Samuel Cullan

In 1976, State Senator Leslie Stull, who represented the western Nebraska-based 49th district, ran for re-election to a third term,^[4] Cullan, a senior at the Merchant Marine Academy at the time, announced that he would challenge Stull for re-election.^[5] Cullan, who had originally registered to vote as a Republican, switched his party registration to independent prior to challenging Stull.^[6] Cullan campaigned little in the district prior to his graduation,^[7] and Stull placed first in the primary election by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote to Cullen's 37 percent.^[8] In the general election, Cullan waged a "massive advertising and door-to-door campaign" against Stull,^[9] and ultimately defeated Stull in a "surprise upset," winning 53 percent of the vote to Stull's 47 percent.^[8][10]

During Cullen's first term in the legislature, he enrolled as a law student at the Creighton University School of Law in the fall of 1979.^[11] He switched to the Republican Party in 1980, characterizing himself as a moderate-conservative, and noting that, because "Nebraska is a two-party state," if he was "involved in the Legislature, I have to function in the system."^[6] Cullan ran for re-election in 1980,^[11] and was re-elected unopposed.^[12][13]

He graduated from law school in 1982, and was sworn in as an attorney by Chief Justice Norman Krivosha of the Nebraska Supreme Court on September 17, 1982.^[14] He joined his brothers, Dave and Dan Cullan, in their legal practice.^[15] On August 11, 1983, Cullan announced that he would resign from the legislature, effective November 1, to attend the Creighton University School of Medicine.^[16][17]

Cullan graduated from medical school in 1987, and practices as an attorney.^[15]