R. Wiley Remmers

In 1980, incumbent State Senator Nelson Merz ran for re-election, and faced a crowded field of opponents, including Remmers,^[2] retired attorney William Stockdale, Richardson County Commissioner Burnus Schuler, and farmer Keith Sherburne.^[3] During the campaign, the Nebraska Republican Party sent out a letter telling voters that Remmers was the only Republican candidate in the nonpartisan race, even though Stockdale was a Republican, as well.^[4] Remmers placed first in the primary election, winning 42 percent of the vote to Merz's 25 percent,^[5] and they both advanced to the general election.^[4] In the general election, Remmers defeated Merz by a wide margin, receiving 57 percent of the vote to Metz's 43 percent.^[5]

Remmers ran for re-election in 1984, and both Merz and Stockdale challenged him.^[6] In the primary election, Remmers placed first by a wide margin, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Merz's 25 percent and Stockdale's 15 percent.^[7] He advanced to the general election against Merz,^[8] and defeated him in a landslide, winning 69-31 percent.^[7]

In 1988, Remmers ran for re-election to a third term and was challenged by Spencer Morrissey, a member of the Tecumseh Board of Education and a lobbyist for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and deli store owner Ricky Andrews.^[9] Remmers placed first in the primary, receiving 47 percent of the vote to Morrissey's 31 percent, and advanced to the general election against Morrissey.^[10] Morrissey narrowly defeated Remmers,^[10] winning by just 37 votes.^[11]

Remmers died on August 24, 2003.^[12]