, who placed second with 20 percent of the vote.^[8][9] Kremer defeated Berck by a wide margin, winning 58 percent to Berck's 42 percent.^[8]

After redistricting took place in 1964, Kremer opted to run for re-election in the newly created 34th district, and ran against fellow State Senator Ted Reeves.^[10] Kremer placed first over Reeves in the primary election, receiving 56 percent of the vote to Reeves's 44 percent, and defeated him by a wide margin in the general election, winning 57–43 percent.^[11][12]

In 1966, Kremer ran for re-election to a third term.^[13] He was challenged by George McCormick, a farmer and Union Pacific employee,^[14] and Franz Penner, a former farmer and University of Nebraska–Lincoln student.^[15] Kremer placed first in the primary by a wide margin, receiving 68 percent of the vote to Penner's 17 percent and McCormick's 15 percent.^[16] He advanced to the general election with Penner, and won in a landslide, receiving 73 percent of the vote to Penner's 27 percent.^[16]

Kremer was re-elected without opposition in 1970^[17] and 1974.^[18]

In 1978, Kremer ran for re-election to a sixth term.^[19] He was challenged by Maynard Jensen, a farmer and president of the Nebraska Agricultural Council.^[20] Jensen, a friend of Kremer's, agreed with him on most of the issues, and was speculated to be "building his name recognition for a repeat bid in 1982" rather than meaningfully contesting the race.^[21] Kremer placed first in the primary election by a wide margin, winning 64 percent of the vote to Jensen's 36 percent.^[22] In the general election, Kremer defeated Jensen with 60 percent of the vote.^[22]

Kremer declined to seek re-election in 1982.^[23]

Kremer died on February 10, 1990.^[2] In 1998, his son, Bob Kremer, was elected to the 34th district,^[24] serving from 1999 to 2007.^[25]